Dawson City

Dawson City is a town in the Canadian territory of Yukon. It became very important during the Klondike Gold Rush from 1896 to 1899, when many people came looking for gold. Even though many have left since then, Dawson City still holds a special place in history. As of the 2021 census, the town had a population of 1,577 people, making it the second-largest place to live in Yukon. Today, visitors can learn about its past and enjoy its unique charm.

History

Packtrain in Dawson, 1899 (photographed by Eric A. Hegg)

Long ago, the area around Dawson City was home to the Hän-speaking people of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. They used it for hunting and fishing, with a special camp called Tr'ochëk by the Klondike River and Yukon River. This camp was very important for their summer gatherings and moose hunting.

Dawson City was founded in January 1897 by Joseph Ladue and named after George M. Dawson, a Canadian geologist. It became the capital of Yukon from 1898 until 1952. The town grew quickly during the Klondike Gold Rush, which started in 1896. Thousands of people came looking for gold, making the town very busy. After the gold rush ended in 1899, many people left, and the town's population dropped.

View of 3rd Street c. 1899 by Eric A. Hegg

Dawson City faced many challenges over the years, including fires and floods. After World War II, the Alaska Highway was built, and Whitehorse became the new capital of Yukon in 1953. In recent years, Dawson City has seen growth again because of tourism and gold mining. In 1978, workers found many old films buried in the ground, which were saved and moved to safe places for keeping.

The town has been home to many writers, including Jack London, who wrote The Call of the Wild. In 2023, Dawson City became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sadly, on May 17, 2026, a famous old hotel called the Westminster Hotel was destroyed by fire.

Geography

Dawson City is located on the Tintina Fault, which has formed the Tintina Trench and stretches far to the east. Near the town, you can find old lava flow rocks.

Climate

Dawson City has a subarctic climate, meaning its winters are very cold and its summers are cool. The average temperature in July is about 16 °C (60 °F), while in January it drops to around -26 °C (-14 °F). The town has experienced extremely cold temperatures, with the lowest ever recorded at -58 °C (-73 °F). Summers can sometimes get above 30 °C (86 °F), while winters often fall below -40 °C (-40 °F). The town sits at an elevation of 320 meters (1,050 feet) and receives about 54 millimeters (2.1 inches) of rain in July and 28 centimeters (11 inches) of snow in January. The area has around 162 centimeters (64 inches) of snow each year and about 77 days without frost. The ground stays frozen, and if this frozen ground, called permafrost, melts in the future, it could affect the town's buildings.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population led by Statistics Canada, Dawson City had 1,577 people living in 770 of its 836 homes. This was a 14.7% increase from the 1,375 people living there in 2016. The town covers an area of 30.91 km² (11.93 sq mi), giving it a population density of 51.0 people per km² (132.1 per sq mi) in 2021.

Ethnicity

According to the 2021 Census, most people in Dawson City have European Canadian roots, making up 60.8% of the population. Indigenous Canadians make up 31.4%, and East Asian Canadians account for 3.0% of the town's people.

Federal census population history of Dawson
Year	Pop.	±%
1901	9,142	—
1911	3,013	−67.0%
1921	975	−67.6%
1931	819	−16.0%
1941	1,043	+27.4%
1951	783	−24.9%
1956	851	+8.7%
1961	881	+3.5%
1966	742	−15.8%
1971	762	+2.7%
1976	838	+10.0%
1981	697	−16.8%
1986	896	+28.6%
1991	972	+8.5%
1996	1,287	+32.4%
2001	1,251	−2.8%
2006	1,327	+6.1%
2011	1,319	−0.6%
2016	1,375	+4.2%
2021	1,577	+14.7%
Source: Statistics Canada

Panethnic groups in Dawson City (2001−2021)
Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001
Panethnic group	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
European	900	60.81%	940	70.15%	830	64.09%	915	69.32%	885	71.08%
Indigenous	465	31.42%	310	23.13%	435	33.59%	390	29.55%	340	27.31%
East Asian	45	3.04%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
South Asian	25	1.69%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	20	1.61%
Southeast Asian	20	1.35%	60	4.48%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
African	15	1.01%	15	1.12%	0	0%	10	0.76%	10	0.8%
Latin American	10	0.68%	20	1.49%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Middle Eastern	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	10	0.76%	0	0%
Other/multiracial	0	0%	0	0%	35	2.7%	0	0%	0	0%
Total responses	1,480	93.85%	1,340	97.45%	1,295	98.18%	1,320	99.47%	1,245	99.52%
Total population	1,577	100%	1,375	100%	1,319	100%	1,327	100%	1,251	100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Economy

Today, Dawson City's main industries are tourism and gold mining.

