Princeton, British Columbia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Princeton
Town
Town of Princeton
Princeton Location in British Columbia
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Region	Similkameen Country
Regional district	Okanagan-Similkameen
Founded	1858
Incorporated (village)	1951
Incorporated (town)	1978
Area
• Total	59.28 km2 (22.89 sq mi)
Elevation	650 m (2,130 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	2,894
• Density	48.819/km2 (126.44/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
Postal code	V0X 1W0 & V0X 2W0
Area codes	250, 778, 236, & 672
Highways	Hwy 3 Hwy 5A
Waterways	Tulameen River Similkameen River

Princeton is a town in southern British Columbia, Canada. It's located where the Tulameen flows into the Similkameen River. This area is just east of the Cascade Mountains. Princeton is also where two major roads, BC Highway 3 and 5A, meet.

Discovering Princeton's Past

Princeton has a rich history, starting with its early days as a settlement.

How Princeton Got Its Name

In 1860, John Fall Allison claimed land near the river fork. The Marston family, who owned the land where the town is now, left in 1871. A settlement called Prince Town was planned nearby. It was named after the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII. He visited Eastern Canada in 1860. The name quickly changed to Princeton for the whole area.

Early Days and Growth

From 1860 to 1870, Princeton was an important center for the Similkameen District. In the 1870s, it was a hub for cattle. Herds were moved over mountain trails to Hope. John Allison became the first postmaster in 1888.

Many hotels were built in Princeton over the years. The Wallace House opened in 1897 but burned down in 1911. The Jackson House, built in 1899, became the Great Northern Hotel in 1906 but also burned down in 1912. The Tulameen Hotel was built in 1902, burned down in 1904, was rebuilt in 1906, and was finally taken down in 1960. The Similkameen Hotel (1911) burned in 1930. The Princeton Hotel (1912) was badly damaged by fire in 1930 and completely destroyed in 2006.

By 1900, Princeton had many businesses. These included restaurants, hotels, stables, butcher shops, blacksmith shops, laundries, and sawmills. A newspaper also started that year.

Becoming an Official Town

Princeton officially became a village in 1951. It was then recognized as a town in 1978.

Modern Changes and Challenges

In the 1980s, Princeton's downtown area was updated with red brick sidewalks and new streetlights. In the 1990s, the town adopted a "heritage" look. Many businesses changed their buildings to look like they did a century ago.

In 2021, a big flood covered half the town. The rivers overflowed their banks, and the water was much higher than in a previous flood in 1995.

In the early 2020s, the downtown was improved again. New bronze wildlife statues were added, sidewalks were upgraded, and the visitor center was improved. New temporary homes were opened in 2023 for seniors who lost their homes in the 2021 flood.

Princeton's Industries

Princeton's economy has always been shaped by its natural resources.

Mining for Copper and Coal

The town of Princeton relies a lot on copper mining. Copper was first found here in 1883. An underground mine opened in 1923 and ran until 1957. Surface mining started in 1979 and closed in 1996.

The Copper Mountain Mine Corporation bought the mine in 2006. It started operations again in 2011. The mine is now owned by Hudbay Minerals. This mine provides jobs and income for Princeton locals. It's also a big attraction for visitors because it's one of Canada's largest copper mines.

Exploratory coal mining also began in 1898.

Other Local Businesses

The Princeton Brewing Co. started in 1902 but closed in 1961. A cement plant opened in 1913 but closed just weeks later. Its ruins are now part of the Rainbow Lake Castle Resort.

In 1910, a community water system was set up. Electricity was provided by Princeton Coal and Land, then by the copper mining company. In 1922, Princeton Light and Power Co. became the main electricity provider.

While mining and forestry have been key industries, tourism and farming have also grown over the years.

Railways Connecting Princeton

Trains played a huge role in connecting Princeton to other places.

Early Train Lines

The Great Northern Railway (GN) built tracks into Princeton in November 1909. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) also built tracks. In April 1915, the CP's Kettle Valley Railway (KV) line joined the GN track in Princeton.

In October 1920, a CP branch line was completed from Princeton to Copper Mountain.

Train Schedules and Changes

Both the GN and CP railways had regular stops in Princeton. The GN service to Princeton ended permanently in April 1934 when its bridge washed out.

When the Copper Mountain mine closed in 1957, the CP Copper Mountain branch line also closed. The tracks were removed that summer.

Passenger train service ended in January 1964. The last freight train passed through Princeton in May 1989. By the end of summer 1991, all the train tracks were removed.

The old GN/CP train station (built in 1909) is now a Subway restaurant. Part of the old CP railway path is now the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, which is great for hiking and biking.

Bridges and Roads in Princeton

Getting around Princeton and connecting to other towns has changed a lot over time.

