So on wikipedia there is this map that (vaguely) show where Europeans had settled anno 1700. How much did the French spread out from those regions before the colony was split up between Great Britain and Spain?
It would depend on what you mean by "considerable." By 1700 there were concentrations of French in present day Nova Scotia and the St. Lawrence Valley from Montreal to Quebec City. Between 1700 and 1750 there were pockets of French settlement established in Present day Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. There was a sizable French presence in south Louisiana established during that time frame as well. The French sent relatively few settlers to New France, at least compared to the English. So, even in areas of New France such as present day Quebec the numbers weren't really huge at the time that France lost control of their holdings. If you can give me a better idea of what you mean by "considerable" I can give a more specific response and suggest some relevant citations.
