Rykerts Regional District of Central Kootenay, British Columbia

Locality - A named place or area, generally with a scattered population of 50 or less. Just inside BC-Idaho boundary, E side of Kootenay River S of Creston, Kootenay Land District

Mapped Location

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

 

Information

General information on Rykerts

  • Feature Type: Place

 

Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Rykerts

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

Name Description
Rykerts Official

 

Origin Notes and History of Rykerts

References to Rykerts that document the origin of its place name

"Bedlington (customs house), not Rykerts" was adopted in the 5th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 30 June 1904; identified as "Bedlington (railway station), not Rykers" in the 14th Report, 31 March 1914. Name changed to Rykerts (settlement) 16 July 1948 on 82F/E; confirmed 6 December 1951 on Columbia River Basin manuscript 61. Form of name changed to Rykerts (locality) 29 November 1984.

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 customs port of Rykerts is named after an almost legendary figure of early day fame. Charles Rykerts, who arrived (here) in 1884, held many positions in public life. He was a Canadian by birth, and in 1879 at Niagara Falls, had married an American, Ella Walls, daughter of Mr. Wells of the Wells-Fargo Express. Ella Rykerts was the first white woman to arrive in the valley, and was greatry respected by the local Indians for her kindness to them. The largest steamer on the lake in pioneer days was named in her honour." (Nelson Daily News, 8 October 1954)

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

After J.C. (Charlie) Rykert who came to British Columbia in 1881 as part of the North West Mounted Police escort for the Marquess of Lorne, then Governor-General. Rykert quit the force and remained in B.C. In 1883 he established a customs office here, where Kootenay River re-enters Canada, serving not only as a customs officer but as immigration inspector, gold commissioner and registrar of shipping.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
Akrigg, Helen B. and Akrigg, G.P.V; British Columbia Place Names; Sono Nis Press, Victoria 1986 /or University of British Columbia Press 1997  |  Province of British Columbia

 

Regional District of Central Kootenay

Political Boundaries

Last updated: 2023-09-27