Crossing the Rivers

Before 1949, the main way to get to Princeton was through the Merritt area. A bridge over the Tulameen River was washed out in the 1870s. For a while, local First Nations offered canoe rides. People wanted a government-built bridge, and in 1885, a new bridge was built.

In 1900, a ferry was used to cross the Similkameen River while a new bridge was being built. This bridge was finished in March 1901. However, ice damaged it and the Tulameen bridge. The Tulameen bridge was completely rebuilt in August of that year.

In 1918, a new bridge was built next to the Similkameen bridge, and the older one was taken down.

The single-lane wooden Tulameen crossing, known as the Brown Bridge, was built in the 1930s. It has been damaged many times by large trucks.

The steel bridge that replaced the Similkameen bridge in 1948 was replaced again with a concrete bridge in 2003.

In 1964, the current steel highway bridge over the Tulameen River opened.

In 2009, the "Bridge of Dreams" was built. It uses the foundations of the old 1909 Kettle Valley Railway bridge.

Road and Air Travel

By 1899, a stagecoach trip from Spences Bridge to Princeton took three and a half days.

In 1901, the road connecting Princeton to Hedley and Keremeos was built. In 1928, the road to Merritt was upgraded to a highway.

The Hope–Princeton highway opened in November 1949. This made travel much easier.

Bus services have changed over the years. Greyhound stopped serving Princeton in the 1960s and again in 2018. Now, a regional bus service connects Princeton to Kaslo and Vancouver year-round.

The South Okanagan-Similkameen Transit System also offers bus service along the Coalmont-Penticton route.

Princeton Aerodrome is a small airport with very few facilities. It used to be a training ground for young pilots. For scheduled flights, people usually go to Penticton Regional Airport or Kelowna International Airport.

Princeton in Movies

Princeton and the surrounding area have been used as filming locations for movies!

In 1987, the movie Malone, starring Burt Reynolds, was filmed mostly in nearby Hedley. But it also included important scenes in downtown Princeton.

In 2001, parts of the film The Pledge, starring Jack Nicholson, were shot in the area. Other parts were filmed in Lytton and Lillooet.

Famous People from Princeton

Many notable individuals have connections to Princeton:

• Shawn Brenneman (born 1973), a darts player, lives here.
• Isabel Dawson (1917–1982), a politician, lived here.
• Gordon Lionel Gibson (1913–1998), a politician, was born here.
• John Carmichael Haynes (1831–1888), a judge, died here.
• Linda Hughes (born 1950), a newspaper publisher, was born here.
• Albert Irwin (1917–2006), a skier, was born here.
• Trevor Josephson (born 1951), a rower, was born here.
• Fred Norcross (1884–1965), a football player/coach and engineer, lived here from 1915–1917.
• Stephen Peat (born 1980), an ice hockey player, was born here.
• James Rabbitt (born 1941), a politician, was born here.

Fun Things to Do in Princeton

Princeton offers many activities for visitors and residents.

Outdoor Adventures

You can enjoy camping, fishing, hunting, and golf. Other popular outdoor activities include:

• Biking or hiking the KVR (Kettle Valley Rail) or China Ridge trails in summer.
• Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on these trails in winter.
• Manning Park, located to the west, also offers a variety of outdoor activities.

Exploring Local Culture

• The Bronze Sculpture Walk features wildlife sculptures along the main streets.
• You can see a mounted Canadair CT-133 Silver Star weather vane at the airport entrance.
• The Princeton and District Museum and Archives has a fossil collection, artifacts from First Nations, and exhibits about pioneer life. It also has a 1900 stagecoach and a 1934 fire engine. The museum highlights the culture and language of the Upper Similkameen people, focusing on the importance of water.

Community Events and Facilities

Annual events include The Princeton Pro Rodeo, Family Day, and Canada Day celebrations.

Princeton has great facilities like the Centennial Pool, a 700-seat hockey arena, a curling rink, and 14 local parks.

Princeton's Climate

Princeton has a climate with dry influences. It's located just east of the Cascade Mountains. This means the mountains block much of the rain, giving the town very little precipitation.

Princeton is one of the sunniest places in British Columbia. It gets about 2,088 hours of sunshine each year. It also has the most days with measurable sunshine (at least 6 minutes of sun) in the province, with 323 days per year. March is especially sunny, with 29.4 days of measurable sunshine, which is the highest in Canada.

. Extreme high and low temperatures were recorded at Princeton from July 1936 to May 1942 and at Princeton Aerodrome from November 1936 to present.

Images for kids

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  Sunflower Downs, fairgrounds, Princeton, 2008

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  Castle ruins, Princeton, 2008

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  Bridge St. southward, Princeton, 1911

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  Brown Bridge, Princeton, 2008

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  Princeton Museum, 2008