Blind River, found in the township of Cobden, is located on the Trans-Canada Highway (Hyw. 17), about 15 kilometres east of the community of Iron Bridge. The approximate population of Blind River is 3900. Around 1853 the first sawmill was built in the location which is now Blind River. At that time it was called "Le Petit Moulin", or "The Little Mill", because in the beginning there was just Joseph Salvail's mill, with some housing for the workers. It was established as Blind River in the late 1800's, and the streets began to be named at around the same time. Blind River was the base of the McFadden Lumber Company, as well as many other lumber companies. Many men from the Mississagi River Valley area worked for the mills and companies located in Blind River. The economy of Blind River depended solely on the logging industry for a long time, and then mining. The large industries of the town now include Cameco, the large uranium refinery just west of the town.