Agriculture along the Crow Route in British Columbia (1 of 5)

The Crowsnest Route was built primarily to support coal mining and resource development in southern British Columbia. However, there were many areas of productive agricultural lands that were soon settled and planted with orchards and other crops. As in most parts of British Columbia, First Peoples' traditional uses of the land were given little consideration in the granting of Crown lands to individuals and companies.

Although much of south eastern British Columbia is mountainous and heavily forested, the valley bottom lands of the Kootenay River, the flat lands south of Kootenay Lake and the small, but fertile bench lands along Kootenay Lake and the Arrow Lakes and the Columbia River attracted many settlers. In dryer areas such as the open pine forests and bottom lands of the Kootenay River valley cattle ranching became important. Around Cranbrook and Fort Steele, cattle ranching was the most important of pioneering activities.

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Industry and Agriculture