Population

The distribution of population in the Canadian North-
west is governed largely by the two main physiographic
regions of the area. Greatest densities of population are
found on agricultural lands, and therefore it is not surprising
that two-thirds of the present population of the region live
in the northward continuation of the physiog

graphic area
known as the Great Central Plains and the remainder is
scattered in small

groups throughout the mountainous area.
In 1939 the total population of the region considered within
the boundaries of the North Pacific Region was 112,293,
composed of 91,968 whites, 19,459 Indians, and 866 Eskimos.

Of the 77,000 people found in the Great Central Plains
section of the Northwest, the greater part live in the
Peace River country of northern Alberta and the Peace
River block of northern British Columbia... Both are agri-
‘cultural areas which have been settled largely during the
past three decades, and which will support a still larger
population. As was noted in the chapter on Agriculture,
the opening up of new lands following transportation
extensions, and further draining and clearing, will absorb
much of the hoped-for increase in population in the
Northwest.

The remainder of the population of the Plains region is
scattered throughout the area in small settlements, usually
along the rivers. These communities are generally built
up around a fur-trading post, or have resulted from mining
activity, such as Yellowknife, Port Radium, and Norman
Wells. Although the first two districts are actually in
the Canadian Shield physiographic region, their transporta-
tion comes through the Plains region, and their development
will bear a close relationship to developments in the latter
region.

There are large areas of northern Alberta and the
Mackenzie Valley that are unoccupied. Since most of
these sections contain muskegs, swamps, and heavy bush,
It is not expected that they will be populated in the
immediate future. They serve, however, as the habitats
of game and fur animals, which in turn support a small
hunting and trapping population of natives and some whites.

No large urban centres are located within the Plains
region, but there are several towns that show promise of
future growth, owing either to their strategic location or
more abundant natural resources. The most important of
these in the Peace River District are: Grand Prairie, Fort
St. John, Peace River, and Dawson Creek. Along the
Mackenzie Waterway, to the north, the chief transportation
settlements are Waterways and Fort Smith, and Fort
Simpson and Aklavik are the largest of the fur-trading
settlements. The towns of Yellowknife and Port Radium
come into being because of mining activity and Norman
Wells greatly enlarged its population during the extensive
war-time development of the Norman oilfield. Only Yellow-
knife has continued to grow since the close of World War IL.

Nitin by f. Bane
: 124s.

The Cordillera region of northern British Columbia and
Yukon is an area of mountains, plateaus, and valleys. In
such a region it is to be expected that large blocks of agri-
cultural land would be scarce and therefore settlement is
scattered in small groups of people who are exploiting some
particular resource. The total population of the region is
about 39,000, of whom the greater part lives along the belt
served by the Prince Rupert branch of the Canadian
National Railways.

Along the railroad belt the population in the interior
is engaged in farming, lumbering, and mining; on the coast,
their chief occupations are fishing, mining, shipbuilding, and
lumbering. Prince Rupert, with a population of 6,714 in
1941, at the mouth of Skeena River, is the largest town of
this section. Its population increased greatly during the
War years, and it is expected that a substantial number will
remain to carry on the general business of this railway and
shipping terminal. Prince George, with a population of
2,027 in 1941, is the other chief town. It is located in the
interior plateau in an agricultural district, and is a trans-
portation centre for road, rail, and air. This town is
expected to assume greater importance upon completion
of the highway from there to Dawson Creek in the Peace
River District.

The remainder of the northern British Columbia popula-
tion in the Cordillera is located in small settlements along
the coast, on the Queen Charlotte Islands, in the mining
communities of Anyox, Stewart, and Atlin, and around the
small trading posts in the interior.

In Yukon the 1941 population of about 5,000, of whom
about one-quarter is Indian, is found in the four chief
towns of Dawson, Whitehorse, Carcross, and Mayo. The
remainder of the population is scattered in small settlements
around the trading posts located on the rivers, and in the
mining districts around Dawson and Mayo.

Dawson is the seat of government for Yukon Territory,
and the centre of the historically-famous Klondike mining
district.. Although the settlement had a boom-town mining
population of about 30,000 at the turn of the century, less
than 1,000 people are theré now. Whitehorse became the
largest town in Yukon during the war years, due to its
location at the terminus of the White Pass and Yukon
Railway, at the head of river Navigation, and as a distri
buting point for the Alaska Highway. A greater part of
this temporary population left the area after the war-time
activity ceased, but many have remained to serve the
increased business of the town, and to maintain the war-
time projects, such as the Alaska Highway and the North-
west Staging Route.

The Dominion Bureau of Statistics has abstracted
from the 1931 and 1941 census a great deal of useful informa-
tion concerning the agriculture, industry, and population
of the section of the Northwest included in this study.

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