Naramata

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title: "Naramata" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["unincorporated-settlements-in-british-columbia", "populated-places-in-the-south-okanagan", "designated-places-in-british-columbia", "populated-places-on-okanagan-lake", "populated-places-in-the-okanagan-country", "cittaslow"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naramata" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
	official_name
other_name	citxʷs paqəlqyn
settlement_type	Community
motto
image_skyline	Naramata BC wine tasting.jpg
image_caption	A wine tasting in Naramata wine country
pushpin_map	Canada British Columbia
pushpin_label_position
pushpin_map_caption	Location of Naramata in British Columbia
pushpin_mapsize
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Canada
subdivision_type1	Province
subdivision_name1	British Columbia
subdivision_type2	Region
subdivision_name2	Okanagan
subdivision_type3	Regional district
subdivision_name3	Okanagan-Similkameen
subdivision_name4
established_date3
area_land_km2
area_blank1_sq_mi
population_density_blank1_sq_mi
coordinates
elevation_footnotes
elevation_ft
area_codes	250, 778, 236, & 672
::

| official_name = Naramata | other_name = citxʷs paqəlqyn | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Community | motto = | image_skyline = Naramata BC wine tasting.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = A wine tasting in Naramata wine country | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | city_logo = | citylogo_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Canada British Columbia | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Naramata in British Columbia | pushpin_mapsize = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Canada | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = British Columbia | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Okanagan | subdivision_type3 = Regional district | subdivision_name3 = Okanagan-Similkameen | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title = | established_date = | established_title2 = | established_date2 = | established_title3 = | established_date3 = | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi = | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = | population_density_km2 = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = | timezone = | utc_offset = | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_codes = 250, 778, 236, & 672 | blank_name = | blank_info = | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = Naramata is an unincorporated community in the Okanagan region of south central British Columbia, Canada. On the eastern shore of southern Okanagan Lake, the locality is by road about 15 km north of Penticton.

Name origin

In November 1906, John Moore Robinson purchased land. Over the following nine months, the name changed from Nine Mile Point to East Summerland, to Brighton Beach, and finally to Naramata. Spiritualism was a popular past time at the time and Robinson claimed the name came in a séance. The name itself derives from a First Nations word or an Australian Aboriginal one, but supporting evidence is lacking.

First Nations

The Syilx name for the area is “Citxws Peqlqin," or "Eagle's House." The Naramata bench provided a seasonal camp site for elk hunting and food gathering.

Early community

Robinson advertised and sold parcels of land to people from other parts of Canada as well as the British Isles. At the time Naramata became known as a cultural centre. People from across the Okanagan would arrive by boat for concerts, plays, operas, regattas- and as Robinson and his wife were spiritualists-seances. Paddlewheelers regularly stopped at the local wharf carrying freight and passengers up and down Lake Okanagan.

Ferry

In March 1908, an east–west Summerland–East Summerland charter ferry service commenced. The first two operators proved unsatisfactory. That October, Summerland Trust Co. took over. In 1911, the Okanagan Lake Boat Co. implemented a run via Penticton. The 1913 tender charter continued to name the locality as East Summerland. In July 1926, the service ceased.

Railway

In 1914, Naramata received a new link with the rest of Canada when the Kettle Valley Railway was completed on the hillside above the village. Due to the intense volume of rock work it gained the reputation as one of the most difficult stretches of KVR construction. It was in operation until 1974. Today, remnants of the KVR make for great exploration, such as the train tunnels, rock ovens, and the railway right-of-way which clings to the hillside high above the lake, and is now part of the Trans-Canada Trail.

Economy

The many orchards have included varieties of peach, plum, pear, cherry, apricot and apple. Naramata is more known now, however, as a top wine-producing region in the country and its wineries have begun to attract international acclaim. The decline in the relative economic importance of fruit growing has occurred but the impressive landscape still abounds with orchards. The most savvy growers no longer sell to the Naramata fruit-packing facility (part of the Okanagan Tree Fruit Co-operative), but rather sell privately, often preferring to deal with international brokers.

Agriculture and tourism form the economic base of the village of Naramata. The agricultural sector once mostly consisting of orchards is rapidly being supplanted by vineyards and wineries that are collectively referred to as the "Naramata Bench". Tourism is served by motels, beach side resorts and a variety of bed and breakfast operations that cater to summertime visitors. Summer months see a spike in inhabitants and economic activity. A farmers market is held weekly and there are numerous roadside produce sellers in addition to the wineries, cideries and craft spirit producers. Since the 1960s and continuing to this day it has been a rite of passage for countless French-Canadian students to make their way across the country and pick fruit for a summer.

Much of Naramata lies within the bounds of the Agricultural Land Reserve, created by the British Columbia government in the early 1970s as a food security measure and largely responsible for preserving the character and pace of Naramata which is seen by many as its biggest charm- after the breathtaking scenery.

The Centre at Naramata, a conference and educational centre of The United Church of Canada, was founded in 1947.

