Township of Langley, BC: Complete Community Guide

The Township of Langley is a large, fast-growing municipality of about 130,000 people in the eastern part of Metro Vancouver, where the city meets the Fraser Valley. It is a patchwork of distinct communities, from historic Fort Langley, the "birthplace of British Columbia," to the new urban neighbourhoods of Willoughby, the family suburbs of Walnut Grove and Brookswood, and the small towns of Aldergrove and Murrayville. About three-quarters of the Township is farmland, home to wineries, horse farms, berry fields and farm markets. It completely surrounds the separate City of Langley on three sides.

The Township of Langley sits on the traditional and unceded territories of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthkwi (Matsqui) and se'mya'me (Semiahmoo) First Nations.

Township of Langley at a Glance: Quick Facts

Statistics Canada counted the population again in May 2026, but city-level results are not expected until 2027. Figures on this page use the 2021 census unless stated.

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History of the Township of Langley

Before the Township

For thousands of years, the Kwantlen, Katzie, Matsqui and Semiahmoo peoples fished, hunted and gathered along the Fraser River, Salmon River and Nicomekl River. The Kwantlen First Nation's main reserve is on McMillan Island, across a channel from Fort Langley.

The birthplace of British Columbia

In 1827 the Hudson's Bay Company built Fort Langley on the Fraser River as a fur-trading post. It became a major centre for the salmon trade and farming, and the Fort Langley farm at Langley Prairie supplied HBC posts along the coast. On November 19, 1858, the Colony of British Columbia was proclaimed at Fort Langley, which is why the village calls itself the birthplace of British Columbia. Today the restored fort is the Fort Langley National Historic Site.

Farms and villages

Settlers cleared farms across the area, and on April 26, 1873, the Township of Langley was incorporated. Small villages grew at Fort Langley, Murrayville, Aldergrove, Milner, Glen Valley and other crossroads. The BC Electric interurban railway crossed the Township from 1910, and the area remained largely rural for most of the 20th century. In 1955 the urban centre at Langley Prairie separated to form the City of Langley.

Suburban growth

The opening of the Trans-Canada Highway and later the Port Mann Bridge made the Township a commuter suburb. Walnut Grove and Brookswood grew in the 1980s and 1990s, and since the 2000s Willoughby has become one of the fastest-growing areas in Metro Vancouver. The Golden Ears Bridge to Maple Ridge opened in 2009, and the Langley Events Centre opened the same year. The SkyTrain extension now under construction will include a station at Willowbrook, near the Township's civic centre.

Key dates in Township of Langley history

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Geography of the Township of Langley

The Township stretches from the Fraser River in the north to the US border in the south, and from Surrey in the west to Abbotsford in the east, completely surrounding the small City of Langley except on its western side. Its landscape is gently rolling farmland and forest, crossed by the Salmon River, Nicomekl River and Little Campbell River. Much of the land is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, while urban growth is concentrated in Willoughby, Walnut Grove, Murrayville, Brookswood and Aldergrove.

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Township of Langley Communities

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Township of Langley Climate and Weather

The Township has a mild oceanic climate. Being inland, it is warmer in summer and colder in winter than coastal Vancouver, with more frost and occasional snow, especially in the east near Aldergrove.

Figures are approximate, based on Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for the area.

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Urban Planning in the Township of Langley

Rapid growth in Willoughby, along with the arrival of SkyTrain, dominates planning in the Township. Mayor Woodward's council has focused on catching up on infrastructure, including widening 208 Street and building new recreation facilities, parks and roads, while also planning dense, transit-oriented communities around the future Willowbrook station. Protecting farmland in the Agricultural Land Reserve, preserving the heritage character of Fort Langley and managing the costs of new infrastructure, including a rising debt load, are other major debates.

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Township of Langley Landmarks

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Township of Langley Demographics and Population

The 2021 census counted 132,603 people in the Township, up about 13% from 2016, one of the fastest growth rates in Metro Vancouver. The Township has many young families, especially in Willoughby, and a large share of homeowners. About a quarter of residents were born outside Canada.

