Uranium City

In 1949, athabascaite was discovered by S. Kaiman while he was researching radioactive materials around Lake Athabasca near Uranium City.

In 1952, the provincial government decided to establish a community to service the mines in the Beaverlodge uranium area developed by Eldorado Mining and Refining, a federal crown corporation. In 1954, the local newspaper, The Uranium Times, noted that 52 mines were operating and 12 open-pit mines were next to Beaverlodge Lake.[http://pages.interlog.com/~grlaird/beaverlodge.html Fission Avenue: Uranium City "Beaverlodge"]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Initially, most of the residences in Uranium City were simply tents.

Some of the mines operating in the area included the Gunnar Mine, the Lorado Mine, and the Fay-Ace-Verna Mine in Eldorado, Saskatchewan.

Two options were considered for communities in the region: small communities near the mine site or larger more centralized communities with adequate services. Not wanting to replicate some of the problems associated with small mining towns at the time in Northern Ontario, the government pushed for the second option and modelled Uranium City after the community of Arvida, Quebec.{{cite web

|url =http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-28035-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

|title =Chapter 7. Uranium Mining in Northern Saskatchewan: A Public-Private Transition (Part 2)

|publisher =International Development Research Centre

|access-date =2011-02-22

|url-status =dead

|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110609001639/http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-28035-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

|archive-date =9 June 2011

}} In 1956, the provincial government passed the Municipal Corporation of Uranium City and District Act, creating a unique, chartered "district" with authority over education, health, and welfare.{{cite book |title=The Municipal Corporation of Uranium City and District Act, 1956 |date=5 April 1956 |publisher=Publications Saskatchewan |url=https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/76244 |access-date=11 June 2021}}

The population of Uranium City started to grow significantly only once Eldorado Resources made a deliberate initiative in 1960 to see staff housed in Uranium City instead of the Eldorado campsite.

After reaching a population of 2,507 in 1981, the closure of the mines in 1982 led to economic collapse, with most residents of the community leaving. The Uranium City Act was repealed on 1 October 1983, reducing the community to an unincorporated "northern settlement".{{cite book |title=Table of Public Statutes (M) |date=March 2021 |publisher=Publications Saskatchewan |page=35 |url=https://pubsaskdev.blob.core.windows.net/pubsask-prod/72379/M-Statutes.pdf |access-date=11 June 2021}} The local hospital closed in the spring of 2003. Its population in 2016 was 73,{{cite web | title = Census Profile, 2016 Census | url =http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=DPL&Code1=470239&Geo2=PR&Code2=47&Data=Count&SearchText=uranium&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1

|publisher=Statistics Canada | date = 2017-04-14 | access-date = 2017-05-16 }} including a number of Métis and First Nations people.[http://pages.interlog.com/~grlaird/uraniumcity2.html Fission Avenue: Uranium City Pg2]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The town is considered a uranium boomtown due to the rapid increase in population during the mining period and substantial depopulation that followed.{{cite book |last1=Admunson |first1=Michael A. |title=Yellowcake Towns: Uranium Mining Communities in the American West |date=2002 |publisher=University of Colorado Press |location=Boulder, CO |isbn=0-87081-662-4 |page=116}}{{cite book |last1=McIntyre |first1=Bernard Garnet |title=Uranium City: The Last Boom Town |date=1993 |publisher=Driftwood Press |location=Mill Bay, B.C. |isbn=9780969713401}}

