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Osoyoos History
Osoyoos is an Indian name meaning "the narrows" or "meeting place" and refers to a point on the lake where a long spit of land almost divides the lake in two. This spit afforded a natural crossing, so that, even before the days of the brigades, there was a junction at this point of important trails. "Soyoos", now known as Osoyoos, was well known to the Indian people, fur traders, prospectors, miners and later, the cattlemen.
 Osoyoos was recorded on the fur trader’s map as early as 1811 when David Stuart of the Pacific Fur Company passed trough the Okanagan Valley in his search for a better trade area in the interior of British Columbia . As a result of this trip, another Indian name, "Cum CIoops", was entered on the map. Cum Kloops (Or Kamloops) became an important fur trading center and "Sooyoos" a campsite as the Hudson Bay Fur Brigades traveled through the Columbia River. In 1846 the 49th parallel was established as the International Border between the United States and Canada creating Osoyoos as a natural customs port.
 The discovery of gold in the Cariboo led to supplies and herds of cattle being driven across the border into Canada at this point. John Carmichael Haynes, a British Columbia Constable/Customs officer in the Similkameen and Revenue Collector at Rock Creek, was put in charge of the Customs office located in Osoyoos. The abundance of the bunchgrass covering the benches encouraging summer grazing and rich valley bottomlands for winter fodder, prompted the establishment of a number of cattle ranches. J.C. Haynes soon became Judge Haynes, owning some 2,200 acres of land and raising over 2,000 head of cattle were in Osoyoos and Similkameen ranches. When Judge Haynes passed away in 1888 Theodore Kruger was appointed Customs Officer. Mr. Kruger had arrived at Osoyoos in 1866 and was the manager of the Hudson Bay Company post.
Osoyoos remained a cattle ranching area with some flurries of mining activity, but ore bodies proved “Pockety” and short-lived. The Provincial government had established the South Okanagan Lands Project at Oliver in 1920, but it was 1927 before irrigation water from the successful project became available at Osoyoos. Once the new irrigation system was put into use; the land covered with greasewood, sage, bunchgrass, brush and cacti quickly gave way to the cultivation of ground crops, young orchards and homes of the agriculturalists setting there. The extension of the Canadian Pacific Railway to the town in December of 1945 gave orchardists and producers a better way to market their produce.
 Osoyoos today has retained its agricultural heritage. The ideal climate has resulted in the area producing a variety of fruits, vegetables and vineyards, catering to the early seasonal markets. The climate also has attracted many visitors who flock to the area beaches to enjoy the warm waters of Osoyoos Lake.
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