Vancouver is a coastal seaport city in Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2016 census recorded 631,486 people in the city, up from 603,502 in 2011. The Greater Vancouver area had a population of 2,463,431 in 2016, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. With its scenic views, mild climate, and friendly people, Vancouver is known around the world as both a popular tourist attraction and one of the best places to live. Vancouver is also one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada with 52 percent of the population speaking a first language other than English. Vancouver has hosted many international conferences and events, including the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics. An aboriginal settlement called Xwméthkwyiem, near the mouth of the Fraser River, was present here at least 3,000 years ago. At the time of first European contact in the late 18th century, the Musqueam and Squamish peoples had villages around present-day Vancouver, along with the Tsleil-Waututh, ancestors of today's Burrard Band in North Vancouver. They were all Coast Salish First Nations, sharing cultural and language traits with people in the Fraser Valley and Northern Washington. Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada with over 5,400 people per square kilometer. With over 250,000 residents, Vancouver is the fourth most densely populated city in North America behind New York City, San Francisco and Mexico City according to the 2011 census. Vancouver is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada according to that census; 52% of its residents have a first language other than English. Vancouver is classed as a Beta global city.