Just a 40-minute drive east of downtown Vancouver, Langley (pop 130,000) attracts visitors with its blend of historic and heritage sites, engaging museums, circle routes that visit local farms and nurseries, wine tours, horseback riding, and boutique and big-box shopping. Fort Langley, nestled next to the Fraser River, gave the city of Langley its first claim to fame in the mid-19th century as the "Birthplace of British Columbia." Yet Langley now delivers the kind of accommodations, dining, and other amenities that visitors expect in the 21st century. Whether it's hiking through local parks, family-friendly festivals, or glitzy movie theatre and casino experiences, it's all here in this Fraser Valley community. The history of Langley is inextricably linked to the Fort, which is now considered an "historical village" within the larger Langley city and township. Fort Langley was founded in 1827 as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post, and maintained that role until 1886. The fur trade, salmon canning, and farming were key activities. The fort's historic high point came in 1858 during the Fraser River Gold Rush.
Source: Tourism BC