Barnhartvale
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: SE side of Kamloops, S of South Thompson River, Kamloops Division Yale Land District
Latitude-Longitude: 50°38'59"N, 120°10'04"W at the approximate population centre of this feature.
Datum: WGS84
NTS Map: 92I/9
Other Recorded Names:
Campbell Creek
Origin Notes and History:

Barnhart Vale (Post Office) adopted in the 1930 BC Gazetteer, located at 50 38 - 120 08 as labelled on BC map 1EM, 1915. Confirmed 2 March 1950 on 92 I . Form of name changed to Barnhart Vale (Settlement) in the 1953 Gazetteer; further changed to Barnhart Vale (Community) 24 August 1978 on 92 I/NE. Form of name changed to 1-word: Barnhartvale (Community) , to conform to local usage, and coordinates adjusted 15 June 1983 on 92I/9.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Campbell Creek Post Office was established 1 June 1905, named after a settler. Name changed to Barnhartvale Post Office 1 June 1909, P.A. Barnhar(d)t, first postmaster. Barnhartvale Post Office closed 30 August 1951; at the time of closing, the post office was situated on partially on L457 and on SE 1/4 Sec 27, Tp 19, R 16.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Peter Barnhart was conductor on the first CPR train in 1886, but retired during the 1890's to run a hotel in Kamloops. In 1905 he settled a short distance up Campbell Creek and opened a Post Office to which he attached his own name - to the disgust of early settlers !

Source: Place Names of the Kamloops District; Kamloops Museum, 1978