Dawson (Canada) - Geography.

Dawson (Canada) - Geography. Dawson (Canada), city in western Yukon Territory, Canada, on the east bank of the Yukon River, at the mouth of the Klondike River. Formerly known as Dawson City, it is named for George M. Dawson, a Canadian geologist who explored the Klondike area in 1887. It grew rapidly after the nearby Bonanza Creek gold rush began in 1896. By 1898 about 30,000 people were living in the Klondike area, including about 16,000 in Dawson. Soon after 1900 gold production fell severely, and the population of the settlement declined quickly. Today tourism is the leading employer in Dawson. Attractions include the Palace Grand Theatre (1899), a reminder of the gold-rush years, and the Robert Service Cabin, the home from 1909 to 1912 of the noted Canadian poet. Dawson was incorporated as a city in 1902. It served as the administrative center of the Yukon Territory from 1898 to 1953, when it was succeeded by the city of Whitehorse. Population 972 (1991); 1,251 (2001). Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.