Introduction

Why was Tumbler Ridge built?

A Big Project

Power Supply

Townsite of Tumbler Ridge

Building a New Town

A Community's Dependence on Mining

Building a New Town

A new town needed be built that would eventually be home to 5000 people.

In the spring of 1981, there was only a survey stake in the ground to show where the new town of Tumbler Ridge would be. By the end of summer (a few months later), land was cleared and a new town site was starting to take shape!

It was important for the new town to meet all of the needs of the people who would live there. The first thing that was needed was a road into and out of the town. The government would have to build a 92 km long highway into Tumbler Ridge from Chetwynd. The new highway would need two bridges. This alone would be a big project!

"Construction of new highway and bridge."
Courtesy of BC Government

The people of Tumbler Ridge would also need underground services like water and sewer. Roads, sidewalks and houses needed to be built, and telephone lines installed.

"Putting up new road signs."
Courtesy of BC Government

What else do you think a new town would need? How about a grocery store to do some shopping? Or a bank to put your money in? If you are still young, you would need a school to go to where you could learn and study.

This was a huge project, and why was it being done? – because of COAL, COAL, COAL!

The first residents finally arrived in Tumbler Ridge in November of 1982. The new town began to grow!

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