List of cities in British Columbia Facts for Kids

Map of British Columbia with its notable cities

In British Columbia, a "city" is a special type of community. It's a place where many people live and work together. The government of British Columbia can officially make a community a city. To become a city, a community usually needs to have more than 5,000 people. Also, the people living there must vote and agree to become a city.

British Columbia has 52 cities. In 2016, these cities had a total population of over 3.3 million people. On average, each city had about 64,000 residents. The biggest city in BC is Vancouver, with over 631,000 people. The smallest city is Greenwood, with only 665 people. When it comes to size, Abbotsford is the largest city by land area, covering about 375 square kilometers. The smallest city by land area is Duncan, which is only about 2 square kilometers.

The very first community to become a city in British Columbia was New Westminster on July 16, 1860. The newest city is Mission. It changed from being a "district municipality" to a city on March 29, 2021.

What Makes a City?
- How a Community Becomes a City
Cities of British Columbia
Former Cities
Communities That Could Become Cities
Gallery
See also

What Makes a City?

To become a city in British Columbia, a community needs to meet a few rules. The most important rule is about population. A community must have more than 5,000 people living there.

How a Community Becomes a City

If a community wants to become a city, here's what usually happens:

First, the local government of the community asks the province for permission.
Then, the people who live in the community get to vote. More than half of the voters must agree to become a city.
If the vote passes, the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development recommends it.
Finally, the Lieutenant Governor in Council (which is like the Queen's representative and the provincial cabinet) gives official approval. This approval is given through a special document called "letters patent." This document makes the community an official city.

Cities of British Columbia

British Columbia has many cities, each with its own history and unique features. Here are some interesting facts about a few of them:

Vancouver is the largest city and a major center for business and culture.
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia.
Surrey is another very large city, known for its diverse communities.
Cities like Kelowna and Nanaimo are important centers in their regions.

Many cities in British Columbia have grown a lot over the years. For example, Langford saw a big increase in its population between 2016 and 2021.

Former Cities

Sometimes, a community that was once a city might change its status. This can happen if its population changes or if the local government decides to reorganize.

Kaslo was a city from 1893 to 1959. After that, it became a village.
Sandon was a city between 1898 and 1920.
Phoenix also held city status from 1900 to 1919.

Communities That Could Become Cities

As of the 2021 census, several other communities in British Columbia are large enough to become cities. They already have more than 5,000 people. These include nine towns like Comox, Ladysmith, and Sidney. Also, 21 "district municipalities" meet the population requirement to become cities if they choose to.