Abstract Background Crohn's disease (CD) location would influence the risk of complications and therapeutic strategies. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical presentation at diagnosis and the natural history of colonic CD in comparison to ileal CD and ulcerative colitis (UC) in pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease. Methods All children (< 17 years) with a diagnosis of CD or UC made between 1988 and 2011 in a population-based registry were followed retrospectively until 2013. Presentation at diagnosis, risks of complicated disease, surgery, hospitalization and exposure to treatments in ileal CD (L1), colonic CD (L2) and UC were compared. Disease location was defined at diagnosis. In case of extension of the disease (L1 or L2 to L3), follow-up was censored. Results A total of 215 L1 patients, 234 L2 patients and 337 UC patients were included. At diagnosis, the proportion of males (L1 53.5%; L2 53.4%; UC 42.7%; p=0.012), age at diagnosis (15.0; 13.7; 14.0 years; p=0.003), family history of IBD (12.6%; 12.7%; 5.0%; p=0.005), diagnostic delay (3.0; 3.0; 2.0 months; p=0.001) and smoking prevalence (11.6%; 8.1%; 5.6%; p=0.041) were different between the three groups. Bloody stool and diarrhea at diagnosis was observed in respectively 14.9%, 44.4%, and 91.1% (p < 0.001) and 47.0%, 71.8%, and 65.0% (p < 0.001) of L1, L2 and UC. At diagnosis, granuloma was identified in 12.6% of L1 patients and 31.2% of L2 patients (p<0.001). The risk of extension to L3 was significantly higher in the L2 group than in the L1 group (at 5 years - 37% vs. 14%, p<0.001). Compared to L1 location, L2 was associated with a lower risk of luminal fistula (HR 0.41 [0.21-0.79], p=0.008) but a higher risk of anoperineal lesion (HR 2.11 [1.29-3.45], p=0.003). The prevalence of extra-intestinal manifestations, articular (p<0.001) and cutaneous (p<0.001) was higher in L2. While the risk of surgery was significantly higher in case of L1 (at 5 years – L1 37%, L2 13% and UC 13%; p<0.001), the risk of hospitalization (at 5 years - 22%, 39% and 33%; p=0.01), exposure to corticosteroids (at 5 years - 55%, 69% and 67%; p<0.001), immunosuppressants (at 5 years - 47%, 61% and 42% - p<0.001) and anti-TNF (at 5 years - 16%, 35% and 22%; p<0.001) were higher in case of L2. Conclusion The clinical presentation at diagnosis and natural history of ileal and colonic CD differ significantly. Colonic location is associated with a high risk of perianal CD, extra-intestinal manifestations, hospitalization as well as exposure to steroids, immunosuppressants and anti-TNF. These differences may justify different therapeutic strategies in the future.