| District of Houston | |
|---|---|
| — District municipality — | |
| Motto: Where the welcome is warm and the wilderness beckons | |
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| Coordinates: 54°23′51″N 126°38′31″W / 54.3975°N 126.64194°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  British Columbia |
| Region | Bulkley Valley |
| Regional district | Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako |
| Incorporated | 1957 |
| Area | |
| - Total | 72.83 km2 (28.1 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 610 m (2,001 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 3,163 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| Highways | 16 |
| Website | District of Houston |
Houston (pronounced /ˈhjuːstən/) is a forestry, mining and tourism town in the Bulkley Valley of the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its urban population is approximately 3600 people, with approximately 2000 in the surrounding rural area. It is known as the "Steelhead Capital" and it has the world's largest fly fishing rod. Houston's tourism industry is largely based on eco-tourism and Steelhead Provincial Park, situated along Highway 16.
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History
The Morice area was first charted by amateur historian, cartographer and geologist, father Adrien-Gabriel Morice. In 1880 father Morice came to British Columbia as a missionary to the native people and was the first 'white man' to see most of the area.
Geography
- Location: latitude-54.39635,longitude-126.665497 [1]
- Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time
Houston is located near the confluence of the Bulkley and Morice Rivers approximately 60 km (37 mi) south of Smithers along Highway 16.
The area is in a rainshadow of the Coast Mountains, however due to being dominated by a low pressure region, Houston receives a mid-range volume of precipitation annually.
Morice Lake is located just 80 km (50 mi) south along the Morice River FSR. Nestled into the Coast Mountains, many Houstonites use this area for recreational camping and fishing.
Nearby communities:
- Perow
- Topley
- Buck Flats
- Barrett
- Quick
- Walcott
- Smithers
- Burns Lake
- Moricetown
Transportation
VIA Rails the Skeena calls at the [[Houston (British Columbia) railway station Houston railway station several times per week.
Politics
- Houston is located in the federal electoral district of Skeena-Bulkley Valley, which has been held since 2004 by incumbent Nathan Cullen of the New Democratic Party of Canada. In the 2008 general federal election, Houston Mayor Sharon Smith ran as a Conservative Party candidate where she was defeated. She was also defeated a month later in the Mayoral Municipal election.
- Provincially Houston is located in the new Nechako Lakes electoral district as of the general election of 2009 the elected MLA was John Rustad of the British Columbia Liberal Party. Previously the Bulkley Valley-Stikine electoral district was held by Dennis MacKay, also of the British Columbia Liberal Party.
Recreation
- The Morice Mountain Nordic Ski Club is a volunteer Non-Profit Society. The MMNSC is responsible for all developments and trail grooming as well as maintenance of the facilities, and for trail users fee collections. The ski trails are situated 8 km (5 mi) south of Houston on Buck Flats Rd. Skiing enthusiasts are able to explore over 45 kilometres (28 mi) of challenging and beginner trails covering a rolling topography around Silverthorne Lake
- Many locals frequent the Nanika-Kidprice Lakes Basin canoe route. This basin lies on the eastern slope of the Coastal Mountain Range and forms the upper watershed of the Morice-Bulkley Rivers. The basin area is 920 metres (3,018 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by glaciated and snow-capped peaks that rise as high as 2,400 metres (7,870 ft). The 30 km (19 mi) route takes about 3–4 days to complete. There is approximately 4 km (2 mi) of portages between three lakes.
- The recently constructed Houston Leisure facility holds a pool, hot-tub, sauna and fitness gym.
- Houston has two 9-hole golf courses
- Forestry Tours are a guided tour and see for yourself how the forests are being reforested, harvested and utilized.
Schools
Houston is located in School District 54 Bulkley Valley and has three public schools and one privately run Christian denominational school.
Elementary Schools:
Secondary Schools:
The Houston Christian School teaches from K-12.
Trivia
- The Bulkley, a smaller stream running through Houston and the Morice River join just west of Houston. At the point of their joining they become the Bulkley River, not the Morice despite the fact the Morice is larger. This was done by Poudrier, a government cartographer whom, it is rumoured, never saw the region.
- The Bulkley, is named for Col. S. Bulkley, one of the surveyors on the Telegraph line through the Pleasant Valley.
- Houston is named in honour of the pioneer newspaperman John Houston. [2]
External links
- Houston Secondary
- District of Houston
- Houston On-Line
- HBCC UFO Research
- Houston area Outdoors Recreation
- Houston Today Newspaper
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Coordinates: 54°23′55.7″N 126°38′37.8″W / 54.398806°N 126.643833°W
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