The botanical range extends westward from Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the southern portion of James Bay and through central Ontario to southeastern Manitoba in Canada; the southern boundary runs through central Minnesota and Wisconsin, along a narrow fringe around the southern tip of Lake Michigan and through southern Michigan, southern New York and central Vermont and New Hampshire.  It is found locally in other scattered areas.

Northern white cedar grows both in swamps and on uplands, but does not develop well on extremely wet or extremely dry sites.  Most of the commercial stands are found in the swamplands in northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, southern Ontario, and Quebec, and in Maine and New Brunswick.

As a tree of medium size, Northern white cedar is commonly 40 to 50 feet tall and reaching two to three feet in diameter.  Infrequently the tree attains a maximum size of 80 feet tall and six feet in diameter.  On average swamp sites in the Lake States, it takes from 80 to 100 years to grow a tree to a six-inch diameter.  To produce a post on the typical swamp sites requires about 60 to 80 years, a tie 150 to 175 years, and a 20-foot pole about 200 years.   It generally grows more slowly than its associated species and is longer-lived, reaching ages of 400 years or more.

Besides being used for fencing, Northern white cedar is used principally for poles, ties, posts, shingles and, lumber.  The wood is very light in weight, of low shrinkage, comparatively free from warping, is soft, brittle.   It splits readily, has a characteristic aromatic odor, and has a fine, uniform texture.  It is easily worked and holds paint well.  The sapwood, usually less than an inch in width, is nearly white, while the heartwood is light brown with a reddish tinge.  The heartwood is resistant to decay, making it especially desirable for service in contact with the ground.