Dawson Creek, British Columbia is where the Alaska Highway officially begins. It stretches for 2,500 km (1,570 miles) from Dawson Creek
to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon.
First explored in 1793 by
Alexander Mackenzie, more than a decade later the Northwest Company's
Simon Fraser established trading posts in the Peace Country, in 1805. Through the 1800s missionaries, traders and other travelers visited the area, but it was not until it was visited by
George Mercer Dawson in 1879 that much attention was paid to the area. A geologist sent to the
Peace Country to gain information on the viability of constructing a railroad into the country, Dawson sent back glowing reports of "
grass up to the horses’ bellies, the hillside covered with wild asters, goldenrod, and Indian paintbrush; the deep valley soil and the native peoples. In appreciation, Dawson Creek was named for this eminent man."
Still, it was not until the onset of the
Klondike Gold Rush that settlement of any sort took place. A number of prospectors and fortune hunters attempted to reach the Klondike overland from Edmonton, a very arduous and dangerous journey to undertake. A few decided instead to settle in the Peace Country, becoming its first settlers.
When the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway (Northern Alberta Railway) reached Spirit River, Alberta in 1916 settlements began to pop up beyond the rail head, including Pouce Coupe and Dawson Creek. The railway was slowly expanded into the region, while at the same time settlers were taking up land in the surrounding area. The land proved to be excellent grain growing country and not long after the railway arrived at Dawson Creek the hamlet boasted no less than five grain elevators. "
On Thursday, January 15, 1931, the first regular passenger train arrived at Dawson Creek over the N.A.R.".
Quoted sections above are from Dawson Creek History.
Today the second largest city in the British Columbia section of the Peace Country, Dawson Creek was incorporated as a City in 1958. It has become the shipping point and supply centre for the surrounding farming area, as well as a supply and storage centre for the regional oil and gas industry.
Dawson Creek grew slowly but steadily until March of 1942, when the village was invaded by a huge horde of U.S Army personnel with the intention of building a road to Alaska in hopes of being able to defend it should the Japanese choose to make a landing there. Dawson Creek was to be the starting point for the renowned
Alaska Highway.
The Dawson Creek City Hall is a three storey concrete structure of contemporary design. A modified "T" in plan, it stands along the southwest side of Ben Heppner Way, west of 12a Street. Expanded somewhat over the years to service an expanding population, its architecture suggests an age of 40 to 50 years. In reality however, the grand opening ceremony for the original section of Dawson Creek's City Hall took place on November 22, 1961.
