KENT

KENT
Is a district municipality and basically a region that falls within several communities including that of Agassiz (the largest town), Ruby Creek, Harrison Mills and Harrison Hot Springs. It is located 116 kilometers east of Vancouver along the Lougheed Highway. Its history dates back to the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush in 1858 when it grew as a result and when the first European settlers arrived Kent’s first commercial activity took place between the local First Nations people and the employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Boats used to navigate the Fraser Canyon, started to stop in Kent, continued to spurt Kent’s growth. In 1895, 14 years after the Canadian Pacific Railway was constructed, Kent became incorporated and then shortly afterward, the railway was opened and causing more commercial activity in the area. Kent became notable before World War 2 (WWII), as hop farming community. Unfortunately in 1948, the flood of the Fraser River wiped that industry out, however it benefitted and gave Kent of holding the distinction of Canada’s Corn Capital which is the agriculture crop in the region and to this day agriculture remains the main economic activity in the municipality. There are several highways that run the community including the Lougheed Highway (Highways #7) and the Harrison Hot Springs-Bridal Falls Highway (Highway #9). Kent is named after a county in England, which coincidentally the major British Columbia city of Surrey is also located in the England county of Kent. The enjoys a wet but moderately mild winter climate with very few temperature fluctuations with a average of 2.5 degrees Celcius, with usually very dry and warm summers and an summer average temperature of 23 degrees Celcius.

KENT’S POPULATION: 6,077