The City of Port Coquitlam in British Columbia, Canada is at the confluence of the Fraser and the Pitt rivers about 17 miles east and upstream of the City of Vancouver. The name “Coquitlam,” aboriginal in origin, signifies red fish in the river in reference to the river’s annual salmon spawning run. The City of Coquitlam surrounds Port Coquitlam on the north, west, and southwest and the rivers are on the east and the southeast.
Coquitlam’s geographical situation was a major impetus in its incorporation. Access to the Pitt and Fraser Rivers, proximity to Vancouver, and the presence of level land for rail yards attracted the Canadian Pacific Railway, which moved its freight operations to Port Coquitlam from Vancouver in 1911. At the end of World War II, there were approximately 1,500 area residents, in 1952 about 3,000, and in 1960 the population was around 8,400. The 2011 Census reported a population of 55,598, a 6.2-percent rise change from 52,687 in 2006. In the late 1990s, the population grew at a 9.8-percent rate; by 2001 25 percent were immigrants, and English was the first language of no more than 76 percent.
History
Farming began beside the Pitt River in 1859. When in 1911 the Canadian Pacific Railway moved its freight operations to then “Westminster Junction,” where a spur line went to New Westminster, development increased dramatically, and Westminster Junction incorporated as the Port Coquitlam municipality in March 1913.
Before the Second World War, the bulk of the Port Coquitlam population worked for the railway or for the Essondale Provincial Mental Hospital southwest of the city. After 1952, major industries arrived in Port Coquitlam. Since 1988 industrial development has been intense with new businesses sprouting in the Davies Industrial Park, the Mary Hill Industrial Estate, and Meridian Industrial Park
Mostly farmland at first, Port Coquitlam is now primarily suburban housing in its northern and southwestern areas. The economy is now diverse with various industrial and commercial developments in metal fabrication, high-technology, and transport industries.
As a primarily suburban locale, Port Coquitlam relies heavily on roads to move goods and people. The Lougheed Highway, Provincial Highway 7, bisects Port Coquitlam from Coquitlam in the west to the Pitt River Bridge to the City of Pitt Meadows across the river in the east. The Mary Hill Bypass, Highway 7B, runs adjacent to the Fraser River from the Pitt River Bridge on the east to the TransCanada Highway Bridge from Coquitlaim to Surrey on the west.
TransLink Bus Route #159 connects southern Port Coquitlam to the SkyTrain Braid and Lougheed Town Centre stations. Bus Route #160 links Port Coquitlam and Vancouver via the Coquitlam Central and Port Moody West Coast Express stations. Bus Route #C38 connects northern Port Coquitlam to the SkyTrain Coquitlam Central Station.
In October 2009 the new, seven-lane cable-stayed Pitt River Bridge replaced the swing bridges connecting Port Coquitlam and the City of Pitt Meadows on the east side of the river. In March 2010 the Coast Meridian Overpass, a new, four-lane, cable-stayed bridge, opened for travel north and south over the Canadian Pacific Railway Oxford Street rail yard.
Builder & Investor Alert! Location, Location, Location! Super fast development area. Potential for rezoning to high density zoning. Must be purchased in conjunction with 2751 Kitchener Ave. Back Lane Access, Close to all amenities, transportation & Coquitlam Town Centre core. Do not miss it!More details
Fantastic floor plan with 4 bedrooms on the upper floor and additional 4 rooms at the basement with functional layout. Big kitchen, living room, family room, office on the main floor.This house will be ready by Jan, 2023. You will have time to choose your color before it is completed. Location is close to schools, public transport, and shopping. 2-5-10 new house has 2-5-10 warranty.More details
Huge lot, quiet neighborhood, central location close to shopping mall, Skytrain, bus station, and restaurants. Fully rented, Great property with future subdivision potential.More details
Custom Quality built home in very sought after neighborhood in POCO. Quality shows, beautiful interior with attention to details. Quite area. Contains engineered hardwood floor/ top of the line Miele appliances/Radiant heating / air conditioning/ security system/ wetbar/ office with custom cabinets/huge island kitchen waterfall edge/spice kitchen/ remote blinds in living area/ Built in speakers throughout with microphone/ vacuum built-in/ home theatre set up/ quartz used even in suites/ gas hook up outside. Two suites (legal two bedroom and a in-law one bedroom suite)/ stainless steel appliances in suite. Close to shopping and skytrain, very central location everything within 10 mins. Private elementary, middle school on 1 block.First showing at Open House Sat and Sun 1-2 pm.More details
Investor and Builder Alert! The property is located in Glenwood community Port Coquitlam. 9100 sqft large lot, beautiful park view. RS-4 zoning with potential to be subdivided into two RS-4 lots. The subdivided application is ongoing. Recently renovated on main floor including new flooring, new paint, new kitchen with new fridge, new stove, new dishwasher and new washer/dryer, new bathroom. Close to Coquitlam shopping centre, skytrain station.park just across the street, close to all levels of schools, steps away to popular private elementary school - Hope Lutheran.More details