Chilliwack

The City of Chilliwack is a community of 70,000 people and is growing rapidly. It is located 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Vancouver, marking the start of the Fraser lowland. In its pioneering days Chilliwack served as a gateway as well as a hinterland to the fur trade and gold mines at Yale BC and Hope BC. But the arable flat land and the improved transportation of the Lower Mainland soon reoriented the 's economic ties toward the Vancouver area. As Greater Vancouver expands, the Lower Mainland becomes integrated as one economic region, and Chilliwack is very much a part of that region. The incorporation of the area began with the Township of Chilliwack in 1873. In 1881 a large subdivision called Centreville was developed. In 1887 the name Centreville was replaced by a more popular name, Chilliwack, and the area was incorporated in 1908 as a separate municipality, the City of Chilliwack. The City and the Township co-existed for 72 years, and finally in 1980 they merged to form the City of Chilliwack.

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How Did the City of Chilliwack Get It's Name?

The word Chilliwack is the name of a local Indian tribe as well as a geographic description of the area. Originally spelled Chilliwhack, this "Halkomelem" word means "quieter water at the head" or travel by way of a backwater. Sometime between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago the Sto:lo first arrived in the Chilliwack area. At the time of first contact it is estimated that there may have been as many as 30,000 people living within Sto:lo territory.
In 1857, word spread that gold had been found in the Fraser River canyon area and by 1858 over 30,000 gold miners found their way to the goldfields. Almost all of the miners travelled through the Chilliwack area. By the mid 1860's a handful of farms were established around the Fraser River steamboat landings called Miller's Landing, Sumas Landing and Chilliwack Landing.
The Township of Chilliwhack was incorporated in 1873, the third oldest municipality in British Columbia. Initially the settlement was concentrated along the Fraser River at Chilliwack Landing. Here the steamboats (the main mode of transportation between Chilliwack and New Westminster), arrived and departed goods and passengers.
Since the small community had little room for expansion along the river, the main commercial area of the town moved up the road to the junction of the New Westminster-Yale Wagon Road, Wellington Avenue and Young Road. The centre came to be called Five Corners.
In 1881 a large subdivision called Centreville was developed. In 1887 the name Centreville was replaced by a more popular name, Chilliwhack, and the area was incorporated in 1908 as a separate municipality, the City of Chilliwack. The City and the Township co-existed for 72 years, and finally in 1980 they merged to form the City of Chilliwack.
You may have noticed the slight variation in spelling of Chilliwack. It used to be spelled Chilliwhack and then was changed to Chilliwack.

For superb information, maps, and photos about the City of Chilliwack and the surrounding area, check out the Chilliwack Life website. You'll find information about topics like these:

Must-See Places

Downtown Chilliwack Cultus Lake Bridal Falls Ryder Lake
Yarrow

Fishing

Fraser River Vedder River Chehalis River
Harrison River

Golf – 3 courses of each caliber

Par 3 (2500 - 3000 yards) Executive (3000 - 5000 yards)
Full Length (5700 - 7000 yards)

High Adventure in the Wilds of Chilliwack

Mountain Climbing and Hiking Biking Camping Chilliwack River Rafting and Kayaking Paragliding
Adventure Skiing

Tour Maps and Guides

Cultus & Chilliwack Lakes Visual Arts Cycle Our Dykes Farms Drive Through History
Out & Back – Fraser River

Common misspellings of the word Chilliwack:

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