A population centre, in Canadian census data, is a populated place, or a cluster of interrelated populated places, which meets the demographic characteristics of an urban area, having a population of at least 1,000 people and a population density of no fewer than 400 persons per square km2. [1]
The term was first introduced in the Canada 2011 Census; prior to that, Statistics Canada used the term urban area. [1]
In the 2016 census, Statistics Canada listed 107 population centres in the province of British Columbia. [2]
Rank | Population centre [2] | Size group [2] | Population (2016) [2] | Population (2011) [2] | % Change [2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vancouver | Large urban | 2,264,823 | 2,124,443 | +6.6% |
2 | Victoria | Large urban | 335,696 | 314,596 | +6.7% |
3 | Kelowna | Large urban | 151,957 | 140,131 | +8.4% |
4 | Abbotsford | Large urban | 121,279 | 115,011 | +5.4% |
5 | White Rock | Medium | 93,729 | 85,062 | +7.8% |
6 | Nanaimo | Medium | 92,004 | 85,357 | +10.2% |
7 | Kamloops | Medium | 78,026 | 72,755 | +7.2% |
8 | Chilliwack | Medium | 73,161 | 67,374 | +8.6% |
9 | Prince George | Medium | 65,510 | 62,623 | +4.6% |
10 | Vernon | Medium | 48,073 | 46,125 | +4.2% |
11 | Courtenay | Medium | 45,018 | 43,346 | +3.9% |
12 | Campbell River | Medium | 35,138 | 33,448 | +5.1% |
13 | Penticton | Medium | 33,617 | 32,823 | +2.4% |
14 | Mission | Medium | 33,261 | 31,109 | +6.9% |
15 | Parksville | Small | 23,574 | 22,493 | +4.8% |
16 | Duncan | Small | 23,278 | 22,179 | +3.3% |
17 | Ladner | Small | 22,193 | 22,539 | +0.1% |
18 | Tsawwassen | Small | 21,588 | 21,439 | +0.7% |
19 | Port Alberni | Small | 20,712 | 20,823 | -0.5% |
20 | Fort St. John | Small | 19,897 | 18,572 | +7.1% |
21 | Cranbrook | Small | 19,259 | 18,761 | +2.7% |
22 | Squamish | Small | 17,587 | 15,554 | +13.1% |
23 | Terrace | Small | 13,663 | 13,395 | +2.0% |
24 | Salmon Arm | Small | 12,875 | 12,218 | +5.4% |
25 | Trail-Fruitvale | Small | 12,643 | 12,427 | +1.7% |
26 | Powell River | Small | 12,384 | 12,374 | +0.1% |
27 | Quesnel | Small | 12,064 | 12,216 | -1.2% |
28 | Aldergrove | Small | 12,007 | 12,083 | -0.6% |
29 | Prince Rupert | Small | 11,733 | 11,985 | -2.1% |
30 | Dawson Creek | Small | 11,574 | 10,987 | +5.3% |
31 | Nelson | Small | 10,664 | 10,347 | +3.1% |
32 | Ladysmith | Small | 10,637 | 9,904 | +7.4% |
33 | Williams Lake | Small | 10,508 | 10,902 | -3.6% |
34 | Sooke | Small | 9,269 | 8,238 | +12.5% |
35 | Gibsons | Small | 9,132 | 8,767 | +4.2% |
36 | Castlegar | Small | 9,023 | 8,815 | +2.4% |
37 | Sechelt | Small | 8,832 | 8,060 | +9.6% |
38 | Summerland | Small | 8,742 | 8,456 | +3.4% |
39 | Whistler | Small | 8,713 | 7,176 | +21.4% |
40 | Shawnigan-Mill Bay | Small | 7,021 | 6,543 | +7.3% |
41 | Duck Lake | Small | 6,982 | 6,764 | +3.2% |
42 | Revelstoke | Small | 6,719 | 6,298 | +6.7% |
43 | Kitimat | Small | 6,394 | 6,633 | -3.6% |
44 | Smithers | Small | 5,351 | 5,400 | -0.9% |
45 | Merritt | Small | 5,321 | 5,447 | -2.3% |
46 | Oliver | Small | 5,279 | 5,037 | +4.8% |
47 | Creston | Small | 5,226 | 5,159 | +1.3% |
48 | Armstrong | Small | 5,114 | 4,830 | +5.9% |
49 | Fernie | Small | 4,850 | 4,156 | +16.7% |
50 | Peachland | Small | 4,698 | 4,527 | +3.8% |
51 | Osoyoos | Small | 4,520 | 4,210 | +7.4% |
52 | Kimberley | Small | 4,513 | 4,178 | +8.0% |
53 | Dallas | Small | 4,479 | 4,445 | +0.8% |
54 | Hope | Small | 4,067 | 3,911 | +4.0% |
55 | Grand Forks | Small | 3,953 | 3,892 | +1.6% |
56 | Kent | Small | 3,802 | 3,399 | +11.9% |
57 | Port Hardy | Small | 3,643 | 3,552 | +2.6% |
58 | Cumberland | Small | 3,600 | 3,271 | +10.1% |
59 | Cobble Hill | Small | 3,580 | 3,337 | +7.3% |
60 | Aldergrove East | Small | 3,491 | 2,383 | +46.5% |
61 | Sparwood | Small | 3,490 | 3,511 | -0.6% |
62 | Fort Nelson | Small | 3,366 | 3,561 | -5.5% |
63 | Mackenzie | Small | 3,262 | 3,087 | +5.7% |
64 | Golden | Small | 3,240 | 3,262 | -0.7% |
65 | Rossland | Small | 3,219 | 3,134 | +2.7% |
66 | Chemainus | Small | 3,021 | 2,914 | +3.7% |
67 | Lake Cowichan | Small | 3,013 | 2,848 | +5.8% |
68 | Enderby | Small | 2,964 | 2,932 | +1.1% |
69 | Invermere | Small | 2,882 | 2,537 | +13.6% |
70 | Princeton | Small | 2,745 | 2,579 | +6.4% |
71 | Cowichan Bay | Small | 2,394 | 2,108 | +13.6% |
72 | Chase | Small | 2,263 | 2,463 | -8.1% |
73 | Okanagan Falls | Small | 2,167 | 2,080 | +4.2% |
74 | Houston | Small | 2,126 | 2,120 | +0.3% |
75 | Port McNeill | Small | 2,064 | 2,186 | -5.6% |
76 | Tumbler Ridge | Small | 1,982 | 2,700 | -26.6% |
77 | Vanderhoof | Small | 1,979 | 1,980 | -0.1% |
78 | Blind Bay | Small | 1,976 | 1,915 | +3.2% |
79 | Pemberton | Small | 1,957 | 1,738 | +12.6% |
80 | Rayleigh | Small | 1,951 | 2,014 | -3.1% |
81 | Burns Lake | Small | 1,932 | 1,771 | -13.1% |
82 | Roberts Creek | Small | 1,848 | 2,222 | +4.3% |
