Until 1925, Kelowna was
entirely dependent on water transportation for all freight and passenger
movement. In September, 1925, Locomotive #416 finally brought Kelowna
into the railroad network.
On July 23rd, 1905, William
Scott, operator of the mail stage line between Kelowna & Vernon, replaced
his horse drawn vehicle with an automobile. It covered the route in
3 hours.
The letters K.L.O. on
the K.L.O. road sign are for Kelowna Land and Orchard Company, who
owned most of the land in that area and sub-divided it for orchard
acreage.
Kelowna had two oil wells.
There was much speculation between 1913 and 1932. A great deal of
money was sunk into the wells, but no oil was discovered.
There are more
people 45 years and over living in the Central Okanagan than the B.C.
average - 39.3% versus 36.4% in B.C.
39% of visitors
to Kelowna are from within B.C. , 18.3% are from Alberta, and 17%
are from Over Seas. Some others include, 3.8% from Saskatchewan, 2.7%
from Manitoba, 5.4% from Ontario.
The total area
of farms in the Central Okanagan is 78,500 acres. (1996 Census)
The Okanagan Valley
is the oldest wine-producing region in British Columbia. Red vinifera
grapes are more prevalent in the south where there is less rainfall,
while French and Germanic grape varieties are grown in the north.
There is a total of three thousand producing acres of premium grape
varieties in the Okanagan.
|
Blossom
Dates |
August
15 - October 30 |
| APRICOTS |
April 10
- April 25 |
July 20 -
August 10 |
| CHERRIES |
April 20
- May 7 |
July 1 -
August 1 |
| PEACHES |
April 20
- May 2 |
July 25 -
September 1 |
| PEARS |
April 25
- May 10 |
August 15
- September 30 |
| PRUNES/PLUMS |
April 28
- May 10 |
August 15
- September 10 |
| APPLES |
May 5 - May
20 |
August 15
- October 30 |
