100 Mile House is a charming district municipality nestled in the South Cariboo region of central British Columbia, Canada. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the history, demographics, key locations, and climate of 100 Mile House, British Columbia.
Originally known as Bridge Creek House, 100 Mile House owes its name to the creek that meanders through the area. The settlement's roots trace back to the time of Thomas Miller, who owned a collection of buildings that served as a resting point for gold rush travelers journeying between Kamloops and Fort Alexandria.
During the Cariboo Gold Rush, a roadhouse was built in 1862 at the 100 miles mark up the Old Cariboo Road from Lillooet, giving the town its current name. In 1930, Lord Martin Cecil left England to manage his father's estate in 100 Mile House. The town, which then consisted of a roadhouse, a general store, a post office, telegraph office, and a power plant, had a population of 12. The original roadhouse unfortunately burned down in 1937.
100 Mile House is situated on unceded Secwepemc territory, with the nearest Secwepemc band being the Tsq'escen, geographically referenced by the Canim Lake Reserve.
According to the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, 100 Mile House had a population of 1,928 living in 907 of its 974 total private dwellings. This represented a slight increase of 0.5% from its 2016 population of 1,918. With a land area of 53.01 km2, the town had a population density of 36.4/km2 in 2021.
100 Mile House is surrounded by several notable locations. To the north, you'll find Lac la Hache, 150 Mile House, Williams Lake, and McLeese Lake. Further north are Quesnel and Prince George.
To the southeast lies the Interlakes area and Bridge Lake. South of the town, you can visit 70 Mile House, Clinton, Cache Creek, Spences Bridge, and Vancouver.
100 Mile House experiences a humid continental climate with mild summers and cool nights, along with winters that are cold but not extremely so for its latitude. Despite the moderation from its relative proximity to the Pacific Ocean, extreme winter temperatures can occasionally occur, with a record low of −48 °C. The town is located in a rain shadow of the coastal mountains, resulting in reduced precipitation, much of which falls as snow.
