Nicola Valley History
Photo Credit – Nicola Valley Museum and Archives
Tourism Nicola Valley: Official Destination Marketing Organization
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History
For as long as time goes, the Nicola Valley has always been a transportation route for the First Nation people of the region. During the mid 1900’s the European settlers started arriving in the area, drawn to it by the vast grasslands and warm climate. It was then that the ranches started to populate the countryside.
At the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater Rivers, three ranches took hold in the 1880’s. William Voght, Jesus Garcia, and the John Charters ranches started a farming community in an area of the Nicola Valley called “The Forks”. Soon later, in 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway arrived and things continued to grow with the arrival of more ranchers, miners and trappers.
In 1893 the ranching community tried to name the region “Forksdale”. However, the locals did not take a liking to it, so in 1906 changed the name to Merritt to honour William Hamilton Merritt III, a mining engineer and railway promoter. The railway and the opening of the coal mines, started the migration of business to the community. The continued growth of ranching, and the addition of nickel, gold, copper and silver mining, plus teh birth of the forestry industry, attracted more new business to Merritt. In 1911, Merritt became a city officially.
As the City of Merritt grew, the streets were named to honour its first settlers including Charters, Granite, Coutlee, Garcia, Nicola, Quilchena and Voght to name a few. Soon, in 1913, the community had electricity.The following years saw many immigrants arrive in Merritt starting businesses and industry.
Today the community enjoys a 4 season tourism sector, providing summer and winter adventures to locals and visitors alike.
Community Events
The Nicola Valley is home to a 4 season event schedule. Events feature our tourism adventure groups like mountain biking, fishing, snowmobiling, xc skiing, as well as, our arts, music, festival, small businesses, non profits, associations and so much more.
Community Partners
