North Cowichan

North Cowichan
The Corporation of the District of North Cowichan
Coat of arms of North Cowichan
Motto: 
No Steps Backwards
North Cowichan is located in Vancouver Island
North Cowichan
North Cowichan
Location of North Cowichan in British Columbia
North Cowichan is located in British Columbia
North Cowichan
North Cowichan
North Cowichan (British Columbia)
Coordinates: 48°49′25″N 123°43′9″W / 48.82361°N 123.71917°W / 48.82361; -123.71917
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional DistrictCVRD
Incorporated1873
Government
 • MayorRob Douglas
 • Governing bodyNorth Cowichan Council
 • MPsAlistair MacGregor
 • MLAsSonia Furstenau and Doug Routley
Area
 • Total195.54 km2 (75.50 sq mi)
Population
(2021)
 • Total31,990
 • Density163.7/km2 (424/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Area code+1-250
Websitewww.northcowichan.ca Edit this at Wikidata

North Cowichan (Canada 2021 Census population 31,990) is a district municipality established in 1873 on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. The municipality is part of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. North Cowichan is noted for a landscape including forests, beaches, rivers, and lakes. The municipality encompasses the communities of Chemainus; Westholme; Crofton; Maple Bay; and "the South End". The latter is an informal name for a built-up area which is essentially a suburb of the City of Duncan, a separate municipality.

Geography

Located on the east coast of southern Vancouver Island, North Cowichan is centrally located immediately north of and adjacent to the city of Duncan and south of Ladysmith. Spanning 193.98 square kilometers, North Cowichan includes the communities of Chemainus, Crofton, Westholme, Maple Bay and the so-called "South End" which is functionally a suburb of Duncan, a separate municipality.

Geology

The last glacial period, the Fraser Glaciation occurred between 29,000 and 15,000 years ago. The glaciers that formed carved out the Cowichan Valley and left behind glaciers up to 30 metres thick. These fertile lands and mild climate have led to a history rich in agriculture.

Climate

Sheltered by the mountains of the central Island and the Olympic Peninsula, North Cowichan has a temperate, Mediterranean-like climate, with mild, damp winters with little snowfall and warm, dry summers. North Cowichan is classified as a warm-summer mediterranean climate Csb by the Köppen system.

Climate data for North Cowichan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.5
(56.3)
18.5
(65.3)
23.5
(74.3)
28.5
(83.3)
32.0
(89.6)
42.0
(107.6)
37.0
(98.6)
34.5
(94.1)
35
(95)
27
(81)
18
(64)
15
(59)
42.0
(107.6)
Average high °C (°F) 6.6
(43.9)
8.6
(47.5)
11.3
(52.3)
14.9
(58.8)
18.5
(65.3)
21
(70)
24.5
(76.1)
24.3
(75.7)
22.5
(72.5)
15.1
(59.2)
9.6
(49.3)
6.1
(43.0)
15.3
(59.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8)
4.3
(39.7)
6.3
(43.3)
9.2
(48.6)
12.4
(54.3)
15.0
(59.0)
17.8
(64.0)
17.5
(63.5)
15.2
(59.4)
10.0
(50.0)
5.9
(42.6)
3.1
(37.6)
10.0
(50.0)
Average low °C (°F) −0.2
(31.6)
−0.1
(31.8)
1.3
(34.3)
3.5
(38.3)
6.3
(43.3)
9.0
(48.2)
11.0
(51.8)
10.7
(51.3)
7.9
(46.2)
4.9
(40.8)
2.2
(36.0)
0.2
(32.4)
4.7
(40.5)
Record low °C (°F) −14.0
(6.8)
−15.0
(5.0)
−10.0
(14.0)
−3.0
(26.6)
−1.5
(29.3)
2.5
(36.5)
5.0
(41.0)
5.0
(41.0)
0.0
(32.0)
−4.5
(23.9)
−10.5
(13.1)
−15.5
(4.1)
−15.5
(4.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 238.0
(9.37)
164.0
(6.46)
133.0
(5.24)
85.0
(3.35)
51.0
(2.01)
40.0
(1.57)
25.0
(0.98)
33.0
(1.30)
28.0
(1.10)
117.0
(4.61)
222.0
(8.74)
229.0
(9.02)
1,365
(53.75)
Source: The Weather Network

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, North Cowichan had a population of 31,990 living in 13,741 of its 14,266 total private dwellings, a change of 7.7% from its 2016 population of 29,696. With a land area of 195.41 km2 (75.45 sq mi), it had a population density of 163.7/km2 (424.0/sq mi) in 2021.

