The town's name was originally derived from the old native word 'Keremeyeus' which likely meant 'The creek that cuts', although many assume it to mean 'Windy Crossing Place' or 'Wind Channel'.  In either case, the latter translation has become the most popular due to the prevailing winds which sweep through the valley, causing the trees to have a pronounced lean.

The history of the region, prior to the arrival of European settlers is remarkably rich. There are rock painting sites near the village and there is the intriguing  legend of the Spanish Invasion in the late 1700's.

By the 1860's white settlers began to arrive mostly in the form of cattlemen and Hudson Bay Company traders. The Company had a post in Keremeos for some time. The first village to be established was Upper Keremeos, a once thriving mining town built on the old wagon road to the Okanagan Valley.  Due to a shortage of water, the town was soon replaced by Keremeos Center, a short distance to the east alongside Keremeos Creek.  By 1907, the existing town site came into existence a short distance to the south on the flats alongside the Similkameen River, when the Great Northern Railway came through the valley.  The original town sites have all but disappeared now, with only the old cemetery on Highway 3A providing the only clue as to where they once stood.

In the early 1900's, the interest in mining had shifted away from Keremeos westward to the rich gold claims of Hedley and the copper mines near Princeton.  Another resource was being discovered in Keremeos at that time - the richness of the local soil.  The existence of the Keremeos Grist Mill first sparked an interest in grain farming, but that soon turned to produce and eventually to the cultivation of apples and soft fruit - the richness of the soil and mild winters making for ideal growing conditions.

By the mid teen's, the village of Keremeos was a going concern. The railway station, the Keremeos Hotel, the Big Store and a number of other notable landmarks indicated the prosperous growth of the village.  The railway, on its way to and from the mines in Hedley and Princeton and the fact that the village was strategically located along the major southern route through the province, and its close proximity to the US border all ensured the village's growth.

Today, the village of Keremeos, population of about 1,000, is still one of the best fruit growing regions in the country. Cherries, grapes, apples, peaches and apricots are grown in abundance as can be attested to by the many fruit stands that line the highways in and out of town.  It is also a popular retirement community and many young people have discovered the valley's peaceful and quiet setting, within reach of larger centers, to be the ideal place to raise a family.

A view of Keremeos and the valley from the bluff west of the White Bridge - circa 1958