| 1865 |
The Penticton area was first inhabited by the Okanagan Natives, a branch of the Interior Salish. They were traditionally a hunting and gathering society, but by the time the white settlers arrived, they became proficient stock raisers and crop growers. The name Penticton was derived from the native word ‘pentktn’ which means “a place to stay forever”. |
| 1865 |
Tom Ellis was the first non-Native settler in the area. He was originally from England, and planned the formulation of the new town. |
| 1890 |
The first hotel (“Penticton Hotel”) was built, which later burned down in 1925. |
| 1892 |
A town site was laid out around the Smith Street area. The street is now called Front Street, home to many unique stores and boutiques. Smith Street was named after C.S. Smith, who owned a sawmill and supplied much of the lumber used to construct the original buildings. This was home to many buildings that no longer exist, but which then housed the businesses of the day: Livery barns, blacksmiths, barbershops, bakershops, hotels, etc. |
| 1902 |
The first schooling took place in a small cabin hidden among the trees on Vancouver Avenue. |
| 1904 |
The first long distance phone lines were established, joining Princeton and Penticton. By 1909 there were 40 telephones in use in town. |
| 1906 |
The first newspaper in Penticton was published by W.J. Clement. subscription to the newspaper cost just one dollar (payable in advance). |
| 1907 |
Penticton had grown to the bountiful size of 600 residents, and was officially recognized by the British Columbia Government as a municipal district. |
| 1910 |
Population of 1100. |
| 1911 |
Penticton Lumber company opened the first sawmill in the area. |
| 1912 |
Homes in the area had running water for the first time. A long distance telephone line was established between Penticton and Vernon. |
| 1912 |
Penticton High opens. The original building has expanded and is now called Penticton Secondary with approximately 1500 students attending. |
| 1914 |
The S.S. Sicamous was known as the Queen of the Lake. She was built in Port Harbor in Ontario and assembled in Okanagan Landing. Launched in May 1914, the 200-foot long paddle steamer used approximately 17 tons of coal per trip. The last commercial run was in 1936. Today the S.S. Sicamous can be seen on the shores of Okanagan Lake in Penticton. |
| 1915 |
The Kettle Valley Railway was complete and the first passenger train arrived. At the time of construction, the population increased to about 1500 people. |
| 1916 |
The first fire truck was built. |
| 1919 |
After WWI the first orchards planted in Penticton had come into full production. About 2.5 million boxes of apples were produced at $60 a ton. |
| 1921 |
Population of 4000. |
| 1920’s |
The early days were difficult for road travel, but with the proliferation of the automobile and the constant increase in population, road-building was in full-force by the 1920's. |
| 1927 |
Naramata Elementary School opens. |
| 1936 |
The Penticton Post Office and Federal building was built on Main Street. The building is still in use today. |
| 1937 |
Kaleden Elementary School opens. |
| 1938 |
Site of Penticton airport was established. It was first used for military planes during the War and by Trans Canada Airlines as an emergency location. |
| 1941 |
Population of 5743. |
| 1946 |
Naramata, Kaleden and Penticton school districts were amalgamated into one school district. |
| 1948 |
Penticton gained city status. The first radio station was established. |
| 1950 |
Major improvements to the highway (both north and south of the city) and the opening of the Hope Princeton Highway in 1949 had a huge impact on the surrounding community and tourism. |
| 1952 |
Carmi Elementary School opens. |
| 1955 |
The Penticton Vee's hockey team brought home the World Cup after defeating the USSR 5-0. |
| 1956 |
Cable TV came to Penticton with the installation of an antenna on the top of Blue Mountain. The first movie theater opened downtown, called the “Pen-Mar”. |
| 1957 |
West Bench Elementary School opens. |
| 1959 |
A group of ski enthusiasts worked together to form Apex Alpine. In 1961 the first Pomalift was installed, 1968 the first T-Bar, and 1971 the first chairlift. |
| 1964 |
Uplands Elementary School opens. |
| 1967 |
Greenwood Forest Products opened their mill. |
| 1970 |
Columbia Elementary School opens. |
| 1971 |
The Queen visits Penticton. |
| 1972 |
The Agricultural Land Reserve was established to put an end to city sprawl to save the orchards. |
| 1974 |
The Cherry Lane Shopping Centre first opened. |
| 1976 |
Parkway Elementary and Queens Park Elementary Schools open. |
| 1989 |
The last train left Penticton and the CPR yards were demolished and rails pulled up leaving the city without rail service for the first time in 75 years. |
| 1992 |
Wiltse Elementary School opens. |
| 1997 |
In 1997 work began on a state of the art sewage disposal system to help protect Okanagan Lake and improve nearby developments. |
| 2007 |
Continues to be a major tourist destination in the Southern Interior and now has a population of about 33,000 people. |
