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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Williams Lake, CY - British Columbia

Map of Williams Lake, CY (shaded in green), British Columbia

Map of Williams Lake, CY

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Williams Lake, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Williams Lake, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
55
Nat. rank
366

In 2011, Williams Lake (City) had a population of 10,832, representing a percentage change of 0.8% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 33.13 square kilometres with a population density of 327.0 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the provincial land area of 922,509.29 square kilometres with a population density of 4.8 persons per square kilometre.

In 2011, Williams Lake (City) had 4,528 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 1.6%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Williams Lake (City) is part of the census agglomeration of Williams Lake.

Population and dwelling counts

Williams Lake (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Williams Lake (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Cariboo D, B.C. RDA 2,988 3,073 -2.8
Cariboo E, B.C. RDA 4,129 4,336 -4.8
Cariboo F, B.C. RDA 4,564 4,384 4.1

British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth

Table 2 British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Langford CY 29,228 22,459 30.1
Lake Country DM 11,708 9,606 21.9
Port Moody CY 32,975 27,512 19.9
Kent DM 5,664 4,738 E 19.5
Surrey CY 468,251 394,976 18.6

British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth

Table 3 British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Kitimat DM 8,335 8,987 -7.3
Peace River D RDA 5,479 5,749 -4.7
Esquimalt DM 16,209 16,840 -3.7
Hope DM 5,969 6,185 -3.5
Okanagan-Similkameen D RDA 5,717 5,913 -3.3

Age and sex

Williams Lake, CY – Age distribution

Chart C: Williams Lake, CY - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Williams Lake, CY - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 Williams Lake, CY – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 18.4% 19.5% 17.3%
15 to 64 66.6% 67.2% 66.1%
65 and over 15.0% 13.3% 16.5%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Williams Lake, CY was 15.0%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 66.6% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 18.4%. In comparison, the national percentages were 68.5% for the population aged 15 to 64 and 16.7% for the population aged 0 to 14.

Williams Lake, CY – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Williams Lake, CY – Population by broad age groups, sex and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 to 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 10,830 10,740 90 0.8
0 to 14 1,990 2,045 -55 -2.7
15 to 64 7,215 7,305 -90 -1.2
65 and over 1,625 1,390 235 16.9
Males
Total 5,295 5,245 50 1.0
0 to 14 1,035 1,045 -10 -1.0
15 to 64 3,560 3,590 -30 -0.8
65 and over 705 615 90 14.6
Females
Total 5,530 5,500 30 0.5
0 to 14 955 1,005 -50 -5.0
15 to 64 3,655 3,720 -65 -1.7
65 and over 915 775 140 18.1

Williams Lake, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Williams Lake, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Williams Lake, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Williams Lake, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 10,830 5,295 5,530
0 to 4 years 650 345 305
5 to 9 years 680 345 330
10 to 14 years 660 340 320
15 to 19 years 730 350 375
20 to 24 years 700 360 340
25 to 29 years 700 335 360
30 to 34 years 670 330 340
35 to 39 years 680 320 355
40 to 44 years 705 345 360
45 to 49 years 730 345 390
50 to 54 years 810 415 395
55 to 59 years 755 375 380
60 to 64 years 740 375 360
65 to 69 years 455 230 225
70 to 74 years 375 165 215
75 to 79 years 320 140 175
80 to 84 years 260 115 145
85 years and over 215 60 150
Median age 39.7 38.7 40.7

Williams Lake, CY – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, British Columbia and Williams Lake, CY - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, British Columbia and Williams Lake, CY - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

In 2011, the median age in Williams Lake, CY was 39.7 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia and Williams Lake, CY – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
Williams Lake, CY 38.4 39.7

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Williams Lake was 3,005, which represents a change of 0.5% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Williams Lake, 62.2% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 18.0% were common-law-couples and 20.0% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Williams Lake - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Williams Lake - Census families by family structure

Williams Lake – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, British Columbia, CSD of Williams Lake, CY and neighbouring census subdivisions – Distribution of census families by family structure, 2011 Census
Geographic name Total families Married-couple families Common-law-couple families Lone-parent families % change, census families, 2006 to 2011
number % number % number %
Canada † 9,389,695 6,293,950 67.0 1,567,905 16.7 1,527,840 16.3 5.5
British Columbia † 1,238,155 887,990 71.7 160,360 13.0 189,805 15.3 6.6
Williams Lake, CY 3,005 1,870 62.2 540 18.0 600 20.0 0.5
Cariboo D, RDA 930 615 66.1 190 20.4 120 12.9 -3.1
Cariboo E, RDA 1,315 935 71.1 240 18.3 140 10.6 -3.0
Cariboo F, RDA 1,480 1,085 73.3 250 16.9 140 9.5 8.0

Williams Lake – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Williams Lake, 42.1% were couples with children aged 24 and under at home. In comparison, as a whole, 46.9% of couples in Canada had children aged 24 and under at home.

