Granville

Granville was a small settlement along the shore of Burrard Inlet in what is now British Columbia, covering six city blocks between the waterfront and Hastings Street. The area sat where the central district of Vancouver stands today, with streets running from Cambie to Carrall.

The Colony of British Columbia established the settlement in 1870, turning the area previously known as Gastown into an organized township. The decision to make it the railway terminus in 1884 soon led to its renaming as Vancouver and rapid growth.

The area where settlers once built their homes now forms the heart of downtown Vancouver, with office workers and visitors walking along streets that trace the original pathways. Local residents still refer to certain corners and blocks by their historical associations, keeping the memory of the early settlement alive in daily conversation.

The former settlement area sits within the busy downtown core today, where visitors can walk the streets that still follow the original grid. The natural harbor location that once led to its selection as a railway endpoint makes the district easy to reach from the waterfront even now.

The name survives today in several Vancouver landmarks, including Granville Street, Granville Island, and the Granville Entertainment District. These places carry on the name even though the original settlement itself disappeared over a century ago, becoming part of the larger city.

Location: British Columbia

Inception: 1870

Founders: Colony of British Columbia

GPS coordinates: 49.25000,-123.10000

Latest update: December 3, 2025 14:11