Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island
Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring island
Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring island
Flag of Salt Spring Island
Nickname(s): 
Salt Spring, SSI
Salt Spring Island is located in Capital Regional District
Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island
Location of Salt Spring Island within the Capital Regional District
Salt Spring Island is located in British Columbia
Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island
Location of Salt Spring Island within British Columbia
Coordinates: 48°48′24″N 123°29′31″W / 48.806637°N 123.492029°W / 48.806637; -123.492029
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional districtCapital
Government
 • MPElizabeth May (Green)
 • MLARob Botterell (GRN)
Area
 • Land182.7 km2 (70.5 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total11,635
 • Density63.7/km2 (165/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Forward sortation area

Salt Spring Island or Saltspring Island is one of the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia between mainland British Columbia, Canada, and Vancouver Island.[1]

The island was initially inhabited by various Salishan peoples before being settled by pioneers in 1859, at which time it was renamed Admiral Island. It was the first of the Gulf Islands to be settled and the first agricultural settlement on the islands in the Colony of Vancouver Island, as well as the first island in the region to permit settlers to acquire land through pre-emption. The island was retitled to its current name in 1910.[2] It is named for the salt springs found in the northern part of the island.

Salt Spring Island is the largest, most populous, and the most frequently visited of the Southern Gulf Islands.

  1. ^ "Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Saltspring Island)". Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  2. ^ "The Province of British Columbia GeoBC (Saltspring Island)". Retrieved 2014-09-07.