Founded in 1826 as Bytown, and incorporated as Ottawa in 1855, the city has evolved into the political centre of Canada. Its original boundaries were expanded through numerous annexations and were ultimately replaced by a new city incorporation and amalgamation in 2001 which significantly increased its land area. The city name ''Ottawa'' was chosen in reference to the Ottawa River, the name of which is derived from the Algonquin , meaning "to trade".