The story of Dawson Creek is one of slow growth that was given a sudden burst at a momentous point in history. For thousands of years nomadic hunters traveled through the region. Eventually, two major language groups developed – Athapaskan and the Algonquian.

Hudson's Bay Company drives regional fur trade
The arrival of the Hudson's Bay Company in Eastern Canada in 1670 had a major impact in the region. As the fur trade pushed west, rival trading companies sprang up, resulting in skirmishes and territorial conflicts between traders and native tribes.

Forts were built in the 1700's and churches established missions in the Peace River valley.

Dr. George M. Dawson and party at Fort McLeod, B.C., July 14, 1879.

But it wasn't until the late 1800's that the village of Dawson Creek began to develop. The Canadian government's plans to build a railway from Ontario to the Pacific brought surveyors and geologists into the region. One of them was the city's namesake, Dr. George Mercer Dawson, a geologist who in the summer of 1879, reported on the lush grasses and deep, fertile soils along his route from Fort Macleod to Edmonton.

Homesteaders arrive from across the continent
The first population wave came to Dawson Creek after 1912 when the land was opened up for homesteading. Settlers came in wagons, on horseback and on foot in summer and on sleds with cabooses in winter, from all over North America and from most of the countries in Europe. More arrived after the 1918 armistice including a large number of discharged British soldiers.

By March 1942, Dawson Creek had a population of about 800 people. Within weeks, its population exploded to over 10,000. What happened? In 1941, the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. This forced the American and Canadian governments to re-evaluate their security. A decision was made to create a year round land transportation link from the continental states to Alaska. This was the birth of the mega-project Alaska Highway, with Dawson Creek designated as Mile 0.

WWII creates jobs and construction
In less than 9 months, 1,500 miles of road were built through mountains and muskegs and the quiet little village was turned into a boom town.

After the war ended, the area was left with superior connections by land and by air, which were beneficial for the exploration for oil and natural gas.

The Northern Alberta Railway was joined by the Pacific Great Eastern from Vancouver and a new highway -- the John Hart -- linked Dawson Creek to Prince George. Another highway soon provided a much-shortened connection to Edmonton.

Powered by energy projects
The construction of the huge WAC Bennett Dam at Hudson Hope and the creation of Williston Lake on the Upper Peace in the mid-60s signaled the beginning of energy extraction in the region.

Tourism has also become an important aspect of the economy and the city capitalizes on the steady flow of visitors, mostly American, up the road each summer.

On September 28th, 1996, a ceremony was held in Dawson Creek. The Alaska Highway was designated as the 16th International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

Alaska Highway:
International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark

On September 28th, 1996, a ceremony was held in Dawson Creek. The Alaska Highway was designated as the 16th International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.