| 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: | Just SE of Keremeos, Similkameen Division Yale Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 49°10'30"N, 119°45'11"W at the approximate population centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 82E/4 |
|
|
Origin Notes and History:
|
Cawston (Town) adopted 7 October 1954 on Geological Survey sheet 420A, Kettle River; form of name changed to Cawston (Post Office & Station) 7 October 1954 on 82E/SW, being a station on the GNR. Form of name changed to Cawston (Community) 15 December 1982 on 82 E/4. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
|
Post Office opened 1 February 1917, L.V. Newton postmaster. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
|
Named after the late Richard Lowe Cawston (1849-1923), cattle rancher here from 1884 to 1911. Born near Stratford, Ontario, came to BC in 1874 and managed Lowe & Haynes cattle ranch at Osoyoos until he moved to this location 4 miles SE of Keremeos in 1884. Vaccinated Indians en masse during a smallpox epidemic. A stipendiary magistrate for many years. Died at Cawson 23 July 1923. Had 4 sons: Pearson, Richard, Beauchamp and Alfred. (information from Mrs R.L. Cawston to A.G.Harvey). See also Vancouver Daily Province, 13 March 1927. See also etymology of "Cawston" from Old Norse, received March 1976, file K.1.36) Source: Provincial Archives of BC "Place Names File" compiled 1945-1950 by A.G. Harvey from various sources, with subsequent additions |