Fort Nelson, British Columbia
| Fort Nelson | |
|---|---|
| Community | |
| Nickname(s): Mile 300, Fort Nelly | |
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| Coordinates: 58°48′21.3″N 122°41′47.3″W / 58.805917°N 122.696472°WCoordinates: 58°48′21.3″N 122°41′47.3″W / 58.805917°N 122.696472°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Regional Municipality | Northern Rockies Regional Municipality |
| Incorporated | 1971 |
| Amalgamated | 2009 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Bill Streeper |
| • Governing body | Northern Rockies Regional Council |
| Area (2011) | |
| • Total | 13.26 km2 (5.12 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 410 m (1,350 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 3,902 |
| • Density | 340.4/km2 (882/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Mountain Time Zone (UTC−7) |
| • Summer (DST) | not observed (UTC−7) |
| Postal code span | V0C |
| Area code(s) | 250 / 778 / 236 |
| Highways |
 BC 97
|
| Website | Northern Rockies Regional Municipality |
Fort Nelson is a community in northeast British Columbia, Canada within the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM). It held town status prior to February 6, 2009 when it amalgamated with the former Northern Rockies Regional District to form the NRRM, becoming its administrative centre. The NRRM is the first regional municipality in the province.
The community lies east of the northern Rocky Mountains in the Peace River region along the Alaska Highway at mile 300. Fort Nelson is home to 3,902 residents, representing 70% of the NRRM's total population of 5,578.
The majority of Fort Nelson's economic activity has historically been concentrated in the energy and tourism industries, and until recently, forestry. The forests surrounding Fort Nelson are part of Canada's boreal forest. Fort Nelson is on the southwest edge of the Greater Sierra oil & gas field.
Fort Nelson, named in honour of the British naval hero Horatio Nelson, was established by The Northwest Trading Company in 1805 as a fur-trading post. Due to fires, floods and feuds, Fort Nelson is currently situated in its fifth location. The Fort Nelson Airport played a key role in developing Fort Nelson as a community. Yukon Southern Air Transport began chartering flights to the regional airport in 1935.
The Fort Nelson Airport was also a valuable asset for allied military forces in World War II, as it served as an airbase for the United States Air Force and for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Contrary to popular belief that the construction of the Alaska Highway commenced in Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson was the original mile 0 on the Alaska Highway because of the existence of a previously constructed road from Fort Saint John to Fort Nelson.
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