Carmacks, Yukon

Carmacks is seen from the Yukon River bridge with the river in the foreground.

Carmacks is a village in the Yukon on the Yukon River along the Klondike Highway, and at the west end of the Robert Campbell Highway from Watson Lake. The population is 426 (Yukon Bureau of Statistics, June 2007). It is the home of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation, a Northern Tutchone-speaking people.

Mining

The area around Carmacks has abundant mineral resources, including coal, copper, and gold. Various mining activities are taking place on mineral sites around Carmacks. There is a small zinc-copper mine in production near Carmacks operated by Western Silver and a gold property northwest of Carmacks currently in the exploration stage operated by Northern Freegold Resources based out of Whitehorse.

Geography

The Yukon River bridge at Carmacks

Carmacks is situated at the confluence of the Nordenskiold and Yukon Rivers, approximately 180 km north of Whitehorse and 360 km south of Dawson City on the North Klondike Highway. It is the site of one of the four bridges over the Yukon River. The Campbell Highway also intersects the community and carries on to Faro, Ross River and Watson Lake, providing a gateway to the Canol Road and some of the Yukon's most spectacular scenery.

History

The community consists of the Village of Carmacks and the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation and was named after George Washington Carmack, who found coal near Tantalus Butte (locally called Coal Mine Hill) in 1893. Carmack built a trading post and traded with locals near the present site of Carmacks and also started a coal mine on the south bank of the Yukon River. Carmack soon discovered gold in the Dawson region with Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie a few years later, starting the Klondike Gold Rush. Carmacks became incorporated as a village on November 1, 1984.

Recreation

The Carmacks Recreation Centre is at the east end of River Drive between the nursing station and visitor centre, and is a community focal point for youth. There is a youth drop in daily with a computer access, video games, table games and other activities, often funded by Yukon grant programs. The gymnasium is host to adult floor hockey and other sports.

Sports

Every February, Carmacks hosts a checkpoint for the long-distance Yukon Quest sled dog race.

Demographics

Carmacks is the only community in the Yukon which has the status of designated place in Canadian censuses. Template:Canada CP 2006

External links

• History of Carmacks
• Community Profile
• Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation
• Village of Carmacks Web Page