Crescent Beach, British Columbia
Coordinates: 49°03′09″N 122°53′02″W / 49.052383°N 122.883947°W Crescent Beach is a beachside community within South Surrey, British Columbia next to Boundary Bay and Mud Bay across from Delta, British Columbia. It is home to 1,200 residents, mostly in single-family homes.
Crescent Beach has been a summer destination for centuries. In pre-colonial times, it was the location of a significant temporary summer camp for area aboriginals. The tidal mudflats were a good clam digging area. Wild berries, especially cranberries, and a weir site were located at nearby Nicomekl River and Serpentine River areas. The area was part of Snokomish territory until a smallpox epidemic in 1850 forced the survivors and their lands to be amalgamated into the Semiahmoo First Nation.Musqueam bands also travelled to use the lands seasonally.
Artifacts such as arrowheads and jade have been found on the beach in the modern era. First Nations' burial sites were uncovered in 1970 by sewer excavation.
The Semiahmoo First Nation attributes three to five metres depth of the land base to archaeological deposits of clams, charcoal and fire-cracked rocks without which the area would largely just be a sandspit. Modern excavations in some parts have also uncovered more than 700 human remains.
The first Europeans to chart the area were Spanish sailors. Captain Galiano titled it San Rafael Point on his map.
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