Canadian Pacific Railway Company, also called CPR, was a company that played an important role in Canada’s history. It operated one of North America’s largest railroad networks, including more than 14,000 miles (22,500 kilometers) of track across southern Canada and the midwestern and northeastern United States. Throughout its history, the company also pursued other lines of business, including airlines, express shipping, mining, steamship transportation, telegraph communications, and tourism. CPR’s railroad network later became part of a larger railroad system.
CPR was incorporated in 1881 with the purpose of constructing a transcontinental railroad uniting eastern Canada with British Columbia. In 1883, it became the first company based outside the United States to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. By late 1885, CPR’s rail network spanned Canada from east to west, making it the first transcontinental railroad developed and operated by a single company.
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, CPR worked to encourage settlement in western Canada. It sold land and “ready-made” farms to eastern Canadians and European immigrants. The company also built irrigation systems to support western agriculture, as well as hotels to accommodate travelers. Many cities grew up around CPR’s stations. During World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945), the company put its resources at the disposal of the Allied forces.
In 1971, CPR was reorganized, and a holding company, Canadian Pacific Limited, was established to manage the rail system, the hotels, and other operations. In 2001, Canadian Pacific Limited split off Canadian Pacific Railway and four other businesses as independent companies. In 2023, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company merged with another railway company, Kansas City Southern. The merger created a new company—Canadian Pacific Kansas City—and a larger railroad network linking Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