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Ethnicity and Cultural Diversity

Figures are rounded from the Statistics Canada 2021 Census Profile. Willoughby and Walnut Grove have the most diverse populations, with growing South Asian, Chinese and Korean communities.

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Languages Spoken in the Township of Langley

English is the main language. Other common languages include Punjabi, Mandarin, Korean, Cantonese, German, Dutch, Tagalog and Spanish. Many farming families in the Township have Dutch and German heritage.

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Religion in the Township of Langley

The Township has a strong Christian community, with many churches, including Evangelical, Mennonite, Reformed, Catholic and other congregations. A large share of residents reported no religion in 2021, and there are growing Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu communities.

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LGBTQ2S+ Township of Langley

The Township has an active LGBTQ2S+ community, with Pride events in the Langleys, inclusive library and recreation programs, and local support groups. Debates over SOGI school resources have been part of local politics in recent years.

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Homelessness in the Township of Langley

Homelessness in the City and Township of Langley is counted together. Most visible homelessness and most shelters and services are in the City of Langley's downtown, while the Township has fewer visible encampments. The Township works with BC Housing and local agencies on supportive housing and outreach.

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Township of Langley Economy

The Township has a diverse economy:

• Agriculture: dairy, poultry, berries, nurseries, horse farms and greenhouses, plus a growing wine industry with many wineries
• Retail: Willowbrook Shopping Centre and the large commercial areas of Willoughby and Walnut Grove
• Industry and logistics: business parks in Gloucester, Campbell Heights and along Highway 1
• Education and health: Trinity Western University, Langley Memorial Hospital and the Langley School District
• Tourism: Fort Langley, wineries, farm markets, the Greater Vancouver Zoo and equestrian events

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Township Government, Mayor and Council

The Township is governed by a mayor and eight councillors, all elected Township-wide for four-year terms, and voters also elect trustees to the Langley Board of Education (School District 35). The Township Civic Facility is at 20338 65 Avenue.

Mayor and councillors (term 2022–2026)

Misty van Popta was also elected to council in 2022. One seat became vacant during the term and was filled in a by-election held on October 25, 2025.

The next civic election is Saturday, October 17, 2026. Mayor Woodward is seeking re-election with his Progress for Langley slate, and other civic parties, including Langley Strong, are also running candidates.

Other levels of government

The Township is split among several federal and provincial ridings, including Langley Township–Fraser Heights and Cloverdale–Langley City federally. Metro Vancouver provides regional services, and TransLink runs transit.

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Policing and Crime in the Township of Langley

The Township is policed by the Langley RCMP, which serves both the Township and the City of Langley. The Township of Langley Fire Department, with career and paid-on-call firefighters, provides fire protection. Crime rates are moderate; most reported crime is property crime, such as thefts from vehicles and break-ins in commercial and rural areas.

For emergencies call 9-1-1. For non-emergency matters, contact the Langley RCMP.

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Military in the Township of Langley

The Township has no military base. The Royal Canadian Legion has branches in Langley and Aldergrove, and Remembrance Day ceremonies are held each November 11 in Fort Langley, Aldergrove, Murrayville and Walnut Grove.

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Township of Langley Sister Cities

The Township does not currently promote any formal sister city relationships. Check with the Township of Langley for the latest information.

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Public Transport and Getting Around the Township of Langley

Driving and bridges

Highway 1 crosses the Township from the Port Mann Bridge toward Abbotsford, and the Golden Ears Bridge links Langley to Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Highway 10, Highway 13 (264 Street) to the Aldergrove–Lynden border crossing, Fraser Highway and 200 and 208 streets are other key routes. Most residents rely on cars because of the large rural area.

Cycling and walking

Popular routes include the Fort to Fort Trail along the Fraser River, the trails of Campbell Valley and Derby Reach regional parks, and the equestrian-friendly rural roads and trails that earn Langley the title of "Horse Capital of BC."

