Facts About Fort Simpson
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The Village of Fort Simpson was a permanent settlement in July 1822 when the Hudson’s Bay Company constructed a trading post, naming it for George Simpson, then the Governor of Rupert’s Land.
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Fort Simpson is a village, the only one in the entire territory, in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada.
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Fort Simpson is the regional centre of the Dehcho and is the gateway to the scenic South Nahanni River and the Nahanni National Park Reserve.
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Fort Simpson is 169 m above sea level.
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The Mackenzie Highway was extended to Fort Simpson in 1970-71.
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Fort Simpson was first started as a fur trading site in 1803 then named Fort of the Forks.
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The highest temperature ever recorded in Fort Simpson was 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) on 25 July 1994 and 13 July 2014. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −56.1 °C (−69 °F) on 1 February 1947.
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The Estimated Population of Fort Simpson is 1,202.
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Pope John Paul II attempted to visit the community in September 1984 as part of his Canadian tour but was prevented from landing due to fog.
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There are two main annual festivals that occur in Fort Simpson: Beavertail Jamboree & Open Sky Festival.
