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List of district municipalities in British Columbia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A district municipality is a type of municipal classification used in the Canadian province of British Columbia. District municipalities are generally larger in geographic size and have population densities that are lower compared to the province's other classifications – cities, towns, and villages.[1] Of British Columbia's 161 municipalities,[2] 48 are classified as district municipalities.[3]
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District municipalities can be incorporated under the authority of British Columbia's Local Government Act.[4] In order for a municipality to be classified as a district municipality, its geographic area must be greater than 800 hectares (2,000 acres) and its population density must be lower than 5 residents per hectare (or 500/km2); there is no population requirement.[4] These classification requirements are not strictly applied however as five district municipalities – Esquimalt, North Vancouver, Oak Bay, Saanich and West Vancouver – have higher population densities.[1][3]
According to Canada's 2021 Census of Population, the largest district municipality by population in British Columbia is Langley, with 132,603 residents, and the smallest is the Wells, with 218 residents. The largest district municipality by land area is Northern Rockies, which spans 84,759.31 km2 (32,725.75 sq mi), while the smallest is Ucluelet, at 6.48 km2 (2.50 sq mi).[3] The first municipality to incorporate as a district municipality was North Cowichan on June 18, 1873, while the province's newest is Northern Rockies, which incorporated on February 6, 2009.[5][6]
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Branding
Three district municipalities – Esquimalt, Langley, and Spallumcheen – are branded as townships in their official corporate names.[6] Townships are a former municipal classification that are now classified as district municipalities.[7] Also, although branded as a regional municipality in its official corporate name, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality is classified as a district municipality.[5]
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Governance
All district municipalities have elected councils.[4] The 48 district municipalities are governed by a total of 324 elected officials including 48 mayors and 276 councillors.[8] Invermere has the smallest district municipal council at four elected officials while Langley and Saanich both have nine elected officials each.[8] In addition to the provision of municipal services,[7] the Local Government Act empowers district municipalities the ability to deliver drainage projects.[1]
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List
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Former district municipalities
- Abbotsfield – The District of Abbotsford amalgamated with the District of Matsqui on January 1, 1995 to form the City of Abbotsford.[11]
- Brocklehurst – Brocklehurst amalgamated with the City of Kamloops on May 1, 1973 shortly after incorporating as a district municipality on June 22, 1971.[12]
- Burnaby – The Corporation of the District of Burnaby held the district municipality classification for exactly 110 years from incorporation on September 22, 1892 to reclassification as a city on September 22, 1992.[13]
- Chilliwack – The District of Chilliwack was formed on January 1, 1980 following the amalgamation of the original City of Chilliwack with the Corporation of the Township of Chilliwhack.[14]
- Coquitlam – Coquitlam held the district municipality classification for just over 100 years from incorporation on July 25, 1891 to reclassification as a city on January 1, 1992.[15]
- Delta – The City of Delta was classified as a district municipality prior to September 22, 2017.[16]
- Dufferin – Dufferin amalgamated with the City of Kamloops on May 1, 1973 shortly after incorporating as a district municipality on April 23, 1971.[17]
- Maple Ridge – The City of Maple Ridge was classified as a district municipality prior to September 12, 2014.[18]
- Matsqui – The Corporation of the District of Matsqui was incorporated on November 26, 1892. It then amalgamated with the District of Abbotsford on January 1, 1995.[19]
- Mission – The City of Mission was classified as a district municipality prior to March 29, 2021.[20]
- Penticton – Penticton held the district municipality classification from incorporation on January 1, 1909 to reclassification as a city on May 10, 1948.[21]
- Pitt Meadows – Pitt Meadows held the district municipality classification from incorporation on April 1, 1914 to reclassification as a city on January 1, 2007.[22]
- Richmond – Originally incorporated on November 10, 1879, Richmond held the district municipality classification prior to incorporating as a city on December 3, 1990.[23]
- Salmon Arm – Salmon Arm held the district municipality classification for just shy of 100 years from incorporation on May 15, 1905 to reclassification as a city on May 14, 2005.[24]
- Sumas – The District of Sumas amalgamated with the Village of Abbotsford on November 17, 1972 to create the District of Abbotsford.[25]
- Surrey – Surrey held the district municipality classification for nearly 114 years from incorporation on November 10, 1879 to reclassification as a city on September 11, 1993.[26]
- Terrace – Originally a village, Terrace held the district municipality classification from incorporation on January 1, 1960 to reclassification as a city on January 22, 1987.[27]
- White Rock – The City of White Rock was classified as a district municipality prior to June 26, 2015.[28]
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See also
Notes
- Incorporated in 1981, Tumbler Ridge was developed as a company town by Denison Mines, Teck Corporation and the Japanese Steel Industry in cooperation with the Government of British Columbia.[9]
- Wells was founded as a company town for the Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine.[10]
References
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