Named for Andrew Colvile,[2] a London governor of the HBC, the fort was a few miles west of the present site of Colville, Washington.

When Lake Roosevelt was drawn down for construction of Grand Coulee Dam's Powerhouse #3 in the late 1960s and early 1970, Fort Colvile and Kettle Falls were revealed.

[2] Simpson also gave instructions to Chief Factor John McLoughlin for "every possible exertion be used to be lay up an abundant stock of Fish and other provisions" due to limited capacity to send freight from Fort Vancouver.

[2] Additionally Simpson stated that a station on Kettle Falls would be "a more desirable situation in regard to Farming, fish, provisions generally as also in respect to Trade..." than the Spokane House.

[8] Increased amounts of animal hides were gathered by Fort Colvile started with the "Flat Head brigade," which joined the Bitterroot Salish on their annual migrations past the Rocky Mountains.

[13] Alex McLeod, born at the fort in 1854 recalled that "The trading post proper was a square enclosure.

The missionary families of Elkanah Walker and Cushing Eells developed ties with Fort Colvile officers and wives, then the closest white settlement in the area.

Agricultural operations at Fort Colvile were prominent, eventually supplying other interior posts with wheat, peas, flint corn, and potatoes.

The harvest wasn't large enough to support the brigade of fur trappers headed to the New Caledonia district, requiring shipments from Fort Vancouver.

[18] Charles Wilkes of the United States Exploring Expedition found that farming was the primary focus of the establishment "for the whole of the northern posts depend upon Colville for supplies of provisions.

[3] At social occasions held at their former station, "would drink whisky [sic] and brandy and sing old songs or tell tales of hunting experiences.

"[14] Such outings were found to be composed of "the lighthearted trapper with his gaudy moccasins and leggings, through all shades of colour to the dusky hue of the Indians".