Greenwood, British Columbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greenwood
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| The Corporation of the City of Greenwood | |
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Location of Greenwood in British Columbia
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Boundary Country |
| Regional district | Kootenay Boundary |
| Incorporated | 1897 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.52 km2 (0.97 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 770 m (2,530 ft) |
| Population
(2016)
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| • Total | 702 |
| • Density | 278.6/km2 (721.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| Zip code |
V0H 1J0
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| Area code(s) | 250, 778, 236, 672 |
| Highways | 3 |
Greenwood is a city in south central British Columbia, Canada. In 2021, its population was 702 people.
Greenwood became an official city in 1897. It used to be a very important city for mining and smelting in the Boundary Country region. Even though its population went down after the mines closed, it still keeps its city title today.
Students in Greenwood attend Greenwood Elementary School for grades K-7. After grade 7, they go to Boundary Central Secondary School in the nearby town of Midway.
In 1942, about 1,200 Japanese Canadians were sent to Greenwood. This happened as part of the Japanese Canadian internment during World War II. Among those who lived in Greenwood during this time were the grandparents and uncle of famous NHL hockey player, Paul Kariya. His father was born during this period.
Contents
Greenwood's Early History
In 1886, people found valuable copper ore in a narrow valley. This valley was about ten miles north of Boundary Creek. Ten years later, more mining claims were made in the area. These claims led to the start of the city of Greenwood.
In 1895, a merchant named Robert Wood built a log store there. He decided to name the area Greenwood. By 1896, the small settlement was growing fast. It had three hotels, a general store, and even an opera house.
Greenwood officially became a city in 1897. By 1899, its population had grown to 3,000 people. A railway called the Columbia and Western Railway also reached Greenwood from the east. In the same year, a fire caused damage to several businesses in the city.
Mining and Smelting in Greenwood
The BC Copper Company started its smelter in Greenwood in 1901. A smelter is a factory that melts ore to get metals like copper. This smelter processed ore from the Mother Lode Mine and other mines nearby.
Greenwood became a central hub for many smaller mining camps. These camps included Providence, Copper, Deadwood, and others. The city also became the main government center for the Boundary region. It had many businesses and two newspapers, the "Times" and the "Greenwood Ledge."
By 1910, the mining boom started to slow down. Greenwood's population dropped to 1,500. After World War I ended, the demand for copper fell sharply. By 1918, the copper market was very weak. The smelter in Greenwood stopped working and closed permanently the next year.
The closure of the smelter caused many mines around Greenwood to shut down too. After this, Greenwood's population continued to decline. On May 9, 2024, a fire destroyed the 123-year-old St. Judes Anglican Church in the city.
Lost Mines Near Greenwood
There are stories about "lost mines" hidden near Greenwood. One famous story is about Jolly Jack's Lost Mine. A local historian named Bill Barlee wrote about this mine. Its exact location has never been found. The Greenwood local museum has old records about Jolly Jack.
Another legend tells of Henry Morgan's lost mine. People believe this mine is somewhere near the beginning of Boundary Creek. However, it has also never been discovered. Local historian Garnet Basque has written about Morgan's lost mine.
Greenwood's Population Over Time
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1891 | 1,000 | — |
| 1901 | 1,359 | +35.9% |
| 1911 | 778 | −42.8% |
| 1921 | 371 | −52.3% |
| 1931 | 171 | −53.9% |
| 1941 | 363 | +112.3% |
| 1951 | 809 | +122.9% |
| 1956 | 815 | +0.7% |
| 1961 | 932 | +14.4% |
| 1966 | 911 | −2.3% |
| 1971 | 868 | −4.7% |
| 1976 | 931 | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 856 | −8.1% |
| 1986 | 767 | −10.4% |
| 1991 | 725 | −5.5% |
| 1996 | 784 | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 666 | −15.1% |
| 2006 | 625 | −6.2% |
| 2011 | 708 | +13.3% |
| 2016 | 665 | −6.1% |
| 2021 | 702 | +5.6% |
| Sources: Statistics Canada | ||
The population of Greenwood has changed a lot over the years. In the 2021 Census, Statistics Canada reported that 702 people lived in Greenwood. This was a small increase from its 2016 population of 665.
The city covers a land area of about 2.42 square kilometers. This means that in 2021, there were about 290 people living in each square kilometer of Greenwood.
Arts and Culture in Greenwood
Greenwood has been featured in several media projects. It appeared on the historical television series Gold Trails and Ghost Towns. You can see Greenwood in Season 2, Episode 1 of the show.
The city was also one of the places where the movie Snow Falling on Cedars was filmed. In 2019, the novel Greenwood by Michael Christie also featured a town named after a fictional logging boss, Everett Greenwood.
See also
In Spanish: Greenwood (Columbia Británica) para ni%C3%B1os
