Okanagan Country


The Okanagan Country, also known as the Okanagan Valley, is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia, and the U.S. state of Washington, defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Okanagan River. With an estimated 400,000 residents, the Okanagan Country spans from the Thompson Plateau near Grindrod, British Columbia in the Okanagan to the Okanagan Highland near Douglas County, Washington in the Okanogan. The largest city in the Canadian portion is Kelowna, with a metropolitan population of 194,882 residents as of 2016, while the largest city in the American portion is Omak, with 4,881 residents as of 2011. The region took its current name in honor of the Okanagan term, ukʷnaqín. The mild climate and close proximity to lakes, rivers and mountainous regions make the Okanagan Country an outdoor recreational destination. The region's economy is dominated by the primary industries of agriculture and forestry, although economic diversification has also occurred with retirement communities and recreational tourism. The American portion is considered to be more remote than the Canadian division, with approximately 10 percent of the population.

Geography

The Shuswap Highland and Thompson Plateau, coming out of the unincorporated community of Grindrod, defines the northern border of the region; the terrain here is mountainous and hilly. The southern border is defined by Chelan, Douglas and Grant counties, although portions of these counties lie within the Okanagan Country. The Canada–United States border, which features an official crossing into Osoyoos from Oroville, separates the Okanagan and Okanogan subregions from each other. The Okanagan Highland and Okanagan Basin define the main geographic features, serving as plateau-like hilly areas. The Okanagan River and Okanagan Lake are the most prominent water features in the Okanagan Country, with a combined area of. According to Statistics Canada and the United States Census Bureau, the divided region comprises a total area of more than, larger than Belgium and Taiwan. The extended region within Chelan, Douglas and Grant divisions make a larger area. The largest municipality by area in the Okanagan Country is Spallumcheen, covering, making it larger than Seattle by land area. The southernmost community is Electric City, in Grant County. Other geographic features include Alta Lake, Columbia River, Cascade Mountains, Kalamalka Lake, North Gardner Mountain, Mahoney Lake, Mara Lake, McIntyre Bluff, Omak Lake, Osoyoos Lake, Similkameen River, Shuswap River, Skaha Lake, Swan Lake, Tuc-el-nuit Lake, Vaseaux Lake and Wood Lake.

Climate

Like most of southern British Columbia and central Washington, the Okanagan Country experiences a semi-arid climate, with little precipitation, hot summers and moderate winters. Northern communities have more precipitation and receive cooler temperatures. The city of Kelowna is generally considered to be a transition point between the semi-arid south and the somewhat wetter north, accompanied by a change in climate classification to humid continental. Vegetation ranges from cactus and sagebrush in the southern portion, to cedar and hemlock trees in the northern portion. The region was affected by 1872 North Cascades earthquake, the state's largest historical earthquake, on December 14, 1872. The center of the earthquake was located at Omak Lake. The earthquake had a magnitude between 6.5 and 7.0 and was followed by an aftershock.

Municipalities

NameTypeRegionPopulation
PercentArea Density
Incorporated
ArmstrongCityNorth Okanagan4,8150%920.01913
Barney's JunctionDesignationFerry County146%1,452.7
BarstowDesignationFerry County59%272.7
BoydsDesignationFerry County34%452.4
BrewsterCityOkanogan County2,3860%769.01910
BridgeportCityDouglas County2,444%885.81910
ChelanCityChelan County3,945%238.81902
ConconullyTownOkanogan County211%261.51908
ColdstreamDistrictNorth Okanagan10,314%155.61906
Coulee DamTownOkanogan County1,107%588.81959
CurlewDesignationFerry County118%403.0
Curlew LakeDesignationFerry County462%274.2
DisautelDesignationOkanogan County78%54.0
Electric CityCityGrant County1,004%219.81950
Elmer CityTownOkanogan County239%437.61947
EnderbyCityNorth Okanagan2,932%690.01905
Grand CouleeCityGrant County1,044%320.61935
IncheliumDesignationFerry County4090%6.0
KaledenDesignationOkanagan-Similkameen1,224%283.6
KellerDesignationFerry County234%63.7
KelownaCityCentral Okanagan117,312%553.81905
Lake CountryDistrictCentral Okanagan11,708%95.81995
LoomisDesignationOkanogan County159%72.0
LumbyVillageNorth Okanagan1,731%301.61955
MalottDesignationOkanogan County487%685.0
MethowDesignationOkanogan County68%260.2
NaramataDesignationOkanagan-Similkameen1,647%206.2
NespelemTownOkanogan County236%479.61935
Nespelem CommunityDesignationOkanogan County253%4.2
North OmakDesignationOkanogan County688%23.7
OlallaDesignationOkanagan-Similkameen4010%826.3
OliverTownOkanagan-Similkameen4,824%990.01945
Okanagan FallsDesignationOkanagan-Similkameen1,971%840.0
OkanoganCityOkanogan County2,568%505.31907
OmakCityOkanogan County4,881%545.41911
OrientDesignationFerry County115%689.4
OrovilleCityOkanogan County1,698%396.91908
OsoyoosTownOkanagan-Similkameen4,845%553.11946
PaterosCityOkanogan County673%525.61913
PeachlandDistrictCentral Okanagan5,2000%330.21909
PentictonCityOkanagan-Similkameen32,877%780.91908
RepublicCityFerry County1,093%260.51900
Pine GroveDesignationFerry County145%697.2
RiversideTownOkanogan County282%111.51913
SpallumcheenDistrictNorth Okanagan5,055%19.81892
SummerlandDistrictOkanagan-Similkameen11,280%152.31906
TonasketCityOkanogan County1,038%498.11927
TorboyDesignationFerry County49%137.0
Twin LakesDesignationFerry County59%5.4
TwispTownOkanogan County926%300.71909
VernonCityNorth Okanagan38,150%398.41892
West KelownaDistrictCentral Okanagan30,892%250.12007
WinthropTownOkanogan County3970%161.81924

Government

Population estimates from 2009 and 2011 released by BC Stats and United States Census Bureau indicated that there were over 400,000 residents. The American portion covers 10 percent of the population. Federally, the Canadian portion of the Okanagan Country is part of the British Columbia Southern Interior electoral district, while the American portion is part of Washington's 4th congressional district. The Okanagan Country is part of the North Okanagan, Central Okanagan, Okanagan-Similkameen regional districts, and the Okanogan and Ferry counties; however, portions of Grant, Clark and Douglas counties also lie within the divided region.