| Feature Type: | Community - An unincorporated populated place, generally with a population of 50 or more, and having a recognized central area that might contain a post office, store and/or community hall, etc, intended for the use of the general public in the region. |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | N side of entrance to West Arm Kootenay Lake, NE of Nelson, Kootenay Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 49°37'31"N, 116°57'44"W at the approximate population centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 82F/10 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Balfour (Post Office) adopted 7 December 1937 on Geological Survey sheet 603A, Nelson, as labelled on BC map 1EM, 1915 (file N.1.37); form of name changed to Balfour (Post Office & Steamer Landing) 4 September 1947 on Columbia River Basin manuscript 9 (file C.1.47); form of name changed to Balfour (Steamer Landing) 6 October 1955 on 82 SW (file O.1.49), then back to Balfour (Post Office & Steamer Landing) 5 April 1961 on 82F/10 (file K.2.50); form of name changed to Balfour (Community) 15 December 1982 on 82F/10. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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Balfour Post Office was opened 1 July 1891; closed 12 February 1955; re-opened some time during 1956. Postal authorities later advised that the post office hadn't actually been closed, just shut "for an extended period of time" when relocated from Lot 7880 to Lot 184. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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In 1895 Lady Aberdeen noted in her diary, "Opposite Pilot Bay a gentleman of the name of Balfour has built a private residence just because of the beauty of the place. And he is fully justified." Source: Akrigg, Helen B. and Akrigg, G.P.V; British Columbia Place Names; Sono Nis Press, Victoria 1986 /or University of British Columbia Press 1997 |