Summerland, British Columbia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Summerland
District municipality
The Corporation of the District of Summerland
View of Summerland in 2006
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Town of Festivals
Summerland Location in British Columbia Show map of British Columbia Summerland Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Region	South Okanagan
Regional District	Okanagan-Similkameen
Founded	1902
Area  (2016)
• Total	74.08 km2 (28.60 sq mi)
• Population Centre	11.69 km2 (4.51 sq mi)
Elevation	454 m (1,490 ft)
Population  (2016)
• Total	11,615
• Density	156.8/km2 (406/sq mi)
• Population Centre	8,742
• Population Centre density	748.1/km2 (1,938/sq mi)
Postal code	V0H
Area code(s)	250, 778, 236 and 672

Summerland is a town in British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the west side of Okanagan Lake. The town is found between Peachland to the north and Penticton to the south. Kelowna is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north. Vancouver is about 425 kilometers (264 miles) to the west. Summerland is well-known for "Bottleneck Drive." This is a group of roads that connect many local wineries.

Local Leaders

The person in charge of Summerland is the mayor, Doug Holmes. The area's Member of Parliament is Dan Albas. He is part of the Conservative Party of Canada. The member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is Dan Ashton. He is from the British Columbia Liberal Party.

Summerland's History

Summerland became an official town in 1906. But people lived in the area long before that. The first people here were the Syilx (Okanagan Salish). Their lands stretched from Kamloops to southern Washington state. An important area was called "Nicola Prairie." It was named after Grand Chief Nicola.

An old map from 1827 shows only three places in the whole Okanagan Valley. These were Nicola Prairie, Lone Tree (north of Summerland), and Sandy Cove. Summerland has a rich history. It includes hunting, fur trading, ranching, and fruit farming. It was also a travel hub and now a popular tourist spot.

New settlers started arriving in the late 1880s. They began to bring water to grow fruit trees. The first large fruit farm was started in the 1890s in Trout Creek. Water was used to irrigate about 1,000 acres (4 square kilometers).

The first settlement on maps was Priest Encampment, by Garnett Lake. Later, development moved closer to Okanagan Lake. The higher areas were important travel routes. Small communities like Upper Trout Creek, Balcomo, and Mineola were built there. Upper Trout Creek was set up in 1892.

Summerland used to be called Trout Creek. In the 1890s, George Barclay had the biggest cattle ranch there. In 1902, Sir Thomas Shaughnessy bought the ranch. He started the town of Summerland. It officially became a town in 1906. By the 1920s, the current downtown Summerland was developed. The older areas on the higher benches were used less.

Downtown Summerland was originally part of the Penticton Indian Reserve No. 3. This land was traded between 1904 and 1906. It later became known as West Summerland.

The area now called Lower Town was the first Summerland town site. In the early 1900s, the Summerland Development Company helped build the town. They provided water, electricity, a post office, a school, and a sawmill. People from across Canada and England moved to Summerland.

View from Giants Head looking south-east to Lake Okanagan

By 1907, Summerland had good roads to Peachland and Penticton. There was also a ferry service to the east side of Okanagan Lake (Naramata). West Summerland (today's Downtown Summerland) became more important. This was partly because a fire in 1922 destroyed many buildings in Lower Town.

Population Facts

In the 2021 Census, Summerland had 12,042 people living there. This was an increase of about 3.7% from 2016. The town covers about 74.04 square kilometers (28.59 square miles). This means there were about 162.6 people per square kilometer in 2021.

People and Their Backgrounds

Most people in Summerland are of European background. There is also a growing number of Indigenous people. Other groups include those from South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Beliefs and Religions

According to the 2021 census, many people in Summerland do not follow a religion. About 57% of people reported no religion. Christianity is the largest religious group, with about 40% of the population. Other religions like Sikhism, Buddhism, and Hinduism are also present.

Education for Kids

Summerland's public schools are run by School District 67 Okanagan Skaha. The town has two elementary schools: Giants Head and Trout Creek. There is one middle school called Summerland Middle. The high school is Summerland Secondary School.

