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Lytton in British Columbia sits at the confluence of the Thompson River and Fraser River on the east side of the Fraser. The location has been inhabited by the Nlaka'pamux people for over 5,000 years.
History
Lytton was on the route of the Gold Rush in 1858. Lytton was named for Edward Bulwer-Lytton the British Colonial Secretary and a novelist, that same year. For many years Lytton was a stop on the Major transportation routes. The Cariboo Wagon Road in 1862, Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s and Trans Canada Highway in the 1950s. However, it has become much less of an important since the construction of the Coquihalla Highway in 1987 which uses a more direct route to BC's interior.
Population
The current village population is about 400 people with another 2,000 in the immediate area living in rural areas and on reserves of the neighbouring six Nlaka'pamux communities.
Weather
In the summer, Lytton is often the hottest spot in Canada. Temperatures regularly reach the mid to high 30°C 's and occasionally exceeds 40°C. Lytton, along with the nearby community of Lillooet, share the second-highest temperature ever recorded in Canada. On 16 July 1941 the temperature reached a record 44.4°C in both communities. Hot summer temperatures are made more tolerable by low humidity, however. Lytton's climate is also characterized by relatively mild winters (although the January average temperature is slightly below the freezing point) and light annual precipitation. Precipitation is concentrated in the cooler half of the year.
Transportation
Lytton lies on Trans Canada Highway and is the location where the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway change sides of the Fraser River.
Highway 12 runs north from Lytton to Lillooet
There is a reaction ferry that crosses the Fraser River at Lytton. On the West side of the river is a First Nation reserve and the Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux Heritage Park that includes the entire watershed for the Stein River.
Politics
The Mayor of Lytton is Chris O'Connor.
Lytton is in the provincial riding of Yale-Lillooet represented since 2005 by Harry Lali of the NDP and the federal riding of Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon represented by Chuck Strahl of the Conservatives
Economy
The main business is forestry and the main employer is Lytton Lumber.
Tourism is of ever increasing importance as Lytton is the River Rafting Capital of Canada. Biggest of the companies operating from Lytton is Kumsheen Rafting Resort
External links
"Lytton, British Columbia"