83 | One Hundred Mile House | Small | 1,811 | 1,721 | +5.2% |
84 | Sicamous | Small | 1,786 | 1,843 | -3.1% |
85 | Elkford | Small | 1,752 | 1,791 | -2.2% |
86 | Rosedale | Small | 1,741 | 1,744 | -0.2% |
87 | Keremeos | Small | 1,714 | 1,479 | +15.9% |
88 | Cedar | Small | 1,674 | 1,595 | +5.0% |
89 | Ucluelet | Small | 1,576 | 1,525 | +3.3% |
90 | Lillooet | Small | 1,560 | 1,545 | +1.0% |
91 | Fort St. James | Small | 1,510 | 1,393 | +8.4% |
92 | Puntledge | Small | 1,387 | 1,358 | +2.1% |
93 | Crofton | Small | 1,373 | 1,322 | +3.9% |
94 | Lions Bay | Small | 1,334 | 1,318 | +1.2% |
95 | Lumby | Small | 1,303 | 1,248 | +2.0% |
96 | Harrison Hot Springs | Small | 1,242 | 1,248 | -0.5% |
97 | Logan Lake | Small | 1,208 | 1,245 | -3.0% |
98 | Telkwa | Small | 1,160 | 1,163 | -0.3% |
99 | Fairwinds | Small | 1,147 | 1,060 | +8.2% |
100 | Salmo | Small | 1,141 | 1,139 | +0.2% |
101 | Nakusp | Small | 1,130 | 1,094 | +3.3% |
102 | Welcome Beach | Small | 1,125 | 1,155 | -2.6% |
103 | Miller's Landing | Small | 1,097 | 1,113 | -1.4% |
104 | Ashcroft | Small | 1,084 | 1,151 | -5.8% |
105 | Canoe | Small | 1,081 | 1,149 | -5.9% |
106 | Cultus Lake | Small | 1,053 | 1,071 | -1.7% |
107 | Naramata | Small | 1,003 | 915 | +9.6% |
The census geographic units of Canada are the census subdivisions defined and used by Canada's federal government statistics bureau Statistics Canada to conduct the country's quinquennial census. These areas exist solely for the purposes of statistical analysis and presentation; they have no government of their own. They exist on four levels: the top-level (first-level) divisions are Canada's provinces and territories; these are divided into second-level census divisions, which in turn are divided into third-level census subdivisions and fourth-level dissemination areas.
An urban area, or built-up area, is a human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban morphology as cities, towns, conurbations or suburbs. In urbanism, the term contrasts to rural areas such as villages and hamlets; in urban sociology or urban anthropology it contrasts with natural environment. The creation of early predecessors of urban areas during the urban revolution led to the creation of human civilization with modern urban planning, which along with other human activities such as exploitation of natural resources led to a human impact on the environment. "Agglomeration effects" are in the list of the main consequences of increased rates of firm creation since. This is due to conditions created by a greater level of industrial activity in a given region. However, a favorable environment for human capital development would also be generated simultaneously.
Greater Vancouver, also known as Metro Vancouver, is the metropolitan area with its major urban centre being the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The term "Greater Vancouver" is roughly coterminous with the geographic area governed by the Metro Vancouver Regional District, though it predates the 1966 creation of the regional district. It is often used to include areas beyond the boundaries of the regional district but does not generally include wilderness and agricultural areas within that regional district.
In geography, statistics and archaeology, a settlement, locality or populated place is a community in which people live. The complexity of a settlement can range from a small number of dwellings grouped together to the largest of cities with surrounding urbanized areas. Settlements may include hamlets, villages, towns and cities. A settlement may have known historical properties such as the date or era in which it was first settled, or first settled by particular people.
Alberta has experienced a relatively high rate of growth in recent years, due in large part to its economy. Between 2003 and 2004, the province saw high birthrates, relatively high immigration, and a high rate of interprovincial migration when compared to other provinces. Approximately 81% of the population live in urban areas and only about 19% live in rural areas. The Calgary–Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized area in Alberta and is one of Canada's four most urban regions. Many of Alberta's cities and towns have also experienced high rates of growth in recent history. From a population of 73,022 in 1901, Alberta has grown to 3,645,257 in 2011 and in the process has gone from less than 1.5% of Canada's population to 10.9%. As of July 1, 2018, Alberta's population represented 11.6% of Canada's total population of 37,058,856 making it the fourth most populated province in Canada. According to the 2018 third quarter report, Alberta's population increased by 23,096 to 4,330,206, the largest increase since the 2014 economic downturn.