Sicamous, British Columbia
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| Census Division | |
| Regional District | Columbia-Shuswap |
| Area: | 14.39 km² |
| Founded | |
| Incorporated | 1989 |
| Population:
Municipal District Population |
2839 (2001) |
| Population density: | 197.3/km² |
| Time zone: | Pacific: UTC -8 |
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Latitude: |
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| Elevation: | m MSL |
| Highways | Highway 1 Highway 97A |
| Waterways | Shuswap Lake |
| Mayor: | |
| Governing body: | Sicamous Council |
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| 1(sc) According to the Canada 2001 Census. 2(gr) Geographic references.Template help Edit Template  |
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Sicamous, British Columbia is a town in British Columbia located adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway at the Highway 97A junction of Mara Lake and the Shuswap Lake system. It is known as a popular all season tourist destination attracting visitors from throughout Canada and the United States as well as worldwide. It has a population of 2300 which nearly doubles during the summer months.
[edit] Location and Geography
Sicamous is located at 50° 50′ 16″ N 118° 58′ 13″ W
[edit] History
In the 1800's Sicamous and area was inhabited by a semi-nomadic Indian group called the Shuswaps. They crossed the Rocky Mountians to hunt buffalo on the plains. In this area they were called the "Schickamoos". In 1871 a Provincial Map shows Schickamoos Narrows which in early history was known as a "meeting place of Indians".
In 1864 gold was discovered on the Columbia. Seymour Arm became a supply centre in the Big Bend gold rush.
In 1885 permanent settlers arrived after the driving of the Last Spike at Craigellachie which linked Canada sea to sea. Among the first settlers in Sicamous were the families from Finland. Old Town ,or Eagle Pass Landing as it now known, became an almost instant town in 1871. It was the central supply centre for railway construction. Today it is used primarily for recreational purposes.
Later in the early 1900's CPR hill became a residential development. Finlayson's store and a jail was built in 1892 adding a post office in 1904. Also, the first school was opened around the years of 1908 and 1910. In 1949 the bridge was built across the channel, having previously been just a ferry crossing. Several hotels were opened over the years. In the early 1900's the well known Sicamous Hotel was built. The hotel was Tudor style with 75 rooms and a large elegant dining room. The numerous dances were locally popular and well attended events. The hotel was demolished in 1964. It is notable that there are still numerous enquiries about the hotel
Eagle Valley, in Sicamous, became the home of many settlers. They came and farmed the land putting up with forests, deep snow and hordes of mosquitoes. Then the well known D Dutchmen Dairy was built. The first newspaper in Sicamous was the Eagle Valley News, it was printed for the first time on October 22, 1958. It continues to print today.
Sicamous was incorporated in 1989.
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