It is the oldest part of the city. It is bounded roughly by Rideau Street to the south, Sussex Drive and Ottawa River to the north, the Rideau Canal to the west, and the Rideau River to the east. It includes the commercial Byward Market area in the south-western part, and is predominantly residential in the north and east. Lower Town is a multi-cultural district in the central area of Ottawa to the east of downtown. Over the past one hundred and fifty years, Lower Town has changed significantly, undergoing a rapid re-development and transformation. Lower Town is rich in both ethnic and cultural diversity, with New Canadians comprising half of the population.
