District of Stewart Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, British Columbia

District Municipality (1) - A populated place with legally defined boundaries, incorporated as a district municipality under the provincial Municipal Act. Just inside BC-Alaska boundary at head of Portland Canal, N of Prince Rupert, Cassiar Land District

Mapped Location

District of Stewart: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.

 

Information

General information on District of Stewart

  • Feature Type: Incorporated

 

Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for District of Stewart

A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named

Name Description
District of Stewart Official

 

Origin Notes and History of District of Stewart

References to District of Stewart that document the origin of its place name

"Stewart (Post Office, Mining Town & Steamer Landing)" adopted in the 1930 BC Gazetteer, as labelled on BC map 1H, 1917. Incorporated as a Village Municipality 16 May 1930. Stewart (Village) confirmed 3 October 1933 on Geological Survey sheet 307A, Portland Canal. Re-incorporated as a District Municipality 27 June 1968, called District of Stewart. Stewart (District Municipality) confirmed 27 November 1970.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office  |  Province of British Columbia

Stewart Post Office was opened 1 May 1905.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office  |  Province of British Columbia

The Stewart brothers, Robert and John, from Victoria, held an interest in many of the mines in this area; they established the Stewart Land Co. in 1906 and laid out the townsite later. (advice from Stewart Historical Society, 2004)

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office  |  Province of British Columbia

The Skam-a-kounst Indians, meaning "strong house" or "safe house", once lived at the head of Portland Canal - the first occupants of the Stewart area. They were chased out of the area in 1856-67 by Haida or Nass Indians. In Hyder, Alaska, there once stood a rock called Arrow Rock, where arrows were embedded and preserved from the time of the Haida and Nass Indians war with the Skam-a-kounst. This rock was washed out by Tide Lake and has never been found again. (from Stewart Historical Society)

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office  |  Province of British Columbia

 

Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine

Political Boundaries

Last updated: 2023-10-01