Cawston is an unincorporated small community in the south Similkameen Valley in

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, Canada, with a 2005 population of 973. The community was named for R.L. Cawston, a pioneer rancher and magistrate who settled in the area in the 19th century. It is near the site of a historic Hudson's Bay Company store.

History

Cawston lies within the territory of the Smelqmix (Similkameen) Nation, specifically, the area of the

Lower Similkameen Indian Band The Lower Similkameen Indian Band or Lower Smelqmix (), is a First Nations in Canada, First Nations band government in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Their office was in the village of Keremeos, British Columbia, Keremeos in the Similka ...

, which is a member of the

Okanagan Nation Alliance The Okanagan Nation Alliance is a First Nations Tribal Council in the Canadian province of British Columbia, spanning the Nicola, Okanagan and Similkameen Districts of the Canadian province of British Columbia and also the Colville Indian Reserva ...

of the

Syilx The Syilx () people, also known as the Okanagan, Suknaqinx, or Okinagan people, are a First Nations in Canada, First Nations and Native Americans in the United States, Native American people whose traditional territory spans the Canada–United St ...

. Members of the LSIB are involved in many social and cultural endeavors, such as working to revitalize the Nsyilxcen (

Okanagan The Okanagan ( ), also called the Okanagan Valley and sometimes the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is part of ...

) language. The band currently has almost 500 members.

Demographics

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Cawston included: *

Irreligion Irreligion is the absence or rejection of religious beliefs or practices. It encompasses a wide range of viewpoints drawn from various philosophical and intellectual perspectives, including atheism, agnosticism, religious skepticism, ...

(605 persons or 55.0%) *

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

(310 persons or 28.2%) *

Sikhism Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...

(180 persons or 16.4%) *Other (10 persons or 0.9%)

School

Many of the kids in Cawston attend either Cawston Primary School or Similkameen Elementary Secondary School, One of those kids got a full-in Bruce Willis movie on May 25, 2021.

Geography

Cawston is located on Highway 3 (the

Crowsnest Highway The Crowsnest Highway is an east-west highway in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. It stretches across the southern portions of both provinces, from Hope, British Columbia to Medicine Hat, Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection ...

) nearby communities are

Keremeos Keremeos () is a village in British Columbia, Canada. The name originated from the Similkameen dialect of the Okanagan language word "Keremeyeus" meaning "creek which cuts its way through the flats" referring to Keremeos Creek which flows down fr ...

(8 km to the West),

Osoyoos Osoyoos (, ) is the southernmost town in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia between Penticton and Omak. The town is north of the United States border in the Washington State and is adjacent to the Osoyoos Indian reserve. The origin of ...

(36 km to the East), and

Penticton Penticton ( ) is a city in the Okanagan, Okanagan Valley of the British Columbia, Canada, situated between Okanagan Lake, Okanagan and Skaha Lake, Skaha lakes. In the 2021 Canadian Census, its population was 36,885, while its Census geographic un ...

(50 km to the North).

Economy

Today, Cawston is a busy agricultural center. The town has two fruit packing plants, the newest being built strictly for organic produce - a fast-growing segment of the area's agricultural economy. There are many apple and soft fruit orchards throughout the Cawston area. In recent years, vineyards and wineries have become an important part of the local economy. The rural nature of this community has also made it a popular home to horse ranches, hobby farms, and nature enthusiasts. There are many hiking trails in the area covering almost every terrain possible, from cactus and sagebrush desert to sub-alpine meadows. Skiing and other winter activities can be enjoyed nearby as can 18 hole golf course at Twin Lakes, boating and swimming throughout the

and fishing in the Similkameen and Ashnola rivers as well as on the many lakes in the area.

References

External links

*
Keremeos (Cawston), British Columbia Website
{{authority control Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia Populated places in the Similkameen Designated places in British Columbia