[5] The story of Williams Lake (called T'exelc by local First Nations communities of the region) begins as much as 4000 years ago.

[6] The story of Williams Lake written by those coming into the region from outside begins in 1860 during the Cariboo Gold Rush when Gold Commissioner Philip Henry Nind and William Pinchbeck, a constable with the British Columbia Provincial Police, arrived from Victoria to organize a local government and maintain law and order.

With the centre of local government being at Williams Lake, the miners and businessmen all had to travel there to conduct their business and soon the town had a post office, a courthouse, a roadhouse and the jail that Nind had requested.

[7] In 1863, the town was excited by the news of the construction of Cariboo Road, believing it would pass through their already established and important trading centre.

However, the roadbuilder Gustavus Blin Wright rerouted the original trail so that it bypassed Williams Lake and went through 150 Mile House instead.

[9] On July 5, 1867, the Roman Catholic Church established St. Joseph's Mission halfway between Williams Lake and 150 Mile House.

Residents from Williams Lake along with other communities in central British Columbia such as Ashcroft and 100 Mile House were given evacuation orders and most of those affected went to either Prince George or Kamloops.

Timber has a long history in Williams Lake, dating back to the 1950s when many independent sawmills such as the Jacobson Brothers operated in town.

[51] Williams Lake is located within the Cariboo-Chilcotin electoral district of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly.

[52] Williams Lake lies within the Canadian parliamentary riding of Cariboo—Prince George, and is currently represented by Conservative MP Todd Doherty since 2015.

[53] The Williams Lake Airport is located 4.2 nautical miles (7.8 km; 4.8 mi)[55] northeast of the city.

It was opened in 1956 by Transport Canada and on January 1, 1997, the ownership of the airport was transferred to the City of Williams Lake.

The airport is served by Pacific Coastal Airlines, and Central Mountain Air with daily flights to Vancouver.

Held annually, on the Canada Day long weekend, the Williams Lake Stampede features Canadian Professional Rodeo Association[56] action including bull riding, barrel racing, Bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping and chuckwagon races.

It is run by the Williams Lake Field Naturalists and provides information, displays and programs dealing with the local environment.