Vancouver is a city located in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Named after Captain George Vancouver, an English explorer, the city was founded in 1886 when the first Canadian transcontinentinetal railway arrived. In November 2008, the city elected Gregor Robertson as its mayor. Vancouver has a population of 631,486[1] while its CMA has a population of 2,463,431.[2] Greater Vancouver is the largest metropolitan area in western Canada and the third largest in the country. It is also the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and is the second-largest metropolitan area (second to Seattle)
Vancouver is also the name of a city in Southern Washington State in the US, across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.[3]
The townsite of Gastown grew around a logging sawmill established in 1867, enlarging to become the townsite of Granville. With the announcement that the railhead would reach the site, it was renamed "Vancouver" and incorporated as a city in 1886. That same year, Vancouver (whose geographic area was then limited to the boundaries of the then-Granville townsite) was largely destroyed by a clearing fire gone out of control on June 13, but was quickly rebuilt shortly after. By 1887, the transcontinental railway was extended to the city to take advantage of its large natural seaport, which soon became a vital link in a trade route between the Orient, Eastern Canada, and London. Port Metro Vancouver is the new name for the Port of Vancouver, which is now the busiest and largest in Canada, as well as the fourth largest port (by tonnage) in North America.[4]
Vancouver is per capita the most liberal city in British Columbia,[5] with the liberal party, Vision Vancouver leading in all elections since 2003.[6] Vancouver also has a large homosexual presence[7]
Vancouver is generally tolerant of public displays of religion, than other Canadian cities, barring Calgary.
Religion |
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vancouver City | Vancouver (CMA) | British Columbia | Canada | |||||
Total | 539,630 | 100.0% | 1,967,480 | 100.0% | 3,868,875 | 100.0% | 29,639,035 | 100.0% |
Catholic[1] | 102,315 | 19.0% | 364,790 | 18.5% | 675,320 | 17.5% | 12,936,910 | 40.6% |
Protestant | 94,010 | 17.4% | 499,185 | 25.4% | 1,213,290 | 31.4% | 8,654,850 | 20.2% |
Christian Orthodox | 9,090 | 1.7% | 26,520 | 1.3% | 35,655 | 0.9% | 479,620 | 1.6% |
Christian,n.i.e.[2] | 23,600 | 4.4% | 101,620 | 5.2% | 200,340 | 5.2% | 780,450 | 2.6% |
Muslim | 9,345 | 1.7% | 52,590 | 2.7% | 56,220 | 1.5% | 579,640 | 2.0% |
Jewish | 9,620 | 1.8% | 17,270 | 0.9% | 21,230 | 0.5% | 329,995 | 1.1% |
Buddhist | 37,140 | 6.9% | 74,550 | 3.8% | 85,540 | 2.2% | 300,345 | 1.0% |
Hindu | 7,670 | 1.4% | 27,410 | 1.4% | 31,495 | 0.8% | 297,200 | 1.0% |
Sikh | 15,200 | 2.8% | 99,000 | 5.0% | 135,310 | 3.5% | 278,410 | 0.9% |
Eastern religions[3] | 1,250 | 0.2% | 5,580 | 0.3% | 9,975 | 0.3% | 37,550 | 0.1% |
Other religions[4] | 2,455 | 0.5% | 6,195 | 0.3% | 16,205 | 0.4% | 63,975 | 0.2% |
No religious affiliation[5] | 227,925 | 42.2% | 692,765 | 35.2% | 1,388,300 | 40.9% | 4,900,090 | 19.5% |
Source:Canada 2001 Census[8] | ||||||||
[1] Includes Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Polish National Catholic Church, Old Catholic |
The XXI Olympic Winter Games took place in 2010 and were held in Vancouver and in the resort community of Whistler some 60 miles to the northwest.
Categories: [Canadian Cities and Towns] [Urban History] [Canadian History]