{{stack|{{Historical populations

| title = Population history
of Uranium City

| type = Canada

| align = right

| width =

| shading =

| percentages =

| state =

| footnote =

| source = Statistics Canada{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-506A-1956.pdf | title=Census of Canada, 1956 | publisher=Dominion Bureau of Statistics | volume=Population of unincorporated villages and settlements | date=25 October 1957 | accessdate=28 November 2021}}{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-528-1961.pdf | title=1961 Census of Canada: Population | series=Series SP: Unincorporated Villages | volume=Bulletin SP—4 | publisher=Dominion Bureau of Statistics | location=Ottawa | chapter=Population of unincorporated places of 50 persons and over, Alberta, 1961 and 1956 | date=18 April 1963 | accessdate=28 November 2021}}{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-633-1966.pdf | title=Census of Canada 1966: Population | series=Special Bulletin: Unincorporated Places | volume=Bulletin S–3 | publisher=Dominion Bureau of Statistics | location=Ottawa | chapter=Population of unincorporated places of 50 persons and over, 1966 and 1961 (Alberta) | date=August 1968 | accessdate=28 November 2021}}{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-771-1971.pdf | title=1971 Census of Canada: Population | series=Special Bulletin: Unincorporated Settlements | volume=Bulletin SP—1 | publisher=Statistics Canada | location=Ottawa | chapter=Population of Unincorporated Places of 50 persons and over, 1971 and 1966 (Alberta) | date=March 1973 | accessdate=28 November 2021}}{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-830-1976.pdf | title=1976 Census of Canada | series=Supplementary Bulletins: Geographic and Demographic (Population of Unincorporated Places—Canada) | volume=Bulletin 8SG.1 | publisher=Statistics Canada | location=Ottawa | chapter=Geographical Identification and Population for Unincorporated Places of 25 persons and over, 1971 and 1976 | date=May 1978 | accessdate=28 November 2021}}{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS94-904-1981.pdf | title=1981 Census of Canada | series=Place name reference list | volume=Western provinces and the Territories | publisher=Statistics Canada | location=Ottawa | date=May 1983 | accessdate=28 November 2021}}

|1956|1794

|1961|1665

|1966|1665

|1971|1867

|1976|1765

|1981|2507

|2011|105

|2016|73

|2021|91

}}}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Uranium City had a population of 91 living in 41 of its 59 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:91-73}}|73|1}} from its 2016 population of 73. With a land area of {{cvt|5.99|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|91|5.99|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=9810001201 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=Aug 31, 2022}}

The community has a certified airport, Uranium City Airport, that features a treated gravel runway of {{Convert|3935|ft|abbr=on}} operated by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure. The airport is one of the few employers left in the community. West Wind Aviation previously served Uranium City with flights to Prince Albert and Saskatoon three times a week. Norcanair served the community with scheduled flights until it ceased operations in 2005.{{cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/sask/story/airline-grounded050222.html | title=Soaring insurance grounds airline | access-date=2 September 2006 | publisher=CBC Saskatchewan |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070401031609/http://www.cbc.ca/sask/story/airline-grounded050222.html |archive-date = 1 April 2007}} Transwest Air also provided a route with Saskatoon and Regina until that company cancelled its service in November 2008.{{cite news|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121203203302/http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:_iDO1itSNz4J:www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id%3D6e31db16-8487-43a9-b68e-995671a689a9 |url=http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=6e31db16-8487-43a9-b68e-995671a689a9 |title=Transwest cuts flights to Regina and Uranium City |newspaper=Leader-Post |location=Regina |archive-date=3 December 2012 |date=27 October 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{cite web | url=http://www.transwestair.com/default.aspx?page=32 | publisher=Transwest Air | title=Uranium City Schedule | access-date=2 September 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060618103419/http://transwestair.com/default.aspx?page=32 |archive-date = 18 June 2006}} It now serves Uranium City with a flight from Saskatoon that stops in Prince Albert, Points North and Stony Rapids.[http://www.macleans.ca/an-epic-quest-to-find-the-soul-of-a-country/ Maclean's, "An epic quest to find the soul of a country", by Allen Abel] There is also a small water aerodrome located next to Uranium City.

There is no normal road access connecting Uranium City with the rest of Canada. There is provision for a winter road which connects with Fond-du-Lac.{{cite web | url=http://roadinfo.telenium.ca/results.html | access-date=1 September 2006 | publisher=Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation | title=Winter Highway Conditions | archive-date=20 August 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820040637/http://roadinfo.telenium.ca/results.html | url-status=dead }} Saskatchewan Highway 962 provides travel for a short distance within the local area. A significant bridge replacement project on Highway 962 was conducted in 2001 at the Fredette River.{{cite web|url=https://esemag.com/archives/culvert-headwall-system-conquers-site-constraints-at-uranium-city/|title=Culvert headwall system conquers site constraints at Uranium City|author=Jim McGeary, Doug Lowry|date=March 2003|website=Environmental Science and Engineering Magazine|access-date=19 November 2018}}

