- Carcross, Yukon
Carcross, originally known as Caribou Crossing, is an unincorporated community in the Territory of
Yukon ,Canada onBennett Lake andNares Lake . It has a population of 431 (June 2008) [ [http://www.eco.gov.yk.ca/stats/pdf/population_jun_2008.pdf Population Report, Yukon Bureau of Statistics, June 2008] ] and is home to theCarcross/Tagish First Nation .It is 74 km (46 miles) south-southeast by the
Alaska Highway and theKlondike Highway from Whitehorse, at coord|60|11|N|134|43|W|. The south end of theTagish Road is in Carcross. Carcross is also on theWhite Pass and Yukon Route railway .History
Caribou Crossing was a fishing and hunting camp for Inland
Tlingit andTagish people. 4,500-year-old artifacts from aboriginal people living in the area have been found in the region.Caribou Crossing was named after the migration of huge numbers of
caribou across the natural land bridge between Lake Bennett and Nares Lake. That caribou herd was decimated during theKlondike Gold Rush , but a recovery program raised the number of animals to about 450.The modern village began in 1896, during the
Klondike Gold Rush . At the time, Caribou Crossing was a popular stopping place for prospectors going to and from the gold fields of Dawson City.Caribou Crossing was also a station for the Royal Mail and the Dominion Telegraph Line, and it served as a communications point on the
Yukon River .Silver mining was promoted nearby in
Conrad, Yukon in the early 1900s, but there was little to be found and mining efforts soon ended. Mineral exploration continues today, but tourism is far more important to the economy of the community. The bookFractured Veins & Broken Dreams byMurray Lundberg details a nearly complete history of Conrad.In 1904, Caribou Crossing was renamed Carcross as a result of some mail mix-ups with the district of
Cariboo in nearbyBritish Columbia, Canada .Community Population Over Time
*Population in
2008 : 431
*Population in2006 : 331 [ [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6001048&Geo2=PR&Code2=60&Data=Count&SearchText=Carcross&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= Population Report, Canada 2006 Census ] ]
*Population in2001 : 152 [ [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6001048&Geo2=PR&Code2=60&Data=Count&SearchText=CARCROSS&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= Population Report, Canada 2001 Census ] ]
*Population in1996 : 196 [ [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil/Details/details1.cfm?SEARCH=BEGINS,BEGINS&ID=14137&PSGC=60&SGC=6001045&DataType=1&LANG=E&Province=60&PlaceName=Carcross&CMA=0&CSDNAME=Yukon%2C%20Unorganized&A=&TypeNameE=Unorganized Population Report, Canada 1996 Census] ]Economy
Carcross relies on tourism to support the local economy. It lies on a route between Whitehorse and
Skagway, Alaska and offers a variety of historic attractions and outdoor activities. Popular with road traffic including tour buses and RVs, in 2007 the White Pass railway also resumed service to Carcross.Just north of the town is the
Carcross Desert , often referred to as the "world's smallest desert."Media
* FM 90.5 - VF2039,
First Nations community
* FM 97.5 - CIKO,school radio
* FM 105.5 - VF2360, TIS/weatherReferences
External links
* [http://www.ctfn.ca/ Carcross-Tagish First Nation]
* [http://www.yukoncommunities.yk.ca/communities/carcross-tagish/people/ Community Profile]
* [http://www.yukonalaska.com/communities/carcrosshist.html History of Carcross]
* [http://www.explorenorth.com/library/communities/canada/carcross.html A Guide to Carcross]
* [http://www.spiritlakeyukon.com Spirit Lake Wilderness Resort - Accommodations & Restaurant in Carcross]
* [http://www.gov.yk.ca/depts/eco/stats/annual/pop122005.pdf Population Report, December 2005, Yukon Bureau of Statistics]
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