The Hudson’s Bay Company built Fort Langley in 1827 to establish trade in pelts, salmon and cranberries with the local natives. It was from this venture that British Columbia was founded as a British colony. The proximity of Fort Langley to the lucrative Fraser River and the United States, as well as the fertile land and abundant wildlife, made the area surrounding the fort an ideal location for a new community. Hudson’s Bay Company men married local native women and settlers began farming.

Today, Langley is one of BC’s fastest growing towns and is known for its small town atmosphere and city convenience. It remains an agricultural center and is the “horse capital” of BC. It is home to Campbell Valley Regional Park, a park which provides trails for horseback riding, biking and walking, as well as a cross country course. Thunderbird Show Park, an international horse show facility and one of Canada’s premier horse arenas, is also located in Langley.

Fort Langley continues to provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to be transported into a time past. The fort itself is open to the public for education and a look into BC’s heritage. With only 2,700 residents and 100 businesses, Fort Langley is a quaint and peaceful town within a town. It offers beautiful vintage buildings, tree-lined roads and walkways, shopping, a tourist centre and a variety of outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, camping and golf.

Murrayville is the oldest subdivision in Langley and was named for Paul Murray. In 1870 the intersection of Fraser Highway and 216^th Street became known as Murray’s Corner. In 1925 the post office officially named the region between 216^th Street and 28 Avenue Murrayville. The Langley RCMP, WC Blair Pool, Langley School Board and the Township of Langley Operations Centre are all located in Murrayville.

Aldergrove is the agricultural centre of Langley with numerous farms and acreages. It was originally settled in the 1870s by loggers, gold miners and farmers and was named for the profusion of Alder trees in the area. It borders Abbotsford and the town of Lynden in Washington. It is home to approximately 12,000 people, as well as the Greater Vancouver Zoological Centre.