File:Uranium-City-SK-1953.png

Local telephone service is provided by SaskTel and was first available in Uranium City on 30 November 1955.{{cite web | url=http://www.sasktel.com/about-us/company-information/history/1950s.html | title=SaskTel history (1950s) | access-date=2 September 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060325072844/http://www.sasktel.com/about-us/company-information/history/1950s.html |archive-date = 25 March 2006}} Current telephone numbers for international calling are of the form +1 306 498 xxxx (NPA-NXX: 306–498, CLLI: URCYSK05DS0).{{cite web | url=http://www.localcallingguide.com/lca_prefix.php?npa=306&nxx=498 | title=Local Calling Guide | access-date=2 September 2006}}

Canada Post continues to deliver mail to the community. The post office is located at the municipal office (Postal Code: S0J 2W0).[http://www.canadapost.com Canada Post] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421200216/http://www.canadapost.com/ |date=21 April 2009 }} listings as of 2 September 2006.

Radio broadcasting in the community is provided by:

• 97.9 FM – VF2142 – rebroadcasts CKRW-FM{{cite web | url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1994/DB94-578.HTM | author = CRTC | title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 94-578 |date = 11 August 1994 | access-date=11 November 2009}}
• 99.9 or 101.1 FM – Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation{{cite web | url=http://www.mbcradio.com/about_us/communities_list.htm | publisher=Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation | title=Communities List | access-date=4 September 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527155717/http://www.mbcradio.com/about_us/communities_list.htm | archive-date=27 May 2006 }} Frequency information is inconsistent – this source indicates frequency is 101.1 FM but other sources claim 99.9 FM.
• 103.1 FM – VF2240 – rebroadcasts CFMI-FM
• 105.1 FM – CBDH-FM, CBC Radio One, rebroadcasting CBKA-FM La Ronge.{{cite web | url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/db2006-409.htm | title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-409 | access-date=2 September 2006 | date=24 August 2006 | author=CRTC |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070327100131/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/db2006-409.htm |archive-date = 27 March 2007}}

Until 2012, television service was provided by CBKAT operating on channel 8 at a power of 15 watts. This was a rebroadcast of CBC Television service from CBKST Saskatoon. Until 2003, the local transmitter's television programming originated from CBC North.{{cite web | url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2003/db2003-186.htm | title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-186 | date=16 June 2003 | access-date=2 September 2006 |author=CRTC |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050421223027/http://crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2003/db2003-186.htm |archive-date = 21 April 2005}} This repeater was one of 620 analog television signals nationwide shut down by the CBC on 31 July 2012 due to budget cuts.

Uranium City is part of the Taiga Shield Ecozone and experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with long, cold, snowy winters, brief transitional periods, and short, cool, and humid summers. The temperature range is typically large due to frigidly cold winter temperatures that often plunge below {{convert|-30|C}}. The highest temperature ever recorded in the settlement was {{convert|38.0|C}} on 30 June 2021 during the 2021 Western North America heat wave. Wind chill factors are prominent as well in the winter months, making the cold temperatures seem to be much colder than they actually are. Uranium City has recorded one of the coldest wind chill factors of any Canadian location, with {{convert|−74|C|F|1|disp=or}} wind chill reading being recorded on 28 January 2002.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} Additionally, an average of 34 days a year record wind chill readings below {{convert|−40|C|F|disp=or}}.[http://www.theweathernetwork.com/statistics/temperature/cl406qld0 The Weather Network] The lowest temperature ever recorded in the settlement was {{convert|-48.9|C}} on 15 January 1974 and on 7 February 2021.

