The District of Lillooet is situated at the confluence of the Fraser River and the Bridge River to the north, and the Fraser River and Cayoosh Creek to the south. Lillooet’s first inhabitants named the area Pa-Shil-Qua-Ka-Meen – the place where three rivers meet. The District of Lillooet is located within the traditional territory of the St’át’imc Nation and the boundaries of Electoral Area B of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.
Lillooet is considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in North America, with archeological evidence stretching back more than 8,000 years. The area attracted large seasonal and permanent populations of the St’át’imc people, whose economy was based on salmon from the Fraser River. In the 1860s, the onset of the Gold Rush made Lillooet Mile 0 of the Cariboo Wagon Road. For a time, it was the second largest community north of San Francisco and west of Chicago. Gold mining and prospecting continue in the area to this day, and Lillooet remains one of the world’s greatest sources of nephrite jade.
Lillooet’s economy has historically been based around forestry, the railway, ranching, farming and government services. Grape-growing and wine production is now emerging as another important sector, along with tourism. The area’s arid climate is well-suited to agriculture, and its “guaranteed rugged” terrain is ideal for outdoor adventures of every kind.