Dredge No. 4

Electricity in Dawson City is provided by Yukon Energy Corporation. Most of the power comes from hydroelectric dams near Mayo, Whitehorse, and Aishihik Lake. In 2004, the city was connected to this grid system, and diesel generators are now used only as backup power.

Gold mining began in 1896 when gold was discovered at Bonanza Creek. Thousands came for the Klondike Gold Rush, but many became entrepreneurs to support miners instead. Large gold dredges operated from about 1906 until 1966, changing the landscape and leaving behind tailing piles. One famous dredge, Dredge No. 4, is now a National Historic Site. Recently, big mining companies have shown interest in the area again.

Dawson City has eight National Historic Sites, including the Dawson Historical Complex. The Downtown Hotel is famous for its Sourtoe Cocktail, which includes a real mummified toe. Bonanza Creek has two historic sites: the Discovery Claim and Dredge No. 4. Tr'ochëk is a traditional fishing camp site owned by the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation. Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Hall offers vaudeville shows each summer.

Sports

Every February, Dawson City serves as a rest stop for the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. Racers must pause for 36 hours to rest and prepare before continuing the tough race.

Foot race, Dawson City, about 1900

The city also holds a softball tournament in late summer with teams from Inuvik and a volleyball tournament each October for high schools across Yukon.

Long ago, in 1905, the Dawson City Nuggets hockey team traveled to Ottawa to compete for the Stanley Cup. They used dog sled, ship, and train to get there but lost both games by a large score.

Government

In 2004, the Yukon government made changes to the leadership of Dawson City after the town faced money problems. The government helped by forgiving a big part of the town's debt in 2006. Elections were held later that year, and John Steins, an artist, became the new leader. He was later replaced by Peter Jenkins, and then by Wayne Potoroka.

Dawson Gold

In 2021, William (Bill) Kendrick became the mayor after winning an election. Dawson City is part of the Klondike electoral district in the Legislative Assembly of Yukon, represented by Brent McDonald from the Yukon NDP. The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation also has its government based in Dawson.

Dawson was officially named a city in 1902. Even when its population grew smaller, it kept this title. Later laws changed how towns were named, but Dawson was allowed to keep calling itself a city for historical reasons and to be different from Dawson Creek in British Columbia. The town's official name is now the "City of Dawson".

Infrastructure

Ferry for Highway 9

Dawson City has several ways for people to travel and stay connected.

Airports: Dawson City Airport is located 8 nautical miles east of town, and Dawson City Water Aerodrome is next to the community on the Yukon River. Both can handle small planes.
Roads: The Klondike Highway connects Dawson City to Whitehorse all year. The Top of the World Highway and Taylor Highway link to Tok, Alaska during the warmer months.
Winter travel: In winter, an ice bridge across the Yukon River lets people and vehicles cross.
Rail: There is currently no railroad service. See Klondike Mines Railway
Boat: The George Black Ferry crosses the Yukon River from May to October, connecting different highways. The Yukon River can also be used for travel when it’s not frozen.
Cable TV: The town has its own system with several channels from satellite.
Phone and Internet: Northwestel provides phone service and fibre internet, which came to the community in 2021.

Education

Dawson City has a special art school called the Yukon School of Visual Arts. It is a university-level program for art.

The town also has one main school for children from kindergarten to grade 12. It is named Robert Service School, after a famous British-Canadian poet and writer, Robert William Service. It is one of only 28 schools in the entire Yukon Territory.

Media

Television

Radio

Print

Dawson City does not have a daily newspaper. The local newspaper, called the Klondike Sun, is published every two weeks. People can also read the Yukon News, which comes out twice a week and is based in Whitehorse.

OTA channel	Call sign	Network
9 (VHF)	CH4261	Aboriginal Peoples Television Network

Frequency	Call sign	Branding	Format	Owner
AM 560	CBDN	CBC Radio One	Talk radio, public radio	Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
FM 90.5	VF2049	–	Community radio	Northern Native Broadcasting
FM 104.9	CBDN-FM	CBC Radio 2	Adult contemporary, public radio	Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
FM 106.9	CFYT-FM	CFYT: The Spirit of Dawson	Community radio	Dawson City Community Radio Society

Notable people

Dawson City has been home to many interesting people. Pierre Berton, a well-known writer, grew up there and later wrote about the gold rush. The town also welcomed Martha Black, who became one of Canada’s first women elected to government.

Other famous residents include Jack London, the author, and Robert W. Service, known for his poems about the Klondike. The town has attracted writers, explorers, and leaders from around the world.