| Thornhill | |
| Settlement Type: | Unincorporated Community |
| Pushpin Map: | Canada British Columbia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Thornhill in British Columbia |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | British Columbia |
| Subdivision Type2: | Regional District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Kitimat-Stikine |
| Subdivision Type3: | Electoral Area |
| Subdivision Name3: | E |
| Coordinates: | 54.5122°N -128.5383°W |
| Area Code: | 250, 778 |
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.
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.
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.
| 2021[4] | 2016[5] | 2011[6] | 2006[7] | 2001[8] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European | 2,620 | 3,050 | 3,345 | 3,260 | 3,685 | ||||||
| Indigenous | 1,155 | 865 | 590 | 660 | 695 | ||||||
| East Asian | 45 | 30 | 0 | 25 | 20 | ||||||
| Southeast Asian | 35 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| South Asian | 25 | 20 | 0 | 35 | 30 | ||||||
| Latin American | 10 | 0 | 20 | 10 | 40 | ||||||
| Middle Eastern | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| African | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 10 | ||||||
| Other/multiracial | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Total responses | 3,900 | 3,975 | 3,970 | 3,995 | 4,465 | ||||||
| Total population | 3,932 | 3,993 | 3,988 | 4,002 | 4,475 | ||||||