A naturally wonderful place to live
The area referred to as North Vancouver consists of two local governments. The City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver.
Situated across the Burrard inlet from downtown Vancouver, North Vancouver is the "must-see" destination for visitors to the Lower Mainland area of BC.
Nestled at the foot of the Coast Mountain range, the District of North Vancouver stretches from the coastal village of Deep Cove in the East to the world-famous Capilano River Canyon in the West. The North Shore Mountains as a back yard and Burrard Inlet as it's front yard. In between, North Vancouver is blessed with a spectacular range of natural and scenic landscapes: snow-capped mountains and alpine forests, lush parks and peaceful lakes, a rugged coastline and beautiful beaches. It is a place for recreation and adventure, a place to be with friends or to get away from it all, an unforgettable place to visit - again and again and again.
A 12-minute SeaBus ride away is the City of Vancouver. From there, the rest of the Lower Mainland is yours to explore - by car, bus, rapid transit or ferry.
The 2001 Census reported the population of the District at 82,310 and the City at 44,303.
A Brief History
In 1792, Captain George Vancouver and his ships entered Burrard Inlet and were greeted by Indians who were settled on the North Shore at the time. The Captain and his crew were bestowed with gifts of fish and in return, the Indians received iron.
The first industry in North Vancouver was a lumber mill around which the company and town of Moodyville grew. Once the most advanced community on Burrard Inlet, Moodyville was primarily led by Sewell Prescott Moody, the first entrepreneur to export BC lumber on a successful and continuing basis, both to the US and overseas. His accomplishments benefited this growing industry and helped establish the harbour of Burrard Inlet as Canada's principle port on the Pacific.
On August 10, 1891, the first municipality on the North Shore was formed as the District of North Vancouver. It stretched across the North Shore from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove but omitted Moodyville. In the early years of this century, a real estate boom took place, with speculators, including the British poet Rudyard Kipling - eager to turn a quick dollar. A new community began to take shape. In 1902, the Hotel North Vancouver was built; in 1905, the first bank - a branch of the Bank of North America - opened. A newspaper, the Express, commenced publication in 1905 and in 1906 the British Columbia Electric Railway Company began streetcar services.
Industry, particularly shipbuilding, became central, with the magnificent stands of trees a rich resource for a society in which ships, houses and most other manmade things were constructed mainly of wood. The Wallace Shipyards moved in 1906 to the area just east of Lonsdale Avenue, drawn by the arrival of electricity. Over the years, this company - later known as Burrard Dry Dock and then Versatile Pacific Shipyards - became a major force in the local economy. Many of the shipyard's buildings still stand although the company has now ceased operations.
Economic prosperity and rapid growth in the Lower Lonsdale area of North Vancouver led to the establishment in 1907 of the separate City of North Vancouver, with a population of approximately 1,500. West Vancouver separated from the District in 1912. Apart from the addition of Moodyville in 1915, the boundaries have not changed.
Dates of Interest
1925 - Second Narrows Bridge Opens for first time
1930 - Major Shipping Accident closed Second Narrows for 4 years
1933 - City of North Vancouver goes into receivership
1938 - Lions Gate Bridge Opens
