Area Tour - Life in the Fraser Valley

Yes, Langley is two entities: The City of Langley encircled by the Township of Langley. The area lies southeast of Vancouver BC (about a 50 minute drive) in the Fraser Valley. Outskirts are the U.S. Border to the south: the Fraser River to the north: Surrey to the west and the City of Abbotsford to the east. Population of Langley is about 24,000 (city) and the Township (including Walnut Grove and Aldergrove) as 87,500 projected to grow to 172,000 by the year 2026.

The local economy is a mixture of more than 150 manufacturers, warehouses and agriculture. Dairy, livestock and berry farming enterprises abound. Horse breeding and riding stables are also prominent. Many residents choose Langley for its country setting and rural appeal. Toward the downtown core, in the Langley Valley Town Centre, is the Willowbrook Regional Shopping Centre.

Langley City became a distinct area in 1955. It has one of the most favourable industrial tax rates in the Lower Mainland. A third of its land is devoted to business and industry, and the future space is limited. It has a solid downtown core along the Fraser Highway, one of two routes that take up the Langley Valley Town Centre within the GVRD. One of the largest seniors' populations in Canada lives in Langley.

Getting to know the Langley Area better!

Map of Langley Area

Brookswood (est. pop. 14,000), immediately south of Langley City, offers single-family and mobile home accommodations, quaint shopping areas and a Civic Recreation Centre.

Aldergrove (est. pop. 11,500 growing to 20,000), near the Township's eastern border, includes a large shopping mall, ice arena and six parks. Average home prices are lower here.

Willowbrook (est.pop. 4,900), at Langley City's northern edge is a quickly expanding community with a major shopping mall, racquetball club and elementary school.

Walnut Grove (est. pop. 21,500) north of the Trans Canada Highway has new homes and a good supply of building lots.

Forest Hills is a 50-hectare planned community that will eventually house 3,500 people in single family units and townhomes. Home designs must be approved before construction starts.

Fort Langley (est. pop. 2,600) is mainly a tourist destination. It was originally built as a Hudson's Bay Company post in 1827 and was the first European settlement in the area. It is now a National Historic Park. In 1858, this was B.C.'s first unofficial working capital.