Keremeos

Keremeos
Village
The Corporation of the Village of Keremeos[1]

Village of Keremeos
Motto: Healthy Living, Naturally
Keremeos

Location of Keremeos in British Columbia

Coordinates: 49°12′9″N 119°49′46″W / 49.20250°N 119.82944°W / 49.20250; -119.82944Coordinates: 49°12′9″N 119°49′46″W / 49.20250°N 119.82944°W / 49.20250; -119.82944
Country  Canada
Province  British Columbia
Region Similkameen Country
Regional district Okanagan-Similkameen
Incorporated 1956
Founded 1909
Government
  Governing body Village Council
  Mayor Manfred Bauer
Area
  Total 2.11 km2 (0.81 sq mi)
Elevation 365 m (1,198 ft)
Population (2011)
  Total 1,330
  Density 630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
Postal code V0X 1N0
Area code(s) 250 / 778 / 236
Highways BC 3
BC 3A
Waterways Similkameen River
Website www.keremeos.ca

Keremeos /kɛrəˈməs/ is a village in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada.[2] The name originated from the Similkameen dialect of the Okanagan language word "Keremeyeus" meaning "creek which cuts its way through the flats" referring to Keremeos Creek which flows down from the Upper Benchlands to the Similkameen River that runs by the village.[3] Local legend claims the name means "the meeting of the winds" and joke that the only time it's calm is when the wind blows equally from all four directions.[4]

Economy

Keremeos from K-Mountain June 2014

Keremeos' main industries are horticulture, agriculture, ranching, and wine making, among others. Fruit stands[5] are also a major component of the local economy, making it the self-titled "fruit stand capital of Canada." All sorts of soft fruits, apples, cherries, peaches, etc. and vegetables are grown in the South Similkameen's dry warm climate, and vineyards and wineries are quickly being added as the valley's wine-growing potential is being recognized.

Area attractions include Cathedral Provincial Park, the Red Bridge, the Keremeos Columns, the Keremeos Grist Mill, excellent fishing in area lakes and rivers, Apex Mountain Resort, Twin Lakes Golf Resort, Spotted Lake, the Hedley Mining Museum and the Mascot Mine.

Geography

The geography of the Keremeos area ranges from cottonwood groves along the river, to dense orchards and farms, to desert-like landscapes along the bases of the surrounding mountains, up to alpine peaks and plateaux on top.

Keremeos (looking west) from a view point east of Pincushion.

History

With K Mountain as a backdrop, Keremeos, BC is a community, whose "Wild West" looks date back to 1909 when the postmaster of the now-abandoned community of Upper Keremeos, Mr. George Kirby, purchased land alongside the Similkameen River in anticipation of the V.V. & E. Railway passing through the area. He was right and other businesses soon followed. Keremeos was officially incorporated in 1956.

The Spanish Mound

Copper Indian armour-plate was recovered from an ancient Indian burial near Keremeos. Each piece is fashioned from heavy copper and is perforated at the top. The Spanish Mound is a low lying grassy mound in which are buried the weapons, armour and remains of dead Spanish soldiers. The Spanish Soldiers were part of an ill-fated expedition which was ambushed by Similkameen Natives two centuries ago. The legend of the mound concerns a Spanish expedition which came into the Similkameen long before King George's men arrived. The natives tell a story of men wearing metal cloths setting up camp near Keremeos. An altercation ensued between the Natives and Spanish. The Spanish were chased out and they disappeared up the Valley of Keremeos Creek. The following spring the Spanish expedition appeared near the upper reaches of Keremeos Creek. The Spanish expedition was ambushed and slaughtered to the last man. The Similkameen Natives buried the strangers with their armour and weapons in a small mound between the last Spanish camp and the Keremye'us Native village. There are no official Spanish records to substantiate the theory that the Spanish expedition actually existed. Historian Bill Barlee suggests evidence that the expedition did take place. Some pictographs called "prisoner paintings" are painted on rock near Keremeos. The pictographs were made by the natives of that era and supposedly depict the Spanish expedition.[6]

