Golden, British Columbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Golden
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Town
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| Town of Golden | ||
View of Golden in 2005
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 Golden
Location in British Columbia
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| Country | Canada | |
| Province | British Columbia | |
| Region | Columbia Valley | |
| Regional District | Columbia-Shuswap | |
| Incorporated | 1957 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 11.33 km2 (4.37 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 800 m (2,600 ft) | |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 3,986 | |
| • Density | 351.9/km2 (911/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain Time Zone) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (Mountain Daylight Time) | |
| Postal code span |
V0A 1H0 & V0A 0A0
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| Area code(s) | 250 / 778 / 236 | |
| Highways |  Hwy 1 (TCH)Trans-Canada Highway Hwy 95 |
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Golden is a town in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is about 262 kilometers (163 miles) west of Calgary, Alberta. Golden is also 713 kilometers (443 miles) east of Vancouver.
Contents
Golden's Interesting History
In 1807, a famous explorer named David Thompson was on a mission. He was a fur trader and map maker. His job was to find a new trading route to the Pacific Northwest. He crossed the Rocky Mountains and traveled along the Blaeberry River. This led him to the spot where Golden is today.
How Golden Got Its Name
In 1881, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) hired a surveyor named A. B. Rogers. He needed to find a railway path through the Selkirk and Rocky Mountains. In 1882, he found the pass that is now named after him. Rogers set up a base camp for his team, led by a man named McMillan. This camp was first called McMillan's Camp.
By 1884, a nearby lumber camp called itself Silver City. The people of McMillan's Camp, led by Baptiste Morigeau, wanted a better name. They decided to call their settlement Golden City. Later, the word "City" was dropped, and it became simply Golden.
Swiss Guides and Early Tourism
In the late 1890s, the CPR started bringing in Swiss mountain guides. These guides helped travelers explore the mountains around Golden. This included Glacier National Park, Yoho National Park, and the Rogers Pass area. The railway wanted to encourage tourism in the mountain parks.
To help the guides and their families settle, the railway built special chalet-style houses. This area became known as Edelweiss. Some of these houses are still standing today. The Swiss guides were the first to climb many local mountains. They also helped start the ski industry in the region.
A Place of Diverse Cultures
Golden is also important for South Asian Canadian history. Sikh settlers first came to Golden in 1902. They worked at the Columbia River Lumber Company. These early settlers built the first gurdwara (Sikh temple) in North America in 1905. Sadly, it burned down in 1926.
Golden's Modern Economy
The town's history is closely linked to the CPR and the logging industry. Even today, Golden's economy relies a lot on these two areas. However, the town has also grown in tourism. Places like Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and other adventure companies have helped. Mount 7, southeast of town, is also a popular spot for outdoor activities. Golden is part of the Golden Triangle cycling route.
Amazing Bridges in Golden
The Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge is Canada's longest freestanding timber-framed bridge. Volunteers from Golden, the United States, and Europe worked together to build it. The bridge is 46 meters (150 feet) long. It has a strong 95,254 kg (210,000 lb) Burr arch structure. The bridge was finished in September 2001.
In June 2021, the Golden Skybridge opened. This bridge is the highest suspension bridge in Canada.
Golden Meteorites
On October 4, 2021, meteorites fell in Golden. These are now known as the Golden meteorites.
Golden's Natural Setting
Golden is located in the Rocky Mountain Trench. It sits where the Columbia and Kicking Horse rivers meet. The town is surrounded by three mountain ranges, including the Purcell Mountains and Rocky Mountains. Five national parks are also nearby: Yoho National Park, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Glacier National Park, and Kootenay National Park.
Highways Connecting Golden
Golden is on Highway 1, which is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. It is also the northern end of Highway 95. This highway connects Golden to the United States. It runs through the East Kootenay region and the city of Cranbrook, British Columbia. Highway 95 in B.C. continues from U.S. Route 95 in the U.S.
There are many projects to improve the Trans-Canada Highway east of Golden. These upgrades are happening west of the Yoho National Park boundary. The Ten Mile Hill section of the project was recently finished. This was a big improvement to the old highway.
