Market Information
 |
 |
Maple Ridge
|
Population: 78,015 Households: 27,955 |
|
|
MAPLE RIDGE
From pristine mountains to agricultural plains; from home
businesses to lumber mills; from forested park land to urban sophistication; Maple Ridge offers a wealth of diversity to all who live or visit here.
Located an hour’s drive east of Vancouver, one of Canada’s major commercial centres, our community benefits from the many advantages a sophisticated city has to offer, while enjoying a quieter lifestyle, away from the urban pace.
With the majestic Golden Ears Mountains to the north and the mighty Fraser River, to the south, Maple Ridge consists of 260 sq km of land, that is a reflection of both it’s rural heritage and an optimistic future.
POPULATION
· Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows together comprise 3.5% of the region’s population and 3.3% of its households
· The proportion of males and females is approximately equal
· There is a higher proportion of children (0-19 years old) and a lower proportion of elderly adults (85+ years old)
· The 2010 projection of population shows a growth rate that is higher than that of the Lower Mainland-Fraser Valley (17% increase in population, 24% increase in households)
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
· The average household income ($61,500) is the same as the Lower Mainland-Fraser Valley regional average
· Household expenditure is approximately 1% above the Lower Mainland-Fraser Valley regional average
· Household expenditure is above the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows average for games of chance (gambling), household furnishings and recreation
· Household expenditure is below the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows average for education and reading materials
INDUSTRY
While there was unprecedented growth in population during the eighties, growth began to slow during the early nineties. Recent improvements in highway access to our community and the addition of the West Coast Express commuter train service, has contributed to another upturn in the Maple Ridge population. Though approximately 65% of residents commute to work in other communities, there is rapid growth in commercial development, local business and housing to meet the needs of our increasing population.
Maple Ridge’s industrial roots lie in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and mining. Today our primary industries still reflect this history. The largest manufacturing industry is wood processing, with two companies, Interfor and Fletcher Challenge Canada accounting for more than one third of the manufacturing work force. Agricultural roots are maintained in rural farming, nursery, and green house operations.
Other industries include boat building, metal fabrication, battery manufacturing, plastics, and sand and gravel. There are presently three active industrial areas, Maple Meadows Business Park, containing light and medium industrial manufacturing, and some high tech industry;
Albion Industrial Area with mixed industrial use; and Ruskin/Whonnock Industrial Area with primarily wood related industries.
Our slower pace and still tranquil surroundings also make Maple Ridge an attractive location for home business owners, artists and writers.
COMMUNITY
Maple Ridge is a place for families. A friendly, small town atmosphere is maintained with many festivals and celebrations, from agricultural fairs to jazz festivals, held throughout the year. It is rare to attend one of these
events and not run into friends and neighbours.
Sports and recreation facilities including a leisure centre, winter club, skating rink, and several parks and sports fields, provide many alternatives for healthy living. Clean, modern schools offer quality education for children of all ages and abilities.
The Thomas Haney Campus of Douglas College, a unique concept in Canadian education, was planned and built to house a secondary school and college campus under one roof. This combination of secondary school and college allows students to progress uninterrupted from grade eight to the completion of a college diploma, university transfer courses or preparation for other programs of study. Proximity to Vancouver, also offers students a wide range of choices in post secondary education.
A network of health, social and emergency facilities and services are locally available.
Maple Ridge and the Fraser Valley experience the longest frost free period and growing season, approximately 230 days, in Canada. With a Marine West Coast climate and mild moist winters, vegetation is lush and rich year round. The District receives from 164 to 195 cm of precipitation per year, 95% of which falls as rain.
In summer, winds are light, usually off the Pacific from the south west.
Surrounded by beckoning beauty, the outdoor recreation possibilities are limitless. The many forests, lakes and estuaries; parks, trails and dike systems offer boundless opportunities for residents and visitors alike to walk, hike, bike, canoe, kayak, camp and fish. Maple Ridge boasts one of the largest horse populations per capita in Western Canada, again reflecting it’s rural past. A network of over 20 miles of equestrian trails offer ample space to ride. Abundant bird and wildlife populations thrive in the nearby rivers, marshes, lakes, estuaries and in the nearby Reibolt Bird Sanctuary. Avid golfers will find several challenging courses located in these stunning surroundings.
Maple Ridge offers the best of both worlds to it’s residents. With Vancouver only an hour away, we have access to universities and colleges, libraries, museums, galleries, theatres, world class sporting events and venues, health care facilities, and international travel opportunities, all while living in, and enjoying, our rural surroundings, right here at home.
LOCATION
The District of Maple Ridge lies on the north shore of the
Fraser River, 45 km east of the city of Vancouver. With the
magnificent Coastal Mountains to the north, the Stave and Pitt Rivers forming our east and western boundaries, and the busy Fraser River to the south, Maple Ridge is a community that offers the positive advantages that proximity to a major urban trade centre can provide, combined with a tranquil setting and small town atmosphere.
PITT MEADOWS
The community of Pitt Meadows, our immediate neighbour to
the west, is known as the Gateway to the Fraser Valley. An
energetic young community, Pitt Meadows is presently home to approximately 14,900 people. It is 86 sq km, 60% of which is occupied by it’s predominant industry, agriculture. Berry fields and dairy farms, dikes, trails, lakes, and rivers surround it’s residential and downtown core.
With a landscape similar to Maple Ridge, it too is conducive to a variety of recreational pursuits and activities. Amenities have grown accordingly. Excellent schools, a library, churches, health care facilities, financial institutions, and affordable housing add to it’s appeal. A new town centre recreation complex was completed
in the Fall of 2000.
A busy local airport, is one of the main contributors both in revenue and employment in the area, offering a variety of services from charter flights and seaplane access to helicopter rides and parachute lessons. Pitt Meadows Airport is in a strong position to compete for commercial aviation traffic.
Growth in the Fraser Valley, on the north side of the river now extends to Mission, our neighbour to the east. An increase in amenities has accompanied the population growth in this community, as well. Much of the landscape here is forested by the tree farms that cover 75% of the land, giving Mission the appearance of being a single, expansive park. Many shake and shingle mills operate in the area. Mission is another community that supports the arts, hosting a Folk Music Festival each summer A new performing arts theatre was completed here in 1997.
Information source: http://www.mapleridge.org/business/community_profile.html
Data analysis by Jim Holt
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
