A townsite is a legal subdivision of land for the development of a town or community.
In the historical development of the United States, Canada, and other former British colonial nations, the filing of a townsite plat (United States) or plan (Canada) was often the first legal act in the establishment of a new town or community.
Numerous townsites were filed in British Columbia, Canada, in the early 19th century.
Some of those filed in what is now Metro Vancouver included: Although most of these townsites were incorporated into newly created cities and municipalities of Metro Vancouver, official survey plans still continue to designate lots as being part of these townsites.
By owning large amount of land they were able to plan on a grand scale.