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Schools, Universities and Colleges in the Township of Langley

The Langley School District (School District 35) serves the Township and the City of Langley and is growing quickly, especially in Willoughby, where new schools have opened. Secondary schools in the Township include Aldergrove Community Secondary, Brookswood Secondary, D.W. Poppy Secondary, Langley Fine Arts School, R.E. Mountain Secondary and Walnut Grove Secondary. There are also many independent schools, including several Christian schools.

Trinity Western University, a private Christian university, is located in the Township, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Langley campus is in the neighbouring City of Langley.

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Libraries in the Township of Langley

The Township is served by several Fraser Valley Regional Library branches, including Aldergrove, Brookswood, Fort Langley, Murrayville, Walnut Grove and the Muriel Arnason Library at the Township Civic Facility. Membership is free for residents.

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Arts and Culture in the Township of Langley

Filming locations

Fort Langley is one of the busiest filming locations in the Lower Mainland, regularly standing in for small-town America in film and TV, and the Township's farms, barns and country roads are also popular with productions.

Media

• Local news: Langley Advance Times, Aldergrove Star
• Regional: CBC, CTV, Global BC and CityNews

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Township of Langley Nightlife

The Township's evenings are about food, wine and craft beer. Fort Langley has restaurants and pubs in heritage buildings, and wineries, craft breweries and distilleries are scattered across the countryside. Willoughby and Walnut Grove have casual dining and pubs, and the Langley Events Centre hosts concerts and sports. For clubs, most people head to Surrey or Vancouver.

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Parks and Nature in the Township of Langley

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Natural Attractions In and Near the Township of Langley

The Township's countryside is its biggest natural attraction: rolling farms, horse pastures, berry fields and forested regional parks. In summer, visitors pick berries, tour wineries and visit farm markets on the "Circle Farm Tour." The Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove is home to hundreds of animals, and the Fraser River offers fishing and riverside walks. Golden Ears Provincial Park and the Fraser Valley are a short drive away.

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Things to Do in the Township of Langley: Top Attractions

1. Explore Fort Langley village and the National Historic Site.
2. Tour Langley's wineries and farm markets.
3. Visit the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove.
4. Walk the Fort to Fort Trail along the Fraser.
5. Hike Campbell Valley Regional Park.
6. Catch a Vancouver Giants or Bandits game at the Langley Events Centre.
7. See vintage aircraft at the Canadian Museum of Flight.
8. Pick berries at a local farm in summer.
9. Shop at Willowbrook Shopping Centre.
10. Watch an equestrian event in the "Horse Capital of BC."

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Sports Teams and Recreation in the Township of Langley

The Langley Events Centre is home to the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League, the Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League and the Langley Rivermen of the BC Hockey League, and hosts major provincial championships. The Township also has the W.C. Blair Recreation Centre, Walnut Grove Community Centre, Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre with its outdoor pool, the Willoughby Community Centre and many sports fields and arenas. Equestrian sport, golf, lacrosse, baseball and soccer are especially popular.

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Annual Events and Festivals in the Township of Langley

Dates change from year to year, so check with organizers before you go.

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Sustainability and Green City Goals

The Township's sustainability priorities include protecting farmland in the Agricultural Land Reserve, safeguarding salmon-bearing streams such as the Salmon River, protecting the Hopington and Brookswood aquifers that supply local wells, managing growth in Willoughby and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Flood protection along the Fraser River is also an important issue.

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Township Services and Amenities

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Township of Langley FAQ

What is the difference between the Township and the City of Langley?

They are separate municipalities. The Township is the much larger area of suburbs, villages and farmland, including Fort Langley, Walnut Grove, Willoughby and Aldergrove. The City of Langley is the small urban centre that the Township surrounds.

Why is Fort Langley called the birthplace of British Columbia?

The Colony of British Columbia was proclaimed at Fort Langley on November 19, 1858.

What is the Township of Langley known for?

Fort Langley, farms and wineries, horses, the Langley Events Centre, the Greater Vancouver Zoo and the fast-growing Willoughby area.

What is the population of the Township of Langley?

The 2021 census counted 132,603 people.

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Sources

• Global News: 2022 Township of Langley election results
• Province of BC: Surrey Langley SkyTrain monthly status report
• Metro Vancouver: Homeless population data
• Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population

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