Indian reserves and governance

The head offices of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band are located in Keremeos. Two of their reserves, Keremeos Forks Indian Reserve Nos. 12 & 12A are located 6-7 miles north of the town towards Kaleden, just south of the Green Mountain Road junction, while Alexis Indian Reserve No. 9 is located about 4 miles west of town on Highway 3. The most populated of the band's reserves are at Chopaka, where Reserves Nos 7 & 8 abut the border with the United States. Many of the band's reserves are located around Cawston, which is just southeast of Keremeos. 12 and 12A do not belong to LSIB (Lower Similkameen Indian Band) private property.

Climate

Keremeos has a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with cool but short winters and hot, dry summers. Precipitation is low at 323 millimetres (13 in) and evenly distributed throughout the year.

Climate data for Keremeos
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.0
(55.4)
16.5
(61.7)
26.0
(78.8)
31.0
(87.8)
36.5
(97.7)
38.0
(100.4)
39.5
(103.1)
37.5
(99.5)
36.0
(96.8)
28.5
(83.3)
18.0
(64.4)
13.0
(55.4)
39.5
(103.1)
Average high °C (°F) 1.1
(34)
5.3
(41.5)
12.0
(53.6)
17.0
(62.6)
21.2
(70.2)
24.8
(76.6)
28.2
(82.8)
28.6
(83.5)
23.7
(74.7)
15.2
(59.4)
6.1
(43)
0.2
(32.4)
15.3
(59.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.0
(28.4)
1.0
(33.8)
6.1
(43)
10.3
(50.5)
14.4
(57.9)
18.0
(64.4)
20.9
(69.6)
20.9
(69.6)
16.2
(61.2)
9.3
(48.7)
2.5
(36.5)
−2.8
(27)
9.6
(49.3)
Average low °C (°F) −5.1
(22.8)
−3.4
(25.9)
0.2
(32.4)
3.5
(38.3)
7.5
(45.5)
11.1
(52)
13.5
(56.3)
13.1
(55.6)
8.6
(47.5)
3.4
(38.1)
−1.2
(29.8)
−5.7
(21.7)
3.8
(38.8)
Record low °C (°F) −25.0
(−13)
−22.0
(−7.6)
−14.5
(5.9)
−4.5
(23.9)
−2.0
(28.4)
2.0
(35.6)
5.0
(41)
4.0
(39.2)
−2.5
(27.5)
−14.0
(6.8)
−24.5
(−12.1)
−26.0
(−14.8)
−26.0
(−14.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 31.8
(1.252)
22.8
(0.898)
19.5
(0.768)
21.8
(0.858)
33.8
(1.331)
39.5
(1.555)
29.7
(1.169)
24.8
(0.976)
14.6
(0.575)
19.0
(0.748)
31.8
(1.252)
36.5
(1.437)
325.4
(12.811)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 10.5
(0.413)
13.0
(0.512)
18.2
(0.717)
21.8
(0.858)
33.8
(1.331)
39.5
(1.555)
29.7
(1.169)
24.8
(0.976)
14.6
(0.575)
18.6
(0.732)
22.5
(0.886)
9.6
(0.378)
256.6
(10.102)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 21.3
(8.39)
9.8
(3.86)
1.3
(0.51)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.3
(0.12)
9.3
(3.66)
26.9
(10.59)
68.9
(27.13)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 9.3 8.5 8.8 8.6 10.3 10.5 8.3 7.3 5.7 7.7 11.1 10.8 106.7
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 4.5 6.2 8.3 8.6 10.3 10.5 8.3 7.3 5.7 7.6 9.2 3.9 90.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 5.2 2.5 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 2.6 7.6 18.9
Source: [7]

Television

Keremeos was featured on the historical television series Gold Trails and Ghost Towns, Season 3, Episode 12.

Schools

Schools within or near the Keremeos area include Cawston primary school, Penticton High School, Maggie, Osoyoos, Princeton, and Similkameen Elementary Secondary School.

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, February 10, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.