 thumb|300 px|zoological gardens founded in 1659, charlesbourg is a borough of quebec city, in the northeastern part of the city and west of the borough of beauport. incorporated in 1976 following the merger of the cities of orsainville, notre-dame-des-laurentides, the town of charlesbourg (1949) and the municipality of charlesbourg-est (1928). it became part of quebec city on january 1, 2002 after a controversial province-wide city merger project. this residential suburb of quebec city is the fourth-largest urban centre of the quÃ©bec urban community. like beauport, it has increased by more than 20,000 people over the last 25 years. according to the canada 2006 census: *population: 72,814 *% change (2001-2006): +3.6 *dwellings: 33,497 *area (kmÂ²): 66.29 *density (persons per kmÂ²): 1,098.4 the first settlement of charlesbourg dates back to the 1660s 
Boroughs_of_Quebec_City Former_municipalities_in_Quebec