Burton, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Burton is a settlement on the Arrow Lakes
in the West Kootenay
region of southeastern British Columbia
, Canada
.
Before european contact, Burton was known as xaieken , a large village of Sinixt first nations people. Burton came to be in the 1890's when gold was found at Cariboo Creek, a steamboat stop. Miners and farmers moved in and development began. Served by CPR sternwheeler
boats for many years until 1954, BC Highway 6
is now the only means of access. The original townsite was flooded out in the 1960s when the Keenleyside Dam
was built on the Columbia River
near Castlegar, British Columbia
which raised the level of the river, with the result combining Upper and Lower Arrow Lakes into one large lake, almost all the way to Revelstoke
over 100 miles to the north. A new town site was established on higher ground at that time. The old town site had a store, school, playing fields, a community hall and two churches. The old townsite was north of the former Lower Arrow Lake.
Arrow Lakes
The Arrow Lakes in British Columbia, Canada, divided into Upper Arrow Lake and Lower Arrow Lake, are widenings of the Columbia River. The lakes are situated between the Selkirk Mountains to the east and the Monashee Mountains to the west. Beachland is fairly rare, and is interspersed with rocky...
in the West Kootenay
West Kootenay
West Kootenay was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It was formed along with East Kootenay from a redistribution of the old Kootenay riding, which was one of the province's original twelve.- Demographics :...
region of southeastern 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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Before european contact, Burton was known as xaieken , a large village of Sinixt first nations people. Burton came to be in the 1890's when gold was found at Cariboo Creek, a steamboat stop. Miners and farmers moved in and development began. Served by CPR sternwheeler
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
boats for many years until 1954, BC Highway 6
British Columbia provincial highway 6
British Columbia Highway 6 is a two-lane east-west highway passing between the Kootenay and Okanagan regions. It is divided into two parts—the Nelson-Nelway Highway to the south, and the Vernon-Slocan Highway to the north...
is now the only means of access. The original townsite was flooded out in the 1960s when the Keenleyside Dam
Keenleyside Dam
Hugh Keenleyside Dam is a hydroelectric dam spanning the Columbia River, 12 km upstream of the city of Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada....
was built on the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
near Castlegar, British Columbia
Castlegar, British Columbia
Castlegar is the second largest city in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located within the Selkirk Mountains at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers. It is a regional trade and transportation centre, with a local economy fueled by forestry, mining and tourism...
which raised the level of the river, with the result combining Upper and Lower Arrow Lakes into one large lake, almost all the way to Revelstoke
Revelstoke, British Columbia
Revelstoke is a city in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is located east of Vancouver, and west of Calgary, Alberta. The city is situated on the banks of the Columbia River just south of the Revelstoke Dam and near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River...
over 100 miles to the north. A new town site was established on higher ground at that time. The old town site had a store, school, playing fields, a community hall and two churches. The old townsite was north of the former Lower Arrow Lake.
See also
- Steamboats of the Arrow LakesSteamboats of the Arrow LakesThe era of steamboats on the Arrow Lakes and adjoining reaches of the Columbia River is long-gone but was an important part of the history of the West Kootenay and Columbia Country regions of British Columbia. The Arrow Lakes are formed by the Columbia River in southeastern British Columbia...
- Burton Elementary School (Burton, British Columbia)