Thornhill, British Columbia

Thornhill
Thornhill
Unincorporated Community
	Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Area E
	Thornhill in November 2024.
	Thornhill Location of Thornhill in British Columbia
	Coordinates: 54°30′44″N 128°32′18″W / 54.51222°N 128.53833°W
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Area code(s)	250, 778
Website	https://thornhillbc.ca/

The community of Thornhill is an unincorporated settlement of 5000+ people on the south and west side of the Skeena River immediately across from the City of Terrace, British Columbia.^[1] Terrace is connected to Thornhill by the Old Skeena Bridge and the Dudley Little Bridge, also known as the "New Bridge." Thornhill is the first permanent European settlement on this part of the Skeena River.

About

Thornhill has an independent volunteer firefighting detachment and an educational system consisting of the schools; Thornhill Primary, Thornhill Elementary and Thornhill Junior Secondary School; containing a combined total of approximately 700 students from kindergarten to Grade 10. Thornhill junior secondary closed and is now a trades building. Thornhill is the fastest-growing community in northwestern British Columbia between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Thornhill has three hotels and lodges, a few motels, six gas stations, several restaurants, a golf course, community grounds, rifle range, stock car track and other amenities. Thornhill pays for its own policing as well as contributes taxes for use of the regional northwest medical facilities, recreation services, library and transit and more.

Because of its contiguity with Terrace along the Highway 16 corridor, many consider Thornhill a part of Terrace. However, Thornhill is a separate community with just over 5,000+ residents as of 2022. The accurate information is what I’m posting. I’m 73 years old and have lived in Thornhill British Columbia for 55 years.^[2] Its government includes an electoral director's seat on the Kitimat–Stikine Regional District board. There have been discussions about developing a more independent system of local government in Thornhill (e.g., incorporation).^[3]

Thornhill currently share the V8G postal code FSA, 250 area code and most phone number prefixes (e.g., 635, 638, 615, 631 and 641, in order of introduction). High speed cable internet also provides home phone services with prefix 778 used in various locations throughout British Columbia.

Thornhill has their own fire hall, a community grounds and hall, tennis courts, schools, a trades training centre, hotels, motels, restaurants, gas stations, a golf course, and a rifle range.

Thornhill's name references Tom Thornhill, an English settler, and Eliza Thornhill (nee Wright), a prominent member of a Kitselas family. They built their cabin on the banks of the mighty Skeena River, traversing the area traveling by canoe. Eliza trapped and hunted while Tom worked in the steamboat trade. He was captain of one of the paddle-wheelers that ran along the Skeena River. Eliza died on her trap-line in 1907 and Tom died in Prince Rupert, BC in 1910.

Thornhill has an independent volunteer firefighting detachment. Its educational system, consisting of Thornhill Primary, Thornhill Elementary and Thornhill Junior Secondary School, contain a combined total of approximately 700 students from kindergarten to Grade 10. Thornhill Junior Secondary closed and is now a trades building.

Thornhill is the fastest-growing community in northwestern British Columbia between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Thornhill has three hotels and lodges, a few motels, six gas stations, several restaurants, a golf course, community grounds, rifle range, stock car track and other amenities.

Thornhill pays for its own policing as well as contributes taxes for use of the regional northwest medical facilities, recreation services, library and transit and more.

First Nations Territory

Thornhill is settled on traditional territories of the Tsimshian Nation territory, specifically that of the Kitselas peoples. Surrounding First Nations territories include those of the Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Wet'suwet'en, Haisla, Heiltsuk, and Tahltan Nations.

Demographics

Panethnic groups in Thornhill (Kitimat-Stikine Subdivision E) (2001−2021)
Panethnic group	2021^[4]		2016^[5]		2011^[6]		2006^[7]		2001^[8]
Panethnic group	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
European^[a]	2,620	67.18%	3,050	76.73%	3,345	84.26%	3,260	81.6%	3,685	82.53%
Indigenous	1,155	29.62%	865	21.76%	590	14.86%	660	16.52%	695	15.57%
East Asian^[b]	45	1.15%	30	0.75%	0	0%	25	0.63%	20	0.45%
Southeast Asian^[c]	35	0.9%	20	0.5%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
South Asian	25	0.64%	20	0.5%	0	0%	35	0.88%	30	0.67%
Latin American	10	0.26%	0	0%	20	0.5%	10	0.25%	40	0.9%
Middle Eastern^[d]	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
African	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	15	0.38%	10	0.22%
Other/multiracial^[e]	0	0%	0	0%	20	0.5%	0	0%	0	0%
Total responses	3,900	99.19%	3,975	99.55%	3,970	99.55%	3,995	99.83%	4,465	99.78%
Total population	3,932	100%	3,993	100%	3,988	100%	4,002	100%	4,475	100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

Notes

^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census, Statistics Canada - Validation Error".
^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census, Statistics Canada - Validation Error".
^ RD of Kitimat–Stikine Minutes September, 2005 p.5
^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 26, 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 27, 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (November 27, 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (August 20, 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (July 2, 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved September 20, 2024.