{{Weather box

|metric first=yes

|single line= Y

|location= Uranium City Airport

|Jan record high C= 3.3

|Feb record high C= 5.9

|Mar record high C= 11.6

|Apr record high C= 28.9

|May record high C= 32.4

|Jun record high C= 38.0

|Jul record high C= 37.2

|Aug record high C= 32.8

|Sep record high C= 29.4

|Oct record high C= 20.4

|Nov record high C= 10.5

|Dec record high C= 5.9

|year record high C=

|Jan high C= -21.8

|Feb high C= -16.2

|Mar high C= -8.1

|Apr high C= 3.7

|May high C= 12.8

|Jun high C= 18.8

|Jul high C= 21.3

|Aug high C= 19.3

|Sep high C= 11.3

|Oct high C= 3.8

|Nov high C= -8.1

|Dec high C= -17.7

|year high C= 1.6

|Jan mean C= -26.8

|Feb mean C= -22

|Mar mean C= -15

|Apr mean C= -2.4

|May mean C= 6.9

|Jun mean C= 13.3

|Jul mean C= 16.2

|Aug mean C= 14.5

|Sep mean C= 7.3

|Oct mean C= 0.5

|Nov mean C= -11.8

|Dec mean C= -22.1

|year mean C= -3.5

|Jan low C= -31.9

|Feb low C= -28.0

|Mar low C= -22.0

|Apr low C= -8.6

|May low C= 1.0

|Jun low C= 7.7

|Jul low C= 11.0

|Aug low C= 9.6

|Sep low C= 3.3

|Oct low C= -2.8

|Nov low C= -15.7

|Dec low C= -26.7

|year low C= -8.6

|Jan record low C= -48.9

|Feb record low C= -48.9

|Mar record low C= -42.8

|Apr record low C= -37.8

|May record low C= -20.0

|Jun record low C= -5.0

|Jul record low C= 3.2

|Aug record low C= -1.4

|Sep record low C= -9.4

|Oct record low C= -25.9

|Nov record low C= -41.7

|Dec record low C= -45.6

|year record low C= -48.9

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm= 20.7

|Feb precipitation mm= 14.8

|Mar precipitation mm= 18.6

|Apr precipitation mm= 19.2

|May precipitation mm= 21.4

|Jun precipitation mm= 37.8

|Jul precipitation mm= 53.0

|Aug precipitation mm= 53.5

|Sep precipitation mm= 37.3

|Oct precipitation mm= 35.9

|Nov precipitation mm= 29.2

|Dec precipitation mm= 20.6

|year precipitation mm= 361.8

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm= 0.0

|Feb rain mm= 0.0

|Mar rain mm= 0.2

|Apr rain mm= 4.6

|May rain mm= 17.6

|Jun rain mm= 37.7

|Jul rain mm= 53.0

|Aug rain mm= 53.3

|Sep rain mm= 35.7

|Oct rain mm= 21.1

|Nov rain mm= 0.3

|Dec rain mm= 0.2

|year rain mm= 223.7

|snow colour = green

|Jan snow cm= 32.9

|Feb snow cm= 24.8

|Mar snow cm= 27.7

|Apr snow cm= 18.9

|May snow cm= 4.4

|Jun snow cm= 0.0

|Jul snow cm= 0.0

|Aug snow cm= 0.2

|Sep snow cm= 2.0

|Oct snow cm= 19.2

|Nov snow cm= 48.3

|Dec snow cm= 36.7

|year snow cm= 215.1

|Jan precipitation days= 12

|Feb precipitation days= 10

|Mar precipitation days= 9

|Apr precipitation days= 7

|May precipitation days= 8

|Jun precipitation days= 10

|Jul precipitation days= 11

|Aug precipitation days= 12

|Sep precipitation days= 12

|Oct precipitation days= 12

|Nov precipitation days= 15

|Dec precipitation days= 13

|year precipitation days= 130

|unit rain days= 0.2 mm

|Jan rain days= 0

|Feb rain days= trace

|Mar rain days= trace

|Apr rain days= 2

|May rain days= 7

|Jun rain days= 10

|Jul rain days= 11

|Aug rain days= 12

|Sep rain days= 11

|Oct rain days= 7

|Nov rain days= trace

|Dec rain days= trace

|year rain days= 60

|unit snow days= 0.2 cm

|Jan snow days= 14

|Feb snow days= 11

|Mar snow days= 10

|Apr snow days= 6

|May snow days= 2

|Jun snow days= trace

|Jul snow days= 0

|Aug snow days= trace

|Sep snow days= 2

|Oct snow days= 8

|Nov snow days= 16

|Dec snow days= 16

|year snow days= 84

|source 1={{Cite web |url=http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=uranium+city&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1490&dispBack=1 |title=Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990 |date=9 February 2011 |publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=12 January 2012 }}{{Cite web|url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1994-02-01%7C2021-06-29&dlyRange=1992-12-17%7C2021-06-29&mlyRange=1998-07-01%7C2007-10-01&StationID=9831&Prov=SK&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2021&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&Month=5&Day=30&txtStationName=uranium+city&timeframe=2&Year=2021|title = Historical Data – Climate – Environment and Climate Change Canada|date = 31 October 2011}}{{Cite web|url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?StationID=9831&Month=6&Day=30&Year=2021&timeframe=2&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2021&time=LST|title = Daily Data Report for June 2021 – Climate – Environment and Climate Change Canada|date = 31 October 2011}}{{Cite web|url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1994-02-01%7C2021-06-29&dlyRange=1992-12-17%7C2021-06-29&mlyRange=1998-07-01%7C2007-10-01&StationID=9831&Prov=SK&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2021&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=uranium+city&timeframe=2&Day=30&Year=2015&Month=10#|title = Daily Data Report for October 2015 – Climate – Environment and Climate Change Canada|date = 31 October 2011}}https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1994-02-01%7C2021-06-29&dlyRange=1992-12-17%7C2021-06-29&mlyRange=1998-07-01%7C2007-10-01&StationID=9831&Prov=SK&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2021&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=uranium+city&timeframe=2&Day=30&Year=2025&Month=5#|title = Daily Data Report for May 2025 – Climate – Environment and Climate Change Canada|date = 31 May 2025}}

}}

Education in Uranium City is under the authority of the [http://www.nlsd113.com/ Northern Lights School Division #113], a school district that covers most of northern Saskatchewan. The only remaining school in Uranium City is Ben McIntyre School, serving classes from kindergarten to Grade 9. The school opened in 1977 and is named after the first teacher in Uranium City who established the first school in the community in 1952 with 40 students in ten grades. As of September 2005, 10 students were enrolled.{{cite web | url=http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/branches/ed_finance/as_pdf/113.pdf | archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20060922001035/http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/branches/ed_finance/as_pdf/113.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 September 2006 | title=2005–2006 Active List of Saskatchewan Schools | access-date=2 September 2006 | date=5 January 2006 }}

Secondary education was provided by CANDU High School, named after a nuclear reactor. According to travellers Vincent Chan and Tricia Holopina who visited the city in 2002, locals state that the school was opened in 1979 and closed in 1983 after only three years of service, with the building since sustaining extensive vandalism.{{cite web | url=http://tricia.arcticcircle.ca/UC/page_01.htm | title=Tricia and Vince's Saskatchewan Trip 2002 | access-date=2 September 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060219192912/http://tricia.arcticcircle.ca/UC/page_01.htm |archive-date = 19 February 2006}}[http://pages.interlog.com/~grlaird/uraniumcity2.html Fission Avenue: Uranium City "Candu High"]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The following people are associated with Uranium City by birth, residence or career:

• Bert Burry, pilot and ice hockey player
• Gina Kingsbury, member of gold medal-winning Canadian women's ice hockey team at the 2006 Winter Olympics
• Gilbert LaBine, a founder of the Gunnar Mine

• Ride the Cyclone, a musical created by Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, is about six teenagers from a fictionalized version of Uranium City who are involved in a roller coaster accident.

• List of communities in Northern Saskatchewan
• List of communities in Saskatchewan
• List of uranium projects
• Athabasca System Hydroelectric Stations
• Jeffrey City, Wyoming
• Yellowcake boomtown

{{Reflist}}

{{Subdivisions of Saskatchewan}}

{{SKDivision18}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Designated places in Saskatchewan

Category:Division No. 18, Unorganized, Saskatchewan

Category:Mining communities in Saskatchewan

Category:Northern settlements in Saskatchewan

Category:Road-inaccessible communities of Saskatchewan

Category:Lake Athabasca