Grand Forks, British Columbia

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Grand Forks
City
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
RegionBoundary Country
Regional districtKootenay Boundary
Incorporated1897
Government
 • Governing bodyGrand Forks City Council
 • MayorBrian Taylor
Area
 • City10.44 km2 (4.03 sq mi)
Elevation
520 m (1,710 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • City3,985
 • Density380/km2 (990/sq mi)
 • Urban
4,274[1]
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
Postal code
V0H
Area code250
Highways3
WaterwaysGranby River
Kettle River
WebsiteOfficial website

Grand Forks, population 3,985, is a city in the Boundary Country of the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Granby River and Kettle River, a tributary of the Columbia. The city is just north of the US-Canada border, approximately 500 km from Vancouver, British Columbia and 200 km from Kelowna, British Columbia and 220 km from Spokane, Washington and 23 km west of the resort area of Christina Lake by road.

History

A segment of the Trans-Canada Trail uses a former rail right of way near Grand Forks

Grand Forks was established in the late 19th century when copper mining dominated Boundary and Kootenay regions of BC. The city was laid out in 1895 and Grand Forks was officially established as a city on 15 April 1897. By 1900 Grand Forks boasted 3 railways, lumber mills, a smelter, mines, a post office, a school and a hospital. In both 1908 and 1911, fires leveled the downtown core, mainly due to the number of wood frame buildings and stores. Between the years of 1909 and 1913, a group of pacifist Russian immigrants known as Doukhobors settled in the area because of the fertile farm land. Today, many residents of Grand Forks are descendents of the Doukhobors. In 1991, the CP Railway Co. abandoned the railway through Grand Forks and the former right of way became part of the Trans-Canada Trail. Over the years, Grand Forks has continued to expand in size and now has around 4,000 residents, with another 10,000 in the area.

Government

The City of Grand Forks is represented by a 7 person elected council, with Brian Taylor as mayor. The councillors are: Bob Kendel, Neil Krog, Patrick J. O'Doherty, Gary Smith, Michael Wirischagin, and Cher Wyers. Provincially, Grand Forks is located in the riding of Boundary-Similkameen and Federally it is located in the BC Southern Interior riding and represented by Alex Atamanenko (NDP).

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1891 700—    
1901 1,012+44.6%
1911 1,577+55.8%
1921 1,469−6.8%
1931 1,298−11.6%
1941 1,259−3.0%
1951 1,646+30.7%
1956 1,995+21.2%
1961 2,347+17.6%
1966 2,556+8.9%
1971 3,173+24.1%
1976 3,096−2.4%
1981 3,486+12.6%
1986 3,282−5.9%
1991 3,610+10.0%
1996 3,994+10.6%
2001 4,054+1.5%
2006 4,036−0.4%
2011 3,985−1.3%
Sources: Statistics Canada[2][3]
Canada census – Grand Forks, British Columbia community profile
2011
Population3,985 (-1.3% from 2006)
Land area10.43 km2 (4.03 sq mi)
Population density382.0/km2 (989/sq mi)
Median age52.3 (M: 50.6, F: 53.8)
Private dwellings1,918 (total) 
Median household income
References: 2011[4] earlier[5][6]

Climate

Grand Forks experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with relatively mild, moderately cold winters and hot summers. Grand Forks has a very similar climate to the Okanagan Valley just to the West, but usually receives slightly colder and snowier winters and slightly hotter Summer temperatures due to being away from any lakes. Daytime highs during the Summer often top 30°C and surpass 40°C at least once every ten years. During the winter, the blocking barriers of the Rockies and the Columbia Mountains tend to moderate the climate, but cold Arctic air can penetrate into the city for fairly short periods. Typically Grand Forks has a moderate snow cover from early December to late February, but it can disappear for periods of time, especially during milder winters. Precipitation is higher than many other drier Southern Interior locations, but still fairly low.

The primary vegetation in the Grand Forks area indicates a semi arid climate with Sagebrush, Prickly Pear Cactus, Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir. More mountainous tree species such as Lodgepole Pine, Western Larch and Englemann Spruce can be found in shady areas and places near the Kettle River.

