Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is a regional district in the Canadian province
of British Columbia
. The Canada 2006 Census
population was 122,286 and the area covers 45,279 square kilometres. The administrative offices are in the main population centre is the city of Kamloops
, which accounts for 75 percent of the regional district's population. The only other city
is Merritt
; however, there are locally important communities such as the District Municipality
of Logan Lake
, and the Village
s of Chase
, Ashcroft, Cache Creek
, Clinton
and Lytton
. The region is named indirectly for the Thompson River
by way of the traditional regional names of "the Thompson Country
" and "the Nicola Country
"; the Nicola Country was named for Chief Nicola
and was originally "Nicola's Country", where he held sway; he is also the namesake of that river. The area is governed by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District which operates over 115 services including the region's libraries, solid waste management and recycling, emergency and development services, plus a film commission.
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The Canada 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
population was 122,286 and the area covers 45,279 square kilometres. The administrative offices are in the main population centre is the city of Kamloops
Kamloops, British Columbia
Kamloops is a city in south central British Columbia, at the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River and near Kamloops Lake. It is the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the location of the regional district's offices. The surrounding region is more commonly...
, which accounts for 75 percent of the regional district's population. The only other city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
is Merritt
Merritt, British Columbia
Merritt is a city in the Nicola Valley of the south-central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, it is the first major community encountered after travelling along Phase One of the Coquihalla Highway and acts as the gateway to all...
; however, there are locally important communities such as the District Municipality
District municipality
A district municipality is a designation for a class of municipalities found in several locations, including Canada, Lithuania, and South Africa.-Usage in British Columbia:...
of Logan Lake
Logan Lake, British Columbia
Logan Lake is a district municipality in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada.It was founded in the 1960s and 70s to support copper, molybdenum and other mineral mining operations located south of the town. The Village of Logan Lake was incorporated in November 1970, and was...
, and the Village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s of Chase
Chase, British Columbia
Chase is a village located in the Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It has a population of roughly 2,500, and its main industries are forestry and tourism. It is located at the outlet of Little Shuswap Lake, which is the source of the South Thompson River...
, Ashcroft, Cache Creek
Cache Creek, British Columbia
Cache Creek is a junction community northeast of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Trans-Canada Highway in the province of British Columbia at its junction with northbound Highway 97...
, Clinton
Clinton, British Columbia
Clinton is a village in British Columbia, Canada, located approximately 40 km northwest of Cache Creek and 30 km south of 70 Mile House.It is considered by some to straddle the southern edge of the Cariboo country of British Columbia, although others consider Ashcroft-Cache Creek, Lillooet, Savona,...
and Lytton
Lytton, British Columbia
Lytton in British Columbia, Canada, sits at the confluence of the Thompson River and Fraser River on the east side of the Fraser. The location has been inhabited by the Nlaka'pamux people for over 10,000 years, and is one of the earliest locations settled by non-natives in the Southern Interior of...
. The region is named indirectly for the Thompson River
Thompson River
The Thompson River is the largest tributary of the Fraser River, flowing through the south-central portion of British Columbia, Canada. The Thompson River has two main branches called the South Thompson and the North Thompson...
by way of the traditional regional names of "the Thompson Country
Thompson Country
The Thompson Country, also referred to as The Thompson and in some ways as the Thompson Valley and historically known as the Couteau Country or Couteau District, is a historic geographic region of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, based around the basin of the Thompson River, a tributary...
" and "the Nicola Country
Nicola Country
The Nicola Country, also known as the Nicola Valley and often referred to simply as The Nicola, and originally Nicolas' Country or Nicholas' Country, adapted to Nicola's Country and simplified since, is a region in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada...
"; the Nicola Country was named for Chief Nicola
Nicola (chief)
Nicola , also Nkwala or N'kwala, was an important First Nations political figure in the fur trade era of the British Columbia Interior as well as into the colonial period...
and was originally "Nicola's Country", where he held sway; he is also the namesake of that river. The area is governed by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District which operates over 115 services including the region's libraries, solid waste management and recycling, emergency and development services, plus a film commission.