Summerland also has two private schools. One is a Montessori school. The other is Unisus, which is a day and boarding school. Students come from the local area and from other countries.

Fun Things to Do

Summerland is a popular place for visitors. It has a great location on Okanagan Lake and lovely sandy beaches. Many people from Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton visit here. Tourism is a big part of the town's economy.

For a long time, farming was the main industry. Farmers grew fruits like peaches, cherries, and apples. Now, these fruits are mostly sold fresh. In recent years, Summerland has also become known for its many wineries. Even though the climate is dry, there are several golf courses.

Summerland is also home to the historic Kettle Valley Steam Railway. This train takes visitors on a scenic trip. It goes around the Dale Meadows area and ends at the famous Trout Creek Trestle. Tourism Summerland helps visitors find attractions and events.

Wine Country

Summerland is a major center for Canada's wine industry. Many of the local wineries are connected by the famous 'Bottleneck Drive.' This makes it easy for visitors to explore them.

Sports and Teams

Summerland has its own hockey team, the Summerland Steam. They play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. In the past, the town also had teams called the Summerland Sting and the Summerland Warriors. Before that, the Summerland Buckaroos played in a higher league.

Younger players can join the Summerland Minor Hockey Association (SMHA). Their team is known as the Summerland Jets. A new soccer team, FC Detonate, started in 2024. They play in the South Okanagan Men’s Soccer League.

Nature and Land

Summerland is in the Thompson-Okanagan Plateau area. This is one of the warmest and driest natural regions in Canada. It has rolling hills and large river valleys. These include the Okanagan, Thompson, and Nicola Rivers.

In 2003, there was a serious drought. The town's water supply almost ran out. Since then, people have learned to save water. Now, there are rules in place to help conserve water.

The area around Summerland has grasslands with plants like bluebunch wheatgrass and sagebrush. There are also scattered ponderosa pines. The land is gently rolling and covered by old glacial deposits.

Summerland is famous for an extinct volcano called Giant's Head Mountain. It looks like a giant face from some angles. You can hike to the top in about an hour. From there, you get amazing views of the Okanagan Valley.

Local Wildlife

Around Summerland, you can see many animals. These include mule deer, Canada geese, California quail, and coyotes. You might also spot red wolves (a mix of coyote and wolf), blue grouse, and bald eagles. Black widow spiders are also found here.

In the hills around Summerland, you can find larger animals. These include black bears, white-tailed deer, moose, and cougars. There are also bobcats, California big-horn sheep, mountain goats, and rattlesnakes.

Weather in Summerland

Summerland has a climate with hot, dry summers and cool winters. The average yearly temperature in the main valleys is about 10°C (50°F). In summer, the average is 21°C (70°F). In winter, it's about -3.5°C (26°F). Winter weather is often mild, and very cold periods don't last long. Summers can be very dry with warm days and cool nights.

Late fall and most of winter don't get much sunshine. But Summerland gets more sunny days in spring than any other place in Canada. On average, the sun shines on 88.4 days each spring.

Because Summerland is on a natural bench (a raised flat area), nights stay relatively warm. Nearby Penticton has colder nights because cool air sinks into the valley. These warm, dry nights mean Summerland has the lowest morning humidity in Canada from May to September.

Friends Around the World

Summerland has special connections with two other places. It is a sister city with Omak, Washington in the United States. It is also a sister city with Toyokoro, a town in Japan.

Famous People from Summerland

Many notable people have come from Summerland:

• George Ryga – a writer of plays and novels
• Nicole Dunsdon – Miss Canada 1992
• Cynthia Kereluk – Miss Canada 1984
• Justin Kripps – a Bobsleigh athlete
• Kristi Richards – a Freestyle skier
• Dan O'Rourke – an National Hockey League (NHL) referee
• Helena Deland – a singer and songwriter

See also

In Spanish: Summerland (Columbia Británica) para niños