Wells is a small mining

Mining

Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...

 and tourist town in the Cariboo District

Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

The Cariboo Regional District spans the towns of Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, and Wells in the Central Interior of British Columbia.The Canada 2006 Census population was 62,190 persons living on a land area of 80,629.34 km²...

 of central 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...

, located on BC Highway 26

British Columbia provincial highway 26

Highway 26, also known as the Barkerville Highway, is a minor east-west highway in the North Cariboo region of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada...

, 74 km from Quesnel

Quesnel, British Columbia

-Demographics:Quesnel had a population of 9,326 people in 2006, which was a decrease of 7.1% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Quesnel was $54,044, which is slightly above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709....

 and 8 km before the highway's terminus at Barkerville

Barkerville, British Columbia

Barkerville was the main town of the Cariboo Gold Rush in British Columbia, Canada and is preserved as a historic town. It is located on the north slope of the Cariboo Plateau near the Cariboo Mountains east of Quesnel along BC Highway 26, which follows the route of the original access to...

. It gains much of its revenue and jobs from tourists who pass through on their way to the Bowron Lake Provincial Park

Bowron Lake Provincial Park

Bowron Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park located in northern British Columbia, Canada, about 120 kilometers east of the city of Quesnel. Other nearby towns include Wells and the historic destination of Barkerville. The park is known for its rugged and mountainous terrain...

 and to the historic museum town of Barkerville.

History

Originally a company town

Company town

A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...

, was managed by Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine. At its heyday of the 1930s, Wells sported 4500 people. In 1942 it had a greater population than Quesnel or Prince George

Prince George, British Columbia

Prince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...

. The closure of the gold

Gold

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

 and other mineral mines in 1967 took its toll on the town and most of the population moved away. Today it has a listed population of just 300 which doubles during the summer months, and drops to roughly 100 during the winter.

Between May and September, Wells sees over 100,000 tourists pass through on their way to Barkerville. Most visitors stay or camp overnight in Wells, which has an active arts and outdoor adventure life of its own. During the winter months, visitors come for the world-class cross-country ski trails, snowmobiling, and artistic and study retreats. During the summer visitors enjoy galleries and live performances.

		Northeast: Bowron Lake Provincial Park Bowron Lake Provincial Park Bowron Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park located in northern British Columbia, Canada, about 120 kilometers east of the city of Quesnel. Other nearby towns include Wells and the historic destination of Barkerville. The park is known for its rugged and mountainous terrain...
West: Quesnel, British Columbia Quesnel, British Columbia -Demographics:Quesnel had a population of 9,326 people in 2006, which was a decrease of 7.1% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Quesnel was $54,044, which is slightly above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709....	Wells
	South: Likely, British Columbia	Southeast: Barkerville, British Columbia Barkerville, British Columbia Barkerville was the main town of the Cariboo Gold Rush in British Columbia, Canada and is preserved as a historic town. It is located on the north slope of the Cariboo Plateau near the Cariboo Mountains east of Quesnel along BC Highway 26, which follows the route of the original access to...