Golden's Climate
Golden has a climate that is a mix of humid continental and semi-arid. Summers are warm but rarely very hot. Winters are not as cold as areas east of the Rockies. The town gets a lot of snow, about 184 centimeters (72 inches) each year.
| Climate data for Golden Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 6.7 | 8.4 | 19.6 | 25.5 | 34.2 | 41.0 | 38.5 | 38.4 | 32.0 | 22.4 | 11.2 | 5.4 | 41.0 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.3 (46.9) |
12.2 (54.0) |
20.2 (68.4) |
28.9 (84.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
40.7 (105.3) |
40.0 (104.0) |
37.8 (100.0) |
33.9 (93.0) |
25.6 (78.1) |
17.2 (63.0) |
10.0 (50.0) |
40.7 (105.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −4.3 (24.3) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
6.6 (43.9) |
13.3 (55.9) |
18.4 (65.1) |
21.7 (71.1) |
24.5 (76.1) |
24.2 (75.6) |
18.4 (65.1) |
10.1 (50.2) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
10.7 (51.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) |
−5 (23) |
0.8 (33.4) |
6.5 (43.7) |
11.3 (52.3) |
14.9 (58.8) |
17.3 (63.1) |
16.7 (62.1) |
11.5 (52.7) |
5.0 (41.0) |
−2 (28) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −11.5 (11.3) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−5 (23) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
4.1 (39.4) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.0 (50.0) |
9.1 (48.4) |
4.6 (40.3) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
−5 (23) |
−10.9 (12.4) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −46.1 (−51.0) |
−39.4 (−38.9) |
−31.7 (−25.1) |
−19.4 (−2.9) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
−32.8 (−27.0) |
−43.9 (−47.0) |
−46.1 (−51.0) |
| Record low wind chill | −42.3 | −31.2 | −28.1 | −14.3 | −5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | −4.5 | −15 | −29.9 | −38 | −42.3 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 45.9 (1.81) |
24.1 (0.95) |
24.4 (0.96) |
24.4 (0.96) |
34.5 (1.36) |
49.7 (1.96) |
50.6 (1.99) |
45.3 (1.78) |
38.0 (1.50) |
34.9 (1.37) |
51.1 (2.01) |
43.9 (1.73) |
466.8 (18.38) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 6.4 (0.25) |
5.5 (0.22) |
14.1 (0.56) |
21.9 (0.86) |
33.3 (1.31) |
49.7 (1.96) |
50.6 (1.99) |
45.3 (1.78) |
38.0 (1.50) |
32.3 (1.27) |
21.6 (0.85) |
6.4 (0.25) |
325.2 (12.80) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 45.3 (17.8) |
20.7 (8.1) |
12.1 (4.8) |
2.5 (1.0) |
1.1 (0.4) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
2.8 (1.1) |
31.8 (12.5) |
42.5 (16.7) |
158.7 (62.5) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 14.6 | 9.1 | 9.8 | 10.6 | 12.5 | 15.4 | 13.7 | 13.2 | 10.6 | 12.1 | 13.9 | 13.5 | 148.8 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 2.4 | 2.7 | 6.3 | 9.9 | 12.4 | 15.4 | 13.7 | 13.2 | 10.6 | 11.3 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 106.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 13.5 | 7.1 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 8.2 | 12.8 | 49.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 81.2 | 70.7 | 53.6 | 38.8 | 38.6 | 42.4 | 42.0 | 44.2 | 50.0 | 60.0 | 80.4 | 82.2 | 57.0 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 25.2 | 55.3 | 111.3 | 155.2 | 209.6 | 194.1 | 227.0 | 228.9 | 162.5 | 85.0 | 26.1 | 12.9 | 1,492.9 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 9.7 | 19.6 | 30.3 | 37.4 | 43.5 | 39.2 | 45.5 | 50.7 | 42.7 | 25.6 | 9.7 | 5.2 | 29.9 |
| Source: ECCC | |||||||||||||
Golden's Population and People
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1981 | 3,476 | — |
| 1986 | 3,584 | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 3,721 | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 3,968 | +6.6% |
| 2001 | 4,020 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 3,811 | −5.2% |
| 2011 | 3,701 | −2.9% |
| 2016 | 3,708 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 3,986 | +7.5% |
In 2021, Statistics Canada counted the population of Golden. There were 3,986 people living in the town. This was a small increase from 3,708 people in 2016. Golden covers an area of 11.33 square kilometers (4.37 sq mi). This means there were about 351.9 people per square kilometer in 2021.
Golden's Economy
Golden's economy is based on two main things. One is providing services, like shops and restaurants. The other is using natural resources, such as logging.
Learning in Golden
Public schools in Golden are part of School District 6 Rocky Mountain. There are three primary schools for younger students. There is also one secondary school for older students. For college-level learning, students can attend the Golden Campus of the College of the Rockies.
Sports Teams in Golden
Golden has a local ice hockey team.
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Rockets | KIJHL | Ice Hockey | Golden Arena | 1991 | 0 |
Famous People from Golden
Many talented people have come from Golden. Here are a few:
- Doug Barrault, a retired hockey player
- Dillon Dubé, an NHL player with the Calgary Flames
- David Duncan, a freestyle skier
- Curtis McKenzie, an NHL player with the Dallas Stars
- Patricia Owens, an actress
- Sara Renner, an Olympic medal-winning cross country skier
