Pelly Crossing, Yukon
It is the home of the Selkirk First Nation, and home to the Northern Tutchone culture. Cultural displays and artifacts are housed in a replica of Big Jonathan House. Visitors can make the journey from Minto by boat to visit the original structure down the Yukon River at Fort Selkirk, an important historic and cultural site for the Northern Tutchone people.
History
The Selkirk First Nation community was established as a ferry crossing and a highway construction camp when the Klondike Highway from Whitehorse to Dawson City was built in 1950. With the completion of the Pelly River bridge and the road to Dawson City, sternwheeler traffic on the Yukon River came to a halt. Fort Selkirk, located near the confluence of Pelly and Yukon Rivers, was virtually abandoned. The Government of Canada forced members of Selkirk First Nation to move from Fort Selkirk to Minto Landing before settling at Pelly Crossing. Today, the restored Fort Selkirk is a common stop for Yukon River travelers.
Geography
Pelly Crossing is located on the Pelly River, 155 miles south of Dawson City on the Klondike Highway.
Climate
Pelly Crossing has a severely continental subarctic climate (Dfc) with short but warm summers, but with the vast majority of the year being dominated by the bitterly cold winters. During cold snaps temperatures approaching −60 °C (−76 °F) has been recorded. The weather is rather dry and summer nights remain cool.
| Climate data for Pelly Ranch, Yukon (1981–2010): 445m | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 10.0 (50.0) |
12.2 (54.0) |
12.8 (55.0) |
23.5 (74.3) |
32.5 (90.5) |
35.0 (95.0) |
33.0 (91.4) |
33.0 (91.4) |
25.6 (78.1) |
23.0 (73.4) |
13.9 (57.0) |
12.8 (55.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −19.7 (−3.5) |
−12.8 (9.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
8.3 (46.9) |
15.7 (60.3) |
21.5 (70.7) |
22.8 (73.0) |
19.8 (67.6) |
12.8 (55.0) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−12.1 (10.2) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
3.3 (37.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −24.9 (−12.8) |
−19.5 (−3.1) |
−10.6 (12.9) |
0.7 (33.3) |
8.3 (46.9) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.8 (60.4) |
12.8 (55.0) |
6.5 (43.7) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−16.3 (2.7) |
−21.9 (−7.4) |
−3.1 (26.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −30.1 (−22.2) |
−26.2 (−15.2) |
−19.4 (−2.9) |
−6.8 (19.8) |
0.9 (33.6) |
5.8 (42.4) |
8.7 (47.7) |
5.7 (42.3) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−20.4 (−4.7) |
−27.0 (−16.6) |
−9.6 (14.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −58.9 (−74.0) |
−60.0 (−76.0) |
−50.0 (−58.0) |
−38.3 (−36.9) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−20.0 (−4.0) |
−37.0 (−34.6) |
−51.0 (−59.8) |
−56.7 (−70.1) |
−60.0 (−76.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19.7 (0.78) |
14.9 (0.59) |
10.6 (0.42) |
8.9 (0.35) |
27.2 (1.07) |
38.5 (1.52) |
58.0 (2.28) |
41.4 (1.63) |
31.6 (1.24) |
24.5 (0.96) |
25.8 (1.02) |
19.4 (0.76) |
320.5 (12.62) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 19.7 (7.8) |
14.9 (5.9) |
10.5 (4.1) |
5.1 (2.0) |
0.5 (0.2) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
2.7 (1.1) |
15.6 (6.1) |
25.8 (10.2) |
19.4 (7.6) |
114.2 (45) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 8.7 | 6.8 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 10.5 | 11.3 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 11.5 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 9.1 | 116.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 8.7 | 6.8 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 7.3 | 10.8 | 9.1 | 51.8 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 182 | — |
| 1986 | 177 | −2.7% |
| 1991 | 216 | +22.0% |
| 1996 | 238 | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 328 | +37.8% |
| 2006 | 296 | −9.8% |
| 2011 | 336 | +13.5% |
| 2016 | 353 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 316 | −10.5% |
| Source: Statistics Canada | ||
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Pelly Crossing had a population of 316 living in 139 of its 159 total private dwellings, a change of -10.5% from its 2016 population of 353. With a land area of 32.28 km (12.46 sq mi), it had a population density of 9.8/km (25.4/sq mi) in 2021.
Attractions
The local community is based on hunting, trapping, fishing and guiding. There is a school, curling rink, baseball field, swimming pool, and youth centre.
Sports
Every February, Pelly Crossing hosts a checkpoint for the long-distance Yukon Quest sled dog race.
References
- ^ "Pelly Ranch, Yukon". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 (in English and French). Environment and Climate Change Canada. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Yukon Territory)". Statistics Canada. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Yukon Territory)". Statistics Canada. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Yukon)". Statistics Canada. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Yukon)". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Yukon". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