The median family income in 2006 for North Cowichan was $62,125, which is below the British Columbia provincial average of $65,787.

Ethnicity

Panethnic groups in the District of North Cowichan (1986−2021)
Panethnic
group
2021 2016 2011 2006 2001 1996 1991 1986: 104 
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European 25,875 82.34% 24,585 84.67% 24,880 88.1% 23,705 86.78% 22,695 87.85% 22,505 89.64% 19,105 89.88% 16,665 89.91%
Indigenous 2,860 9.1% 2,380 8.2% 1,985 7.03% 1,880 6.88% 1,570 6.08% 1,225 4.88% 985 4.63% 790 4.26%
South
Asian
900 2.86% 870 3% 720 2.55% 1,015 3.72% 995 3.85% 940 3.74% 800 3.76% 795 4.29%
East
Asian
640 2.04% 535 1.84% 315 1.12% 340 1.24% 230 0.89% 270 1.08% 175 0.82% 245 1.32%
Southeast
Asian
565 1.8% 370 1.27% 210 0.74% 200 0.73% 175 0.68% 90 0.36% 60 0.28% 25 0.13%
African 280 0.89% 85 0.29% 60 0.21% 45 0.16% 90 0.35% 25 0.1% 55 0.26% 0 0%
Latin
American
90 0.29% 65 0.22% 50 0.18% 55 0.2% 30 0.12% 20 0.08% 20 0.09% 15 0.08%
Middle
Eastern
85 0.27% 75 0.26% 0 0% 30 0.11% 20 0.08% 0 0% 55 0.26% 0 0%
Other 135 0.43% 65 0.22% 0 0% 35 0.13% 25 0.1% 20 0.08% N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total
responses
31,425 98.23% 29,035 97.84% 28,240 98.03% 27,315 99.12% 25,835 98.8% 25,105 99.21% 21,255 99.45% 18,535 99.26%
Total
population
31,990 100% 29,676 100% 28,807 100% 27,557 100% 26,148 100% 25,305 100% 21,373 100% 18,674 100%
  • Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in North Cowichan included:

Communities

  • Chemainus
  • Crofton
  • Maple Bay
  • South End (adjacent to the City of Duncan)

Transportation

North Cowichan is serviced by the Maple Bay Airport (YAQ), which offers services to Vancouver Downtown, Vancouver Airport, Ganges on Salt Spring Island and Bedwell Harbour on Pender Island. Service is provided by Saltspring Air and Harbour Air.

The British Columbia Highway 1 traverses the municipality as a four-lane arterial divided highway with signals at major intersections. The speed limit varies between 80 and 90 km/h.

British Columbia Highway 18 connects North Cowichan to Lake Cowichan as a 2-lane facility with a speed limit as high as 100 km/h.

Bus service in the municipality is provided by the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

North Cowichan has embraced roundabouts at many intersections on its network of municipal roads. As of 2021 North Cowichan has 14 roundabouts.

Economy

The original economic drivers steamed from the abundance of natural resources, including the fur trade, fishing, mining, and the forest industry. Today, the forest industry, retail, construction, manufacturing, and health care are large contributors to the local economy.

Education

North Cowichan lies within the School District 79 Cowichan Valley. There are many elementary schools, and two secondary schools.

North Cowichan is served by one public post secondary educational institution, Vancouver Island University.

Media outlets

North Cowichan is served by three newspapers – the Duncan Journal, the Cowichan Valley Citizen, and the Chemainus Valley Courier. North Cowichan is also serviced by 89.7 Juice FM, a member of Vista Radio.

Attractions

North Cowichan is home to the BC Forest Discovery Centre, the Pacific Northwest Raptors Bird of Prey and Raptor Visitor Center, and the world famous Chemainus Murals.

Arts

The Cowichan Theatre hosts many performers and shows during the year. The Chemainus Theatre Festival features classic and award-winning comedies, musicals and dramas.

Recreation

North Cowichan is home to many recreation centres, including the Cowichan Aquatic Centre, cowichan community Centre, Fuller Lake Arena and the Cowichan Sportsplex. North Cowichan offers numerous parks and hiking trails.

Power supply

The Vancouver Island terminal of the HVDC Vancouver-Island is found here.


This page was last updated at 2023-09-10 07:10 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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