The more the merrier? Evidence on quality of life and population size using historical mines

•I study the relationship between endogenous population size and quality of life.•The result suggests positive thick market effects and urban consumption advantages.•The result is robust to both natural characteristics controls and IV-estimation.

I investigate the relationship between population size and quality of life. The quantity and quality of consumer amenities will increase with urban scale if they are not offset by congestion effects. To deal with endogenous urban scale, I utilize a quasi-experimental design where I exploit the spatial distribution of mineral resources using Norwegian mines from the 12th to the 19th centuries. The findings suggest that cities become more attractive as a consequence of higher population size.