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Intercity is the central business district of Thunder Bay, Ontario. This is where the rough draft of its article will be written.

• Despite the existence of transportation links between both cities as early as the 1890s, development in the intercity area is a recent trend. Prior to the construction of the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway in 1982, much of the area was a swampy, muskeg-like area prone to flooding. Today, Intercity is the primary commercial area of Thunder Bay, due primarily to cheap land and central location.^[1]

• Since amalgamation, Thunder Bay has seen an outward growth trend. With few exceptions, the population in areas east of the Thunder Bay Expressway has declined as new subdivisions are built to west of it. As a result, the importance of the former downtown cores has declined significantly. While both cores are focal points for the city's public transport system, it has not played as large a role in transporting people since the boom times of the early 20th century. Since the end of World War II, private cars have replaced demand for public transit, resulting in a less centralized urban structure.^[2]

• The construction of Intercity Plaza in 1957 was the first major commercial development located outside of one of the cores. As recently as 1969, much of the intercity area was undeveloped. After amalgamation, its central location was prime for non-residential development. Memorial Avenue, which was originally a tree lined route in memory of veterans of the Great War,^[3] is today a commercial strip with few trees remaining. While originally intended to be an industrial area, new types of commercial developments such as business parks and Big-box stores or power centres have become more prevalent in recent years. As this transition continues, it is not uncommon to see unusual neighbours, such as an asphalt plant located beside a business park. The rail lines that once criss-crossed the area have been replaced by streets lines with both businesses and industrial facilities.
  With the development of modern suburbs since the 1960s, community shopping malls such as County Fair Plaza, Northwood Park Plaza, and the Arthur Street Marketplace have been developed.
  While many organizations are fighting to preserve the original downtown cores, many businesses once found in them are now located in Intercity. The primary factors are likely Intercity's central location, increase in use of private vehicles, and the low cost of the undeveloped land. This trend isn't unique to private businesses. Many public institutions, such as Canada Post, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, the Thunder Bay Police Service and TBayTel has all relocated to the Balmoral Park area of Intercity since the late 1980s.^[4]

Intercity is the area between the built up portions of Port Arthur and Fort William. It was part of Port Arthur at amalgamation. Intercity was prone to flooding and remained largely undeveloped until the construction of the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway in 1986. Intercity Shopping Centre was the first indoor mall to be built in Thunder Bay, and opened in 1954. It has undergone numerous renovations and expansions since then. The main road in Intercity is the Harbour Expressway, a four lane road.

Intercity was largely an industrial area until the 1990s, and now forms the "downtown" of the unified City of Thunder Bay. It is the location of a variety of big box stores, including Wal-Mart, Superstore, Canadian Tire and Home Depot. It is bisected by a CN Rail line.

Balmoral Street

Floodway with lily pads

Memorial Avenue