About Comox Valley
History
The Comox Valley has a dynamic and exciting history ranging from 80 million year old marine reptiles and earth shaping glaciers to bustling turn of the century coal mines and pioneer farming and logging. Local museums explore all elements of local social and natural history and present information, new insights and hands-on learning experiences for kids of all ages.
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Millions of years ago, much of Vancouver Island was a saltwater lagoon inhabited by large and often ferocious looking marine creatures. But as the climate changed so did the geography. More than 10,000 years ago, the Comox Valley was buried under a sheet of ice a kilometer thick. As the sheets of ice moved across Vancouver Island is scoured valleys out of the land beneath it. When the climate warmed again most of the ice sheet melted, leaving the Island as we know it today. The Comox Glacier which looms over the Valley is lingering evidence of this dramatic time in our natural history.
Archaeological finds indicate that First Nations peoples have visited and lived in the Comox Valley for as long as 9,000 years. Before the appearance of the Europeans, the Valley was home to the Pentlatch and Comox bands of the Salishan First Nations. They thrived on the ocean's gifts of salmon, clams, oysters, cod and halibut as well as the land's abundant deer and elk and many edible and medicinal plants.
The first European settlers arrived in the Comox Valley in 1862 and soon discovered why the First Nations called the area Komoux or Land of Plenty. Over time, the settlers cleared land for farms and began logging the extensive forests. In 1914, the railway line from Victoria was extended to the Valley; a year later the area around the train station was incorporated as the City of Courtenay.
Throughout the late 19th century, many Royal Navy war ships anchored in the Comox Bay, prompting the construction of the Comox Wharf in 1893, the community officially became known as Comox.
In the late 1800's and the early 1900's coal was the mainstay of central Vancouver Island's economy. Built on rich coal seams, the inland settlement of Cumberland became a flourishing community that was segregated into separate town sites for the diverse nationalities working in the mines including a significant Chinese community. After World War I, the demand for coal lessened and Cumberland subsequently has become a community rich in mining heritage. Visit Cumberland to experience their diverse arts community and distinctive heritage homes of interest.
The Comox Valley Heritage Tour presents opportunities for residents and visitors to explore the rich social and natural history of the Comox Valley. This self-guided driving tour marks significant heritage sites with interpretive signage, photos and stories. Brochures and information are available at the Comox Valley Visitor Centre.