Climate data for Grand Forks
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.1
(61.0)
19.4
(66.9)
24.0
(75.2)
31.7
(89.1)
36.1
(97.0)
37.0
(98.6)
42.2
(108.0)
39.4
(102.9)
36.7
(98.1)
30.0
(86.0)
18.9
(66.0)
25.0
(77.0)
42.2
(108.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.5
(31.1)
3.2
(37.8)
10.1
(50.2)
15.7
(60.3)
20.4
(68.7)
24.1
(75.4)
28.4
(83.1)
28.7
(83.7)
23.1
(73.6)
13.8
(56.8)
4.3
(39.7)
−1.3
(29.7)
14.2
(57.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −3.6
(25.5)
−1.2
(29.8)
4.3
(39.7)
8.8
(47.8)
13.2
(55.8)
16.6
(61.9)
19.9
(67.8)
19.7
(67.5)
14.6
(58.3)
7.5
(45.5)
1.0
(33.8)
−4.2
(24.4)
8.0
(46.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6.7
(19.9)
−5.6
(21.9)
−1.6
(29.1)
1.8
(35.2)
5.9
(42.6)
9.2
(48.6)
11.3
(52.3)
10.6
(51.1)
6.1
(43.0)
1.1
(34.0)
−2.4
(27.7)
−7.2
(19.0)
1.9
(35.4)
Record low °C (°F) −38.9
(−38.0)
−34.4
(−29.9)
−22.8
(−9.0)
−8.3
(17.1)
−8.3
(17.1)
−1.7
(28.9)
1.1
(34.0)
0.0
(32.0)
−6.1
(21.0)
−14.0
(6.8)
−29.0
(−20.2)
−37.8
(−36.0)
−38.9
(−38.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 53.1
(2.09)
32.8
(1.29)
35.6
(1.40)
44.9
(1.77)
60.2
(2.37)
62.5
(2.46)
39.3
(1.55)
29.1
(1.15)
28.8
(1.13)
34.7
(1.37)
55.4
(2.18)
58.1
(2.29)
534.3
(21.04)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 16.6
(0.65)
18.3
(0.72)
29.6
(1.17)
44.2
(1.74)
60.1
(2.37)
62.5
(2.46)
39.3
(1.55)
29.1
(1.15)
28.8
(1.13)
33.9
(1.33)
33.3
(1.31)
14.5
(0.57)
410.3
(16.15)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 36.5
(14.4)
14.5
(5.7)
5.9
(2.3)
0.7
(0.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.8
(0.3)
22.1
(8.7)
43.6
(17.2)
124.1
(48.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 13.7 10.0 12.2 12.5 14.5 13.4 8.7 7.3 7.3 10.4 14.9 13.4 138.2
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 5.9 6.8 10.9 12.4 14.5 13.4 8.7 7.3 7.3 10.3 10.6 3.8 111.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 8.9 4.3 1.9 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 5.5 10.4 31.5
Source: [7]

Schools

Schools in the region are operated by School District 51 Boundary which has its main office in Grand Forks but also serves Midway, Greenwood, Beaverdell, and Rock Creek.

There are two elementary (Dr. D. A. Perley Elementary School, and John A. Hutton Elementary School) and one secondary school (Grand Forks Secondary School). The District also operates an alternate learning centre in Grand Forks; Walker Development Centre.

Industry

Major industries in Grand Forks are limited and have become less over the past decade with the loss of major industries such as pope&talbot however the industries in Grand Forks are logging, agriculture, rock wool manufacturing, fabrication (metal) and tourism. The town is close to the site of the former Phoenix copper mine, which closed in 1935. The slag piles on the Granby River just outside of town are remnants of a large copper smelting operation. The sawmill in Grand Forks is very small and is operated by Interfor (formerly Pope and Talbot) and ships forest products into the United States via rail. Tourism has died off in Grand Forks due to lack of tourist options, however, it does have a pleasant climate and close proximity to the Okanagan. Christina Lake, which is 20 minutes east of Grand Forks, is home to many resorts and summer homes and its year round population of 1000 swells to 6000 during the Summer. The slag from the piles at the north end of town is owned by Pacific Abrasives, who sells it to the US Navy and ships it by rail to San Diego, California to use for sandblasting ships.

The short-line Grand Forks Railway is based out of Grand Forks. The company owns just 3.5 miles of track, which connects Roxul and Interfor with the Grand Forks Junction at the south end of town. It is the shortest railway in Canada and possibly North America. Train cars then get set to the United States via the Kettle Falls International Railway.

Sports

Club League Sport Venue Established Championships
Grand Forks Border Bruins KIJHL Ice Hockey Grand Forks Arena 1969 0

Notable residents

4

See also

References

  1. ^ Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and population centres, 2011 and 2006 censuses: British Columbia. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 17 March 2013
  2. ^ Belshaw, John (2009). Becoming British Columbia: A Population History. ISBN 9780774815451.
  3. ^ "British Columbia – Municipal Census Populations (1921–2011)". BC Stats. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  4. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  5. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 20 August 2019.
  6. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. 18 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Calculation Information for 1981 to 2010 Canadian Normals Data". Environment Canada. Retrieved 9 July 2013.

External links