Comox, British Columbia

For other uses, see Comox (disambiguation).

Comox
Town
Town of Comox[1]
Aerial view of Comox in 2011
Aerial view of Comox in 2011
Flag of Comox
Flag
Coat of arms of Comox
Coat of arms
Comox, British Columbia is located in Vancouver Island
Comox, British Columbia
Location of Comox in Vancouver Island, Canada
Coordinates: 49°40′22″N 124°55′40″W / 49.67278°N 124.92778°W / 49.67278; -124.92778[2]
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
RegionMid-Island
Regional districtComox Valley
Incorporated1953
Government
 • MayorNicole B. Minions
Area
 (2021)[3]
 • Total16.87 km2 (6.51 sq mi)
Elevation
84 m (276 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total14,806
 • Density877.7/km2 (2,273/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
Forward sortation area
V9M
Area code(s)250, 778, 236
Websitewww.comox.ca

Comox (English: /ˈkoʊmɒks/)[4] is a town on the southern coast of the Comox Peninsula in the Strait of Georgia on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.[1] Thousands of years ago, the warm dry summers, mild winters, fertile soil, and abundant sea life attracted First Nations, who called the area kw'umuxws (Kwakʼwala, the adopted language of the Kʼómoks, for plentiful).

When the area was opened for settlement in the mid-19th century, it quickly attracted farmers, a lumber industry and a fishing industry. For over fifty years, the village remained isolated from the outside world other than by ship until roads and a railway were built into the area during the First World War. The installation of an air force base near the village during the Second World War brought new prosperity to the area, and in recent years, Comox attracts tourists for its fishing; local wildlife; year-round golf; and proximity to the Mount Washington ski area, the Forbidden Plateau, and Strathcona Provincial Park. The town is also home to a Royal Canadian Air Force base CFB Comox, an airport for military and commercial airline use and the Sea Cadet training facility HMCS Quadra. The mild climate has attracted many retirees to the area in the 21st century, which has resulted in a high rate of growth and a sharp increase in the median age of residents.

Comox town is in the Comox Valley, along with several other communities, including Courtenay, Cumberland, and the unincorporated hamlets of Royston, Union Bay, Fanny Bay, Black Creek and Merville. The nearby Comox Glacier is visible from many parts of the town and is the area's signature landmark. It is close (17 km [11 mi])[5] to Denman Island in the Strait of Georgia.

  1. ^ a b "Comox". BC Geographical Names.
  2. ^ "Comox". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2021census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ The Canadian Press (2017), The Canadian Press Stylebook (18th ed.), Toronto: The Canadian Press
  5. ^ "Point-to-point distance Comox – Denman Island". Natural Resources Canada. February 16, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2024.