Chilliwack

Chilliwack is a city in Fraser Valley Regional District in southwestern British Columbia, lying between river lowlands and mountain slopes. The municipality includes both the historic town center and rural zones where farmsteads, orchards, and grazing land shape the landscape.

The settlement emerged as a stopping point during the gold rush in the 1860s and became an incorporated township in 1873. Decades later, in 1980, the city and township merged into a single administrative unit.

The name comes from the Halq'eméylem language of the Stó:lō and points to the centuries-long presence of indigenous communities along the Fraser River. Visitors today encounter this connection through local place names, public art, and stories shared by First Nations communities who keep their culture alive through events and education programs.

Most public facilities, shops, and services cluster in the town center along Yale Road and Young Road. Visitors can explore the area by car, as distances between different neighborhoods and points of interest often span several kilometers.

The region holds an unusually high number of dairy farms, supported by its fertile alluvial soil. Each spring, millions of blooming tulips transform wide sections of the valley floor into a sea of color that draws visitors from across the province.

Location: Fraser Valley Regional District

Elevation above the sea: 10 m

Shares border with: Kent, Abbotsford

Website: https://chilliwack.com

GPS coordinates: 49.15772,-121.95092

Latest update: December 13, 2025 15:43