The City of Abbotsford Fun Facts

Did you know that Abbotsford is the largest municipality in BC by land area and the fifth largest by population?

ABBOTSFORD Demographics

Abbotsford is the largest municipality in BC by land area and the fifth largest by population. Its current population is 139,000. From 1991 to 2001 there was a 51% population increase and a similar increase is expected between now and 2036, seeing the population reach 206,000. The median age in Abbotsford is 37.5 years old, which is younger than the BC average. The total population over the age of 15 is 70,535 and of that population 15,165 (21.4%) hold a University certificate, diploma or degree at the bachelor level or above. 65% of Abbotsford’s citizens both live and work in Abbotsford. The top three industries of occupation in Abbotsford are:

  • Industrial, electrical and construction trades
  • Transport and heavy equipment operation and related maintenance occupations
  • Service support and other service occupations

 

Location, location, location

Abbotsford benefits from access and proximity to:

  • Easy access to Metro Vancouver (45 minutes to Vancouver via Highway 1)
  • Two US international border crossings (one of which is 24 hrs)
  • A newly expanded international airport with connecting flights world-wide
  • Close to CP and Southern Railway access
  • Corridor to BC interior

Abbotsford Amenities

Abbotsford is “the city in the country” with access to both rural settings and modern amenities. Abbotsford boasts over 2,584 acres of parkland and 98 kms of trails in 154 parks, with 84% of residents living within 500m of a park.

The University of the Fraser Valley is located in the heart of Abbotsford and has over 15,000 students per year.

The new retail centre, Highstreet Shopping Centre, at Mount Lehman Interchange has brought approximately 600,000 square feet of brand new retail development to the area resulting in a greater employee base and residential growth.

Business and Development in Abbotsford

Abbotsford boasts the lowest utility fees between its neighbouring municipalities of Mission, Chilliwack and the Township of Langley which helps businesses with their bottom land.
In 2014 Planning & Development Services coordinated 111 Development Inquiry Meetings (DIM), received 153 land development applications, created 282 lots, issued 1,374 building permits and completed 10,303 building inspections. These numbers show the healthy business activity in Abbotsford.
Development Inquiry Meetings (DIM) are an initiative of Planning & Development to help businesses through the development application process at the city. DIMs are an opportunity for developers or business owners to meet with city staff, discuss ideas, and determine how the city plans and policies could impact the application, all before an application is completed or submitted.

 

Sources:

The City of Abbotsford, Planning & Development Services Quarterly Report, Q1 2015
The City of Abbotsford, Planning & Development Services 2014 Annual Report
The City of Abbotsford, 2014 Demographic Profiles Abbotsford Summary
The City of Abbotsford Economic Development, Lifestyle & Business Statistics, published 2015

 

Todd Bohn

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