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Lillooet, BC, District Municipality, pop 2324 (2006c), 2741 (2001c), inc 1996. Lillooet is located in the southern interior of British Columbia, 325 km northeast of Vancouver. It sits at the eastern edge of the COAST MOUNTAINS above the west bank of the FRASER RIVER. Lillooet is an important location in native history and culture and remains one of the main population centres of the St'at'imc (Lillooet Nation), an INTERIOR SALISH group. Originally known as Cayoosh Flat because the body of a dead cayuse (native pony) was found in the river, the community was renamed, in 1860, after the Lillooet. It first became a municipality in 1946, when it was incorporated as a village.
Mile "0"
Miners came by the thousands from the coast to the interior in 1858 during the FRASER RIVER GOLD RUSH, travelling up the Harrison, Lillooet, Anderson and Seton lakes to the present site of Lillooet. Governor James DOUGLAS ordered the construction of a trail from Port Douglas on Harrison Lake to Lillooet. The Royal Engineers supervised the construction, and miners were contracted to build it. Lillooet became Mile "0" on the road to the Cariboo, until the CARIBOO ROAD from Yale was completed to Clinton in 1863. Then Yale obtained the status of Mile "0," although the roadhouses north of Clinton such as 70 Mile House and 100 MILE HOUSE take their distances from Lillooet. The new settlement quickly became an important town on the route to the CARIBOO and Fraser River goldfields. Some 16 000 gold seekers were outfitted in Lillooet until the alternative Cariboo Road finally reached LYTTON. Lillooet's importance then declined.
 Lillooet
Present Day
After the gold rush waned, the area was known for big-game hunting, and many settlers were employed as outfitters and guides. Lillooet is now supported by logging and lumbering, but manufacturing and agriculture, particularly cattle, alfalfa and GINSENG, also contribute to the economy. Tourism has increased in importance with the completion of the highway linking Lillooet to WHISTLER in 1991. A modern landmark is the Bridge of 23 Camels (1981) commemorating the failed experiment by a Victoria entrepreneur Frank Laumeister, who in 1862 imported camels for use as pack animals. This bridge replaced the steel cable and wood suspension bridge built by Royal Engineers (1913). Attractions include a local history museum and the restored Miyazaki House (circa 1880s), built by Caspar Phair, one of Lillooet's first settlers. The Bridge River-Lillooet News achieved notoriety under owner and editor Margaret "Ma" MURRAY, known for her colourful commonsense editorials and commentary on public events.
Author
JOHN R. STEWART Rev: KEN FAVRHOLDT
Links to Other Sites
Lillooet
The website for the District of Lillooet, BC.
Encyclopedia of British Columbia
Essential data and a concise history of British Columbia from the website for the "Encyclopedia of British Columbia." Most of the website content, including articles, photos, and graphics, is available through paid subscription.
BC Geographical Names
Search the BC Geographical Names Information System for historical and geographical data about specific locations in British Columbia.
British Columbia Archives
Explore the fascinating history of BC through online digitized copies of selected government documents, manuscripts, maps, architectural plans, photographs, illustrations, audio and video files, newspapers and much more.
One of Canada's earliest roads: the Cariboo
A CBC Radio audio clip about the history of the harrowing Cariboo Wagon Road in BC.
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