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Chetwynd, British Columbia

Chetwynd
Little Prairie
District municipality
District of Chetwynd
The townsite of Chetwynd in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains
The townsite of Chetwynd in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains
Flag of Chetwynd
Flag
Coat of arms of Chetwynd
Coat of arms
Chetwynd, British Columbia is located in British Columbia
Chetwynd, British Columbia
Location within British Columbia
Coordinates: 55°41′50″N 121°38′00″W / 55.69722°N 121.63333°W / 55.69722; -121.63333Coordinates: 55°41′50″N 121°38′00″W / 55.69722°N 121.63333°W / 55.69722; -121.63333
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
Regional district Peace River
Settled 1918 (trading post)
Incorporated September 25, 1962 (village)
  May 31, 1983 (district)
Government
 • Mayor Merlin Nichols
 • Governing body Chetwynd District Council
 • MLA Mike Bernier
Area
 • Total 64.32 km2 (24.83 sq mi)
Elevation 615 m (2,018 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 2,635
 • Density 43.1/km2 (112/sq mi)
Time zone Mountain Time Zone (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) not observed (UTC-7)
Postal code V0C 1J0
Area code(s) 250 / 778 / 236
Highways BC 97 & BC 29
Website District of Chetwynd

Chetwynd /ˈɛtwɪnd/ is a district municipality located on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Situated on an ancient floodplain, it is the first town eastbound travellers encounter after emerging from the Rockies along Highway 97 and acts as the gateway to the Peace River Country. The town developed during the construction of infrastructure through the Rocky Mountains in the 1950s, and was used as a transshipment point during the construction of hydroelectric dams in the 1960s and 1970s and the new town of Tumbler Ridge in the early 1980s. Home to approximately 2,600 residents, the population has increased little if at all since the 1980s but is significantly younger than the provincial average.

Once known as Little Prairie, the community adopted its current name in honour of provincial politician Ralph L.T. Chetwynd, just prior to its incorporation in 1962. The 64-square-kilometre (25 sq mi) municipality consists of the town, a community forest, and four exclave properties. Chetwynd has dozens of chainsaw carvings displayed throughout town as public art. It is home to a Northern Lights College campus. Nearby, there are four provincial parks, two lakes, and several recreational trails.


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