Climate

Naramata has a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk). |location = Naramata |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan record high C = 14.5 |Feb record high C = 16.5 |Mar record high C = 22.0 |Apr record high C = 29.5 |May record high C = 32.5 |Jun record high C = 36.0 |Jul record high C = 38.5 |Aug record high C = 37.5 |Sep record high C = 34.5 |Oct record high C = 25.0 |Nov record high C = 21.0 |Dec record high C = 11.5 |year record high C = 38.5 |Jan high C = 1.2 |Feb high C = 4.3 |Mar high C = 10.2 |Apr high C = 15.4 |May high C = 20.1 |Jun high C = 23.7 |Jul high C = 27.0 |Aug high C = 27.1 |Sep high C = 21.7 |Oct high C = 13.6 |Nov high C = 6.6 |Dec high C = 1.5 |year high C = 14.4 |Jan mean C = -1.2 |Feb mean C = 1.0 |Mar mean C = 5.5 |Apr mean C = 9.8 |May mean C = 14.0 |Jun mean C = 17.6 |Jul mean C = 20.4 |Aug mean C = 20.4 |Sep mean C = 15.7 |Oct mean C = 9.3 |Nov mean C = 3.8 |Dec mean C = -0.7 |year mean C = 9.6 |Jan low C = -3.6 |Feb low C = -2.3 |Mar low C = 0.8 |Apr low C = 4.2 |May low C = 7.9 |Jun low C = 11.3 |Jul low C = 13.6 |Aug low C = 13.7 |Sep low C = 9.7 |Oct low C = 4.9 |Nov low C = 0.9 |Dec low C = -2.9 |year low C = |Jan record low C = -21.0 |Feb record low C = -21.0 |Mar record low C = -13.0 |Apr record low C = -6.1 |May record low C = -0.6 |Jun record low C = 3.0 |Jul record low C = 5.6 |Aug record low C = 6.0 |Sep record low C = -1.1 |Oct record low C = -10.0 |Nov record low C = -14.5 |Dec record low C = -18.5 |year record low C = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 27.1 |Feb precipitation mm = 20.4 |Mar precipitation mm = 17.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 26.3 |May precipitation mm = 34.2 |Jun precipitation mm = 43.3 |Jul precipitation mm = 30.2 |Aug precipitation mm = 25.1 |Sep precipitation mm = 22.0 |Oct precipitation mm = 22.0 |Nov precipitation mm = 30.2 |Dec precipitation mm = 31.7 |year precipitation mm = | rain colour = green | Jan rain mm =8.7 | Feb rain mm =11.1 | Mar rain mm =14.0 | Apr rain mm =26.2 | May rain mm =34.2 | Jun rain mm =43.3 | Jul rain mm =30.2 | Aug rain mm =25.1 | Sep rain mm =22.0 | Oct rain mm =21.9 | Nov rain mm =19.0 | Dec rain mm =9.4

| Jan snow cm =18.4 | Feb snow cm =9.3 | Mar snow cm =3.5 | Apr snow cm =0.1 | May snow cm =0 | Jun snow cm =0 | Jul snow cm =0 | Aug snow cm =0 | Sep snow cm =0 | Oct snow cm =0.2 | Nov snow cm =11.2 | Dec snow cm =22.2

| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm | Jan precipitation days =9.9 | Feb precipitation days =7.0 | Mar precipitation days =7.8 | Apr precipitation days =8.4 | May precipitation days =10.4 | Jun precipitation days =10.2 | Jul precipitation days =7.6 | Aug precipitation days =6.5 | Sep precipitation days =6.2 | Oct precipitation days =6.8 | Nov precipitation days =10.9 | Dec precipitation days =9.4

| Jan rain days =4.4 | Feb rain days =4.9 | Mar rain days =6.8 | Apr rain days =8.4 | May rain days =10.4 | Jun rain days =10.2 | Jul rain days =7.6 | Aug rain days =6.5 | Sep rain days =6.2 | Oct rain days =6.8 | Nov rain days =9.0 | Dec rain days =3.8

| unit snow days = 0.2 cm | Jan snow days =6.1 | Feb snow days =2.4 | Mar snow days =1.3 | Apr snow days =0.1 | May snow days =0 | Jun snow days =0 | Jul snow days =0 | Aug snow days =0 | Sep snow days =0 | Oct snow days =0.1 | Nov snow days =2.4 | Dec snow days =6.2

|source 1 = Environment Canada |date=August 2010

References

References

2. {{BCGNIS. 20359. Naramata (community)
3. Henderson, Craig. (2012). "Okanagan Historical Society annual report: Naming Naramata, Legends Floating in Muddy Waters".
4. (28 Mar 1908). "Penticton Press".
5. Clapp, Frank A.. (1991). "Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Lake and River Ferries". Ministry of Transportation and Highways.
6. (27 Feb 1913). "Kelowna Record".
7. "Naramata Centre fonds".
8. "Naramata Centre".
9. [[Environment Canada]]—[http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=BC%20%20&StationName=&SearchType=&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=1026& Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000], accessed 26 March 2010

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