MERRITT

MERRITT
Is a small-sized city situated on the Coquihalla Highway, about 90 kilometers south of Kamloops at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater Rivers. Merritt is considered the main commercial center for the entire Nicola Valley. The townsite of Merritt was laid out in 1893, flowing the discovery of coal deposits and was previously known as Forksdale and Diamond Vale, but was renamed Merritt; referring to William Hamilton Merritt III, a railway promoter of one of the Railways from one of Nicola Valley to Spences Bridge, which opened the region for coal mining. The city boomed quickly and was incorporated on April 1, 1911. The forest industry wasted no time becoming important to Merritt’s economy during the 1920s. Merritt was extremely hit hard by the depression in the 1930s and went to into receivership in 1933and during this time the city’s affairs were run by the Government of British Columbia. Coal mining declined after the Second World War (WWII) and in 1963, the coalmines of Merritt ceased operations together. Sawmilling, opening of 2 copper mines; Craigmont (closed in 1982) and the Highland Valley Copper Mine in Logan Lake, about 65 kilometers north, aw well as tourism, is important to the local economy. In addition to being the most productive and the one of the largest in the world, The Highland Valley Copper Mines has also provided many jobs in the area and being the major contributor to Merritt’s economy. Mountainfest (also known as the “Merritt Mountain Music Festival”), is an annual summer country music festival that has attracted thousands of country music fans here every year since 1992.

MERRITT’S POPULATION: 6,998