Kamloops, BC, City, pop 76 394 (1996c), 67 057 (1991c), 61 773 (1986c), area 296.06 km2, inc 1893, amalgamated with North Kamloops in 1967 and in 1973 with surrounding residential areas to form the new city of Kamloops.

It is located in southern British Columbia 420 km (355 km via the COQUIHALLA HIGHWAY) northeast of Vancouver. It is situated at the confluence of the North and South THOMPSON rivers near their entrance into Kamloops Lake.

Kamloops has a rapidly expanding role in mining, is the centre of BC's cattle industry, and has overtaken PRINCE GEORGE as the largest city in the BC interior. It is governed by a mayor and 8 councillors. Served by CPRail and CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS and several airlines, and situated at the junction of 2 large rivers and 3 major highways, Kamloops is the natural trade and distribution centre in the southern BC interior, and is the financial, travel, cultural and administrative centre for the Thompson-Nicola, Lillooet and Southern Cariboo regions. Initially, ranching and fruit and vegetable growing dominated the economy, but by the 1960s, the forest industry and mining had become more important.

Kamloops is now the headquarters for many companies and services related to forestry. It is also earning a reputation as the "ginseng capital of Canada". GINSENG has recently become the region's second most important agricultural product after livestock production. A large pulp mill and the province's only copper smelter are also located here. Tourism is flourishing as well; the region's more than 200 lakes offer excellent fishing and boating. Several ski resorts including Sun Peaks Resort, a 4-season destination, are found nearby.

Kamloops is served by the Royal Inland Hospital, by numerous provincial and federal agencies and by the University College of the Cariboo. It now has one newspaper (Kamloops News) - a second (Kamloops Sentinel) closed down in late 1987 - a museum, art gallery, symphony orchestra and theatre company.