Vancouver is named after Captain George Vancouver, who “discovered” the area in 1792.  Of course indigenous peoples have lived here since time out of mind.  The name “Vancouver” is actually Dutch, “Van Coevorden,” meaning someone who lives in the city of Coevorden, located in the Netherlands.  His family immigrated to England, and the surname changed.  I suppose this phenomenon has been happening forever, though I found it surprising.  

Europeans settled the area almost a century later in 1862.  The city was incorporated in 1886 after a gold rush in the 1880s.  Once the Trans Canadian railway arrived, the city established itself as a major west coast port and the population steadily grew thereafter.  Now roughly 2.6 million people call the larger metro area home, with about 650,000 thousand living inside the city.  This is about the size of the Charlotte, North Carolina metro area, which includes Concord and Gastonia.  

Anecdotally I can tell you the city is wildly diverse.  I see many ethnic Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans living here, and many of my fellow tourists hail from somewhere in Asia or Oceania.  Canada is part of The Commonwealth, so English accents are … common.  Not surprisingly Europeans generally are well represented.  Lots of Indians (from India).  Also many native peoples, whom I don’t encounter much in my usual beat.  Very few Africans or Arabs, though.  Lastly, there is very large LGBT population.  (Vancouver is known as Canada’s most Gay Friendly City.)  The data backs up my observations.  Vancouver is one of the most diverse cities in the world. 

We’re staying in Coal Harbour, which is part of downtown.  It’s near Gastown, the original area where Vancouver began.  Gastown has lots of trendy restaurants and tourist shops.  Reminds me of SoHo in New York City. 

I will send pics this evening.