Clearwater is a district municipality in the North Thompson River valley in British Columbia, Canada, where the Clearwater River empties into the North Thompson River. It is located north of Kamloops. The District of Clearwater was established on December 3, 2007, making it one of the newest municipalities in British Columbia. It is near Wells Gray Provincial Park and is surrounded by the Trophy Mountains, Raft Mountain and Dunn Peak. History Prior to European settlement, the area that is now occupied by the village was occupied by the Okelhs First Nations. They were eventually superseded by the Chilcotins in the 1870s. The fur trade brought the earliest settlers to the area. The Overlanders expedition to the Cariboo goldfields rafted down the North Thompson River in 1862. When they first arrived at the mouth of the Clearwater River, they named it for its distinct clarity compared to the relatively muddy waters of the North Thompson. The Overlanders also named Raft Mountain, which rises northeast of Clearwater to a height of . Other dates 1914 - Rail access was established. Previously access had been by steam boat or overland. 1953 - Transmountain pipeline completed through area. 1970s -Yellowhead Highway complete through area. 1968 - Clearwater is incorporated as a settlement. December 2007 - Municipal government is incorporated. Geography, location and climate Geography Clearwater is 406 metres above sea level. It is located in the North Thompson Valley in the Shuswap Highlands of the Interior Plateau. The Cariboo Mountains are located to the west and the Monashee Mountains to the east. Climate Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Clearwater had a population of 2,388 living in 1,057 of its 1,145 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 2,324. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. The 2017 unemployment rate was 5.7%. The majority of residents are married or live common law. Language Nearly all residents speak English as their mother tongue though there is a small proportion who speak French. Religion According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Clearwater included: Irreligion (1,770 persons or 75.2%) Christianity (540 persons or 22.9%) Other (35 persons or 1.5%) Industry Forestry Forestry is the principal industry in the area. There was one major mill in the area, in Vavenby, but that mill was closed permanently by Canfor in 2019. There