Creston

Creston is a town of about 5,600 people (2021) in the West Kootenays, at the south end of Kootenay Lake in British Columbia.

Understand


Creston is the eastern terminus of the Salmo-Creston highway constructed in the 1960s as a shortcut to avoid the long route north to Nelson and crossing Kootenay Lake by ferry between Balfour and Kootenay Bay. The Salmo-Creston highway, which is part of the Crowsnest Highway, connected with earlier highways eastward of Creston.

Creston is one of the few towns in British Columbia that does not observe Daylight Saving (summer) Time.

The Creston Valley's economy is largely resource-based with agriculture and forestry. Many are employed in the service sector, and tourism is increasingly prominent, while government services and education comprise a large portion of the labour force. Since 1959, Kokanee beer has been brewed in Creston at the Columbia Brewery. The town is also home to two grain elevators. Many apple, and cherry orchards grow in Erickson, British Columbia, an unincorporated area outside of Creston, and the valley is also an important dairy centre.

History
The Creston Valley has been inhabited, for at least 11,000 years, by the Ktunaxa people, known for their unique language, the distinctive sturgeon-nosed canoe, and cultural traditions that blend a dependence on fish, small game, and waterfowl with the annual bison-hunting traditions of the Plains nations.

European exploration of the Creston Valley began in 1808, when David Thompson passed through the region, followed by fur traders, prospectors, and government surveyors. European settlement began in the early 1880s, and two railways, the Canadian Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway, built into the valley in the last years of the century.

Agriculture and forestry were the primary industries of the new community. Mining attracted many people, but, like many other communities around the Kootenays, the mineral deposits of the Creston Valley were not large enough to support a significant mining industry here.

Small fruits and tree fruits were the principal agricultural products of the early decades of the twentieth century, and the Creston Valley quickly gained a reputation for the quality, quantity, and variety of fruit. Reclamation of the flats alongside the Kootenay River, west of Creston, in 1935 led to large-scale grain production, again with outstanding quality and yields. Today, many livestock, dairy, and hay operations also contribute to the Valley's agricultural industry.

Growth of the community followed the development of local industry. By 1899 hotels, stores, and restaurants were established, along with the first volunteer fire department. Creston has a lot of buildings, downtown, that are or feature art deco architecture, and is one of the art deco capitals of western Canada (for its size).

Climate
Daily maximum temperatures are usually above freezing even in January, but the worst cold outbreaks may send temperatures below −30 °C (−22 °F) on rare occasions. Spring comes early by Canadian standards; trees usually start to leaf out before the end of April. A clear summer day is likely to have a daily maximum near or above 25 °C (77 °F).

By car
Creston is on Hwy 3, the southern route through British Columbia, about an hour west of Cranbrook. It is also just north of the USA/Canada border crossing at Rykerts, BC, and Porthill, Idaho.

Get around
The downtown area isn't very big so you can easily walk around there, but the rest of the town is somewhat spread out so a bike or a car can be useful.]

By public transit

 * Operates on a bus route two days per week between Creston and Cranbrook (2 hours) with a stop in Yahk.
 * Operates on a bus route two days per week between Creston and Cranbrook (2 hours) with a stop in Yahk.

Buy
Creston has the normal selection of grocery stores, hardware and building supply stores and such, but is particularly noted for plant nurseries and agricultural produce stands.

The Creston Area produces the largest cherries grown in the Northern hemisphere and exports them globally. A primary market is Europe while Asia is second. Some growers sell the same product they export to Europe at their roadside markets.

Due to its proximity to the U.S. border, many businesses in the town accept American currency.