Houston, British Columbia

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Houston
District municipality
District of Houston[1]
Motto: Where the welcome is warm and the wilderness beckons
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country  Canada
Province  British Columbia
Region Bulkley Valley
Regional district Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
Incorporated 1957
Government
 • Mayor Shane Brienen
Area
 • Total 72.94 km2 (28.16 sq mi)
Elevation 610 m (2,000 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 3,147
 • Density 43.1/km2 (112/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
Highways 16
Website District of Houston

Houston /ˈhjuːstən/ is a forestry, mining and tourism town in the Bulkley Valley of the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its urban population is approximately 3600 people, with approximately 2000 in the surrounding rural area. It is known as the "steelhead capital" and it has the world's largest fly fishing rod. Houston's tourism industry is largely based on eco-tourism and Steelhead Park, situated along Highway 16.

History

The Morice area was first charted by amateur historian, cartographer and geologist, Reverend Adrien-Gabriel Morice (1859-1938) known to Northern British Columbian locals as "Father Morice". In 1880, Morice came to British Columbia as a missionary to the native people and was one of the first 'white men' to see most of the area. Morice wrote, The History of the Northern Interior of British Columbia (formerly New Caledonia) [1660 to 1880].

Geography

West of Houston are Telkwa, British Columbia (49 km.), Smithers, British Columbia (66), Moricetown, British Columbia (97), Old Hazelton, British Columbia, New Hazelton, British Columbia (130), Terrace, British Columbia (269), and Prince Rupert, British Columbia (413 km.). East of Houston are Topley, British Columbia (30 km.), Granisle, British Columbia (79), Burns Lake, British Columbia (81), Fraser Lake, British Columbia (150), and Prince George, British Columbia (304 km.).

  • Location: latitude-54.39635,longitude-126.665497 [1]
  • Time zone: Pacific Standard Time

Houston is located near the confluence of the Bulkley River and Morice River approximately 65 km (40 mi) south of Smithers along Highway 16.

The area is in a rainshadow of the Coast Mountains, however due to being dominated by a low pressure region, Houston receives a mid-range volume of precipitation annually.

Morice Lake is located 80 km (50 mi) south along the Morice River Forest Service Road (FSR). Nestled into the Coast Mountains, many Houstonites use this area for recreational camping and fishing.

Nearby communities:

Climate

Transportation

Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train calls at the Houston railway station several times per week.

Politics

  • Houston is located in the federal electoral district of Skeena-Bulkley Valley, which has been held since 2004 by incumbent Nathan Cullen of the New Democratic Party of Canada. In the 2008 general federal election, Houston Mayor Sharon Smith ran as a Conservative Party candidate where she was defeated. She was also defeated a month later in the mayoral municipal election.

Recreation

  • The Houston Hikers' Society provides website where trail information, maps, photos and driving directions can be accessed.
  • The Morice Mountain Nordic Ski Club is a volunteer non-profit society. The MMNSC is responsible for all developments and trail grooming as well as maintenance of the facilities, and for trail users' fee collections. The ski trails are situated 8 km (5 mi) south of Houston on Buck Flats Road. Skiing enthusiasts are able to explore over 45 kilometres (28 mi) of challenging and beginner trails covering a rolling topography around Silverthorne Lake
  • Many locals frequent the Nanika-Kidprice Lakes Basin canoe route. This basin lies on the eastern slope of the Coastal Mountain Range and forms the upper watershed of the Morice-Bulkley rivers. The basin area is 920 meters (3,018 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by glaciated and snow-capped peaks that rise as high as 2,400 meters (7,870 ft). The 30 km (19 mi) route takes about three or four days to complete. There is approximately 4 km (2 mi) of portages between three lakes.
  • The recently constructed Houston Leisure Facility holds a pool, hot-tub, sauna and fitness gym.
  • Houston has two nine-hole golf courses

Schools

Houston is located in School District 54 Bulkley Valley and has three public schools and one privately run Christian denominational school.

Elementary schools:

Secondary Schools:

The Houston Christian School teaches from K-12.

Trivia

  • The Bulkley, a smaller stream running through Houston and the Morice River join just west of Houston. At the point of their joining they become the Bulkley River, not the Morice despite the fact the Morice is larger. This was done by Poudrier, a government cartographer who, it is rumoured, never saw the region.
  • The Bulkley, is named for Colonel S. Bulkley, one of the surveyors on the telegraph line through the Pleasant Valley.

References

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  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. http://www.houston.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?PageID=19&bhcp=1

External links

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