Families and households are changing in Summerland and across Canada, according to the latest release of data from the 2011 census.
Statistics Canada provided information on families, households and marital status, as well as structural type of dwelling and collectives.
Throughout Canada, married-couple families were the predominant family structure in 2011, at 67 per cent.
For the first time, there were more common-law-couple families in 2011, 16.7 per cent, than lone-parent families, 16.3 per cent.
The 2011 Census of Population counted 64,575 same-sex couples.
In 2011, 32.5 per cent of same-sex couples were married, nearly double the 2006 share.
The 2006 to 2011 period marks the first five-year period during which same-sex couples could legally marry, following the legalization of same-sex marriage for all of Canada in July, 2005.
Stepfamilies were counted for the first time in the 2011 Census of Population, providing a more detailed portrait of Canadian families.
There were 464,335 stepfamilies in 2011, or 12.6 per cent of couple families with children aged 24 and under.
For the first time, there were more one-person households in 2011, 27.6 per cent, than couple households with children aged 24 and under, 26.5 per cent.
Summerland’s population of 11,280 includes 9,835 over the age of 15. These include 5,355 married and 790 living with a common-law partner.
Of the 3,690 not married or living in a common-law relationship, there are 1,800 never married, 250 separated, 655 divorced and 985 widowed.
Summerland has a total of 3,430 families living in private households.
Most by far live in two-person households, 2,145 people; three-person households, 575; four-person households, 500; and five or more persons, 205.
Of the 2,610 married couples, more live without children at home, 1,605 compared to 1,000.
Two is the most common number of children for the married couples in Summerland.
Among common-law couples, most have no children at home.
Of those who have children at home, one child is the most common number in Summerland.
A total of 425 are the head of lone-parent families in Summerland.
More women than men head lone-parent families, 340 women compared to 85 men.
Most lone-parent families have one child.
Total children in census families in private households in Summerland is 2,690.
This includes 465 under six years of age, 970 six to 14; 420, 15 to 17; 560, 18 to 24 years; 280, 15 years and over.
Average number of children at home per census family is 0.8, compared to 0.7 in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.
In Summerland the average number of persons in census family is 2.7.
Of the total number of census family households, 3,355, there are 3,125 one-family only households and 230 other family households.
Here are the types of households and their occupants in Summerland:
Total number of occupied dwellings is 4,775.
This number includes 3,470, single detached house; 105, moveable dwelling; 150, semi-detached house; 315, row house; 165, apartment or duplex; 560, apartment building with fewer than five stories; and 20, other single or attached house.
The average number of persons in Summerland private households is 2.3, compared to 2.2 throughout the regional district.