| 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: | Both sides North Thompson River, NE of Vavenby, Kamloops Division Yale Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 51°35'59"N, 119°55'04"W at the approximate population centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 82M/12 |
|
|
Origin Notes and History:
|
Birch Island (Post Office and Station) adopted 11 August 1921 for Geological Survey sheet North Thompson, although final published map and accompanying Summary Report did not cover the area this far north (file N.1.21). Form of name changed to Birch Island (Post Office) 21 November 1961 on 82M/12; further changed to Birch Island (Community) 15 December 1982 on 82M/12 (file V.1.61) Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
|
CNPR station was named simply Birch; so-labelled on BC maps 1EM and 3J, both 1915. Birch Island Post Office opened 1 May 1917. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
|
CNPR station so-named because of an island in the river, covered with birch trees. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |