Uranium City is a northern settlement in Saskatchewan, Canada, located on the northern shores of Lake Athabasca near the border of the Northwest Territories. The town was established in the early 1950s after uranium deposits were discovered in the region, leading to rapid population growth as mining operations commenced.

 

At its peak in the 1970s and early 1980s, Uranium City had a population of around 2,500 people and was considered a thriving mining community. 

 

The town featured extensive infrastructure, including schools, recreational facilities, and housing to support the growing population. Uranium from the nearby mines was used to fuel Canada's domestic nuclear energy program.

 

However, the town's fortunes took a dramatic turn in 1981 when the Eldorado Mining and Refining Company, the main employer, announced the closure of the Beaverlodge mine within six months. 

 

This led to the rapid departure of over 90% of the population, as residents left the town in search of work elsewhere. Today, Uranium City has a population of only around 90 people, with many former homes and buildings now abandoned.

 

Despite its decline, Uranium City remains significant as a former hub of Canada's uranium industry during the Cold War era. The town's history and the experiences of its former residents continue to be documented and shared through online communities and historical accounts. 

 

While isolated from the rest of the province due to the lack of year-round road access, Uranium City remains a unique northern community with a rich and complex past.

 

History of Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada

Uranium City, Saskatchewan, was founded in the early 1950s to support the growing uranium mining industry in the region. The provincial government established the town with input from Eldorado Mining and Refining, a federal crown corporation that provided infrastructure and services for the mines.

 

Between 1953 and 1955, Uranium City developed rapidly, becoming the fastest-growing community in Saskatchewan. By 1956, there were 52 operating mines and 12 open-pit mines near Beaverlodge Lake. 

 

The town was modelled after Arvida, Quebec, and incorporated with authority over education, health, and welfare.

 

Uranium City's population peaked at 2,507 in 1981. However, the closure of the Beaverlodge mine in 1982 led to an economic collapse, with over 90% of the population leaving the town. The town's incorporation was repealed in 1983, reducing it to an unincorporated northern settlement.

 

Today, Uranium City has a population of around 90 people. While no longer a thriving mining town, it remains an important part of Saskatchewan's history and is documented by former residents and historians.

 

Geography of Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada

Uranium City is located in the far northern region of Saskatchewan, Canada, near the border with the Northwest Territories. Some key facts about its geography:

• It sits on the northern shores of Lake Athabasca, about 760 km northwest of Prince Albert and 48 km south of the Saskatchewan-Northwest Territories boundary.
• The town is situated at an elevation of 230 metres (750 ft) above sea level.
• Uranium City does not have year-round road access to the rest of the province. However, a winter road connects it to Fond du Lac.
• The town has a certified airport operated by the province and is still served by Pronto Airways, making it one of the few remaining employers in the area.
• The surrounding landscape features forests, bedrock hills, and numerous lakes, which provide opportunities for fishing, hunting, and tourism.
• Uranium City experiences a subarctic climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers typical of northern Saskatchewan.

 

Despite its remote location, Uranium City was established to support the uranium mining industry that developed in the region starting in the 1950s. The town's geography and climate have shaped its history and its challenges over the decades.

 

Demographics of Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada

According to the 2021 Census, Uranium City, Saskatchewan, has a population of 91. This represents a 24.7% increase from the 2016 Census, which recorded a population of 73.

 

The population of Uranium City has fluctuated significantly over the years. It peaked at 2,507 in 1981 before declining sharply after the closure of the uranium mines in 1982. By 2011, the population had dropped to just 105 people.

 

Uranium City has an aging population, with a median age of 52.4 years old. 22.2% of residents are 65 years and over, while only 11.1% are under 15 years old. The average age is 44.0 years.

 

The town's population includes several Métis and First Nations people, though no First Nations reserves are in the immediate vicinity. 25% of residents have single Indigenous ancestry, with 20% identifying as First Nations (North American Indian) only. Another 25% have a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ancestries.

 

Residents in Uranium City usually occupy 41 private dwellings, all of which are single-detached houses. The town has a population density of 15.2 people per square kilometre and a land area of 5.99 square kilometers.

 

Economy of Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada

The economy of Uranium City, Saskatchewan, was heavily dependent on the uranium mining industry that developed in the region starting in the 1950s:

• Uranium was first discovered in the Beaverlodge Lake area in the late 1930s, leading to the establishment of Uranium City in 1952 to support the growing mining operations. 
• Between 1953 and 1955, Uranium City developed rapidly, becoming the fastest-growing community in Saskatchewan as the population grew to service the over 50 mines in the area. 
• The town's main employer was Eldorado Mining and Refining (later Eldorado Nuclear), a federal crown corporation controlling uranium exploration and production in the region. 
• Other major mines in the area included Gunnar Mine, Lorado Mine, and Fay-Ace-Verna Mine. 
• Uranium City's population peaked at 2,507 in 1981, but the closure of the Beaverlodge mine in 1982 led to an economic collapse, with over 90% of the population leaving the town. 
• After the mines closed, the hospital became the prime employer in Uranium City, though many businesses still relied on it and closed when health services shifted to Stony Rapids in 2003. 
• Today, Uranium City has a population of only around 90 people, with the airport being one of the few remaining employers in the community. 

 

Uranium City's economy depended entirely on the uranium mining industry, leading to its rapid growth and subsequent collapse when the mines closed in the 1980s. The town has struggled to diversify its economy since then.

 

Education in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada

Education in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, is under the authority of the Northern Lights School Division #113, which covers most of northern Saskatchewan. 

 

The only remaining school in Uranium City is Ben McIntyre School, which serves students from kindergarten to grade 9.  The school opened in 1977 and is named after the first teacher who established the first school in Uranium City in 1952 with 40 students across ten grades. 

 

As of 2005, Ben McIntyre School had only ten students enrolled.  This reflects the dramatic decline in Uranium City's population after the closure of the uranium mines in the early 1980s.

 

CANDU High School, which opened in 1979 but closed in 1983 after only three years of operation, previously provided secondary education. The CANDU High School building has since sustained extensive vandalism. 

 

The education system in Uranium City has contracted significantly since the town's peak population in the 1970s and 1980s. The lone remaining school, Ben McIntyre, serves a small number of students as the town's population has dwindled over the past few decades.

 

Transport System in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada

The key points about the transportation system in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, are:

• Uranium City has no year-round road access connecting it to the rest of Saskatchewan or Canada. 
• However, a winter road connects Uranium City to the community of Fond du Lac. 
• Uranium City has a certified airport operated by the province, which Pronto Airways still serves. The airport is one of the few remaining employers in the community. 
• The Ministry of Transport has long-range plans to install a transportation system that will provide minimum coverage to the northern areas, including Uranium City. 
• Uranium City's remote location and lack of permanent road access have been major challenges for the community, especially after the collapse of the uranium mining industry in the 1980s. 

 

Uranium City's transportation options are limited to a seasonal winter road and a provincial airport, reflecting the town's isolated northern location. The lack of year-round road connectivity has been an ongoing issue for the community.

 

Living in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada

Uranium City was established in the early 1950s to support the growing uranium mining industry in the region. At its peak in the 1970s and early 1980s, the town had a population of around 2,500 people and was considered a thriving mining community. 

 

The town featured extensive infrastructure to support the population, including schools, recreational facilities, and housing. Uranium City was modelled after the mining community of Arvida in Quebec.  

 

Residents could access amenities like a hockey and curling arena, theatre, playground, and three churches. The mining company Eldorado Nuclear also provided facilities like a gymnasium, bowling alley, and boating marina. 

 

Life in Uranium City during its boom years was described as prosperous, with top wages and a good quality of life for residents. The remote northern location provided opportunities for outdoor recreation like fishing, hunting, and enjoying the natural landscape. 

 

However, the town's fortunes changed dramatically in 1982 when the Eldorado mine closed, leading to an economic collapse. Over 90% of the population left, and Uranium City became a ghost town. 

 

Today, the town has a population of only around 90 people, with many former homes and buildings now abandoned.  While no longer a thriving mining hub, Uranium City continues to have an airport that provides some employment, and the surrounding area remains popular for activities like fishing and hunting. 

 

Living in Uranium City was prosperous during its peak years, but the town has faced significant economic and population decline since the closure of the uranium mines in the 1980s.

 

Healthcare in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada

The main healthcare facility in Uranium City is the Uranium City Health Clinic, operated by the Athabasca Health Authority. Some key details about the clinic:

• It is located at Fredette Road Box 360 in Uranium City.
• The clinic's phone number is (306) 498-2412, and fax is (306) 498-2577.
• It is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and closed from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Emergency services are available after hours.
• The clinic offers addiction services, community health nursing, mental health/holistic health services, and medical transport coordination.
• The clinic falls under the Northern Saskatchewan Health Services division and the Athabasca Health Authority.

 

Uranium City has a small population today, and it maintains a health clinic that provides a range of primary care and community health services to residents of the remote northern community. The clinic is the town's main source of healthcare.

 

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