Electoral Areas
- Electoral Area "A" (Wells Gray Country)
- Electoral Area "B" (Thompson Headwaters)
- Electoral Area "E" (Bonaparte Plateau)
- Electoral Area "I" (Blue Sky Country)
- Electoral Area "J" (Copper Desert Country)
- Electoral Area "L"
- Electoral Area "M"
- Electoral Area "N"
- Electoral Area "O"
- Electoral Area "P" (Rivers and the Peaks)
Communities
- Ashcroft
- Blue RiverBlue River, British ColumbiaBlue River is a small community in British Columbia, situated on the Yellowhead Highway about halfway between Kamloops and Jasper, Alberta, located at the confluence of the Blue and North Thompson Rivers. It currently has 260 residents...
- BarriereBarriere, British ColumbiaBarriere is a district municipality in central British Columbia, Canada, located 66 km north of the larger city of Kamloops on Highway 5. It is situated at the confluence of the Barriere and North Thompson Rivers in the Central North Thompson Valley...
- BrookmereBrookmere, British ColumbiaBrookmere, British Columbia is an unincorporated settlement in the Nicola Country of British Columbia. It is reached by the recently paved Coldwater Road from Merritt or from Exit 256 on the Coquihalla Highway...
- Cache CreekCache Creek, British ColumbiaCache Creek is a junction community northeast of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Trans-Canada Highway in the province of British Columbia at its junction with northbound Highway 97...
- ChaseChase, British ColumbiaChase is a village located in the Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It has a population of roughly 2,500, and its main industries are forestry and tourism. It is located at the outlet of Little Shuswap Lake, which is the source of the South Thompson River...
- ClearwaterClearwater, British ColumbiaClearwater is a district municipality in the North Thompson River valley in British Columbia, Canada, north of Kamloops. The largest community in the valley, with a population of 4,960, Clearwater is predominantly employed by the forestry industry. Tourism is also a major industry, with Wells Gray...
- ClintonClinton, British ColumbiaClinton is a village in British Columbia, Canada, located approximately 40 km northwest of Cache Creek and 30 km south of 70 Mile House.It is considered by some to straddle the southern edge of the Cariboo country of British Columbia, although others consider Ashcroft-Cache Creek, Lillooet, Savona,...
- KamloopsKamloops, British ColumbiaKamloops is a city in south central British Columbia, at the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River and near Kamloops Lake. It is the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the location of the regional district's offices. The surrounding region is more commonly...
- Little FortLittle Fort, British ColumbiaLittle Fort is a small community on the west bank of North Thompson River in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is some north of Kamloops.The community is located at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 24 in British Columbia, Canada...
- Logan LakeLogan Lake, British ColumbiaLogan Lake is a district municipality in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada.It was founded in the 1960s and 70s to support copper, molybdenum and other mineral mining operations located south of the town. The Village of Logan Lake was incorporated in November 1970, and was...
- LyttonLytton, British ColumbiaLytton in British Columbia, Canada, sits at the confluence of the Thompson River and Fraser River on the east side of the Fraser. The location has been inhabited by the Nlaka'pamux people for over 10,000 years, and is one of the earliest locations settled by non-natives in the Southern Interior of...
- MerrittMerritt, British ColumbiaMerritt is a city in the Nicola Valley of the south-central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, it is the first major community encountered after travelling along Phase One of the Coquihalla Highway and acts as the gateway to all...
- Paul Lake
- Pinantan Lake
- PritchardPritchard, British ColumbiaPritchard is a small community located in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. It has a population of roughly 2,000, and its main industries are farming and tourism. Pritchard is located on The Trans-Canada Highway between Kamloops, British Columbia and Chase, British Columbia, near the Hwy...
- SavonaSavona, British ColumbiaSavona is a small community located at the west end of Kamloops Lake, where the Thompson River exits it. It is approximately halfway between Kamloops and Cache Creek along the Trans-Canada Highway...
- Sun PeaksSun Peaks, British ColumbiaSun Peaks is a newly formed municipality in British Columbia, Canada. It was incorporated on June 28, 2010. It is built around Sun Peaks Resort. It is located 55 kilometers northeast of Kamloops. The municipality has a resident population of around 400 people, with an additional 900 non-resident...