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°WCoordinates: 49°12′9″N 119°49′46″W / 49.20250°N 119.82944°W | |
| 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 /kɛrəˈmiːəs/ 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' 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.
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
- ↑ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Keremeos". BC Geographical Names.
- ↑ "Keremeos Creek". BC Geographical Names.
- ↑ New Findings Fill in ‘Missing Link’ in Similkameen Prehistory, Langara Archaeology Summer Field School 2003 Archived 16 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152075689198792.1073741857.582338791&type=1&l=3da87e76d4 Photo album on Facebook of fruitstands
- ↑ N.L. Barlee (1973), Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns. Canada West Publications.
- ↑ "Calculation Information for 1981 to 2010 Canadian Normals Data". Environment Canada. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
External links
- Village of Keremeos, www
.keremeos .ca
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