Presence of children within couple families
* Children aged 24 and under at home
Married couples with children * 795
Married couples without children * 1,075
Common-law-couples with children * 225
Common-law-couples without children * 320

Williams Lake – Marital status

Chart H: Williams Lake - Marital status

Chart H description: Williams Lake - Marital status

In Williams Lake, 55.7% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (43.5%) or living with a common-law partner (12.3%).

The remaining 44.2% were not married and not living with a common-law partner, including those who were single (never-married), separated, divorced or widowed.

Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.

Table 9 Canada, British Columbia, Williams Lake, CY – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Williams Lake, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 8,840 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 4,925 55.7 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 3,845 43.5 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 1,085 12.3 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 3,910 44.2 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 2,370 26.8 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 310 3.5 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 630 7.1 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 600 6.8 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

Williams Lake – Types of private households

There were 4,530 private households3 in Williams Lake in 2011, a change of 1.7% from 2006. Of these, 21.6% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -9.3% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, Williams Lake, CY – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Williams Lake, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 4,530 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 980 21.6 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 1,325 29.2 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 555 12.3 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 1,385 30.6 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 70 1.5 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households9 210 4.6 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

Williams Lake – Structural type of dwelling

In Williams Lake, 47.6% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 0.0% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 11 Canada, British Columbia, Williams Lake, CY – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Williams Lake, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 4,525 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 2,155 47.6 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 255 5.6 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 335 7.4 130,370 7.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 0 0.0 143,970 8.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 810 17.9 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 435 9.6 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 35 0.8 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 500 11.0 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

Williams Lake, CY – Mother tongue

Chart J: Williams Lake, CY - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Williams Lake, CY - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Note: Counts for mother tongue as well as those for language spoken most often at home include single responses only.

In Williams Lake, 87.8% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.5% reported French only, and 9.9% reported a non-official language only, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 70.3% for English only, 1.3% for French only and 26.5% for only non-official languages.

In 2011, 93.9% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.3% spoke only French and 4.4% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 80.5% for only English, 0.4% for only French and 15.4% for only a non-official language.

Table 12 Williams Lake, CY – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 10,645 100.0 10,650 100.0
English 9,345 87.8 10,005 93.9
French 160 1.5 30 0.3
Non-official language 1,050 9.9 465 4.4
Multiple responses 95 0.9 145 1.4
Table 13 Williams Lake, CY – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention12
(in percentage)
Total retention; language spoken at home at least on a regular basis Complete retention; language spoken most often at home Partial retention; language spoken at home on a regular basis
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
English 99.7 99.6 0.1
French 27.8 16.7 11.1
Non-official language 69.3 50.2 19.1

Williams Lake, CY – Non-official languages

In Williams Lake, the three most common mother tongues were Panjabi (Punjabi) (3.5%), German (1.7%) and Chilcotin (1.1%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were Panjabi (Punjabi) (4.5%), Cantonese (3.2%) and Chinese, n.o.s. (2.9%).

Table 14 Williams Lake, CY – The most common non-official-language mother tongues, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Number Percentage of non-official language mother-tongue population Percentage of total population
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
Panjabi (Punjabi) 375 33.3 3.5
German 185 16.4 1.7
Chilcotin 115 10.2 1.1
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 40 3.6 0.4
Afrikaans 35 3.1 0.3
Chinese, n.o.s. 35 3.1 0.3

Williams Lake, CY – Bilingualism

Table 15 Williams Lake, CY – Rate of English-French bilingualism by mother tongue and age groups, 2011 Census
Age groups Mother tongue
Total English French Non-official language
Note: Counts for mother tongue include single responses only. Consequently, the total excludes multiple responses.
Total 4.0 2.8 83.9 2.4
0 to 19 3.9 3.5 100.0 4.2
20 to 44 4.1 3.2 85.7 3.7
45 to 64 3.3 2.0 72.7 2.7
65 and over 5.1 2.2 76.9 1.8
Table 16 Williams Lake, CY – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 10,650 100.0
English only 10,130 95.1
French only 0 0.0
English and French 440 4.1
Neither English nor French 80 0.8

Symbols:

···
not applicable
†
excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements. For further information, refer to Notes.
incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement. For further information, refer to Notes.
A
adjusted figure due to boundary change. For further information, refer to Content considerations.
E
use with caution. For further information, refer to Cautionary note.


Source:

Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-310-XWE2011004. Ottawa, Ontario. Analytical products, 2011 Census. Last updated October 24, 2012.
 

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