The Many Facets of the Forts
in the Peace River Area

The City of Fort St. John currently occupies its sixth site. Here is where it will remain. Since the first post was established by the North West Company in 1794, social and economic factors brought decisions to re-locate to better meet the needs of area residents. Hudson's Hope was established upstream in 1805 to trade with First Nations as well, serving the Sekani while the second site of Fort St. John, renamed Fort D'Epinette with the amalgamation with the Hudson's Bay Company, would serve the Beaver. Fort St. John was moved to other sites on the river twice more before moving up on the flat near Fish Creek to become closer to the settlers. As homesteaders spread out and began businesses away from the post, the Hudson's Bay Company moved one last time to be near the businesses. Our city centre today is the location of those businesses. The Bay remained in Fort St. John until the early 1980's when the doors were closed for the last time.

1 Rocky Mountain Fort 1794-1805 This fort, established in what was then considered part of the North West Territories, was the earliest European settlement on what is now mainland British Columbia.	2 Fort d'Epinette 1806-1823 Established by the North West Company, orginally called the Fort of St. John. The name was changed when the Hudson's Bay Co. took over after the amalgamation with the North West Co. in 1821.	3 Fort St. John 1860-1872 The fort was re-opened after a lapse of nearly forty years.
4 Fort St. John 1872-1925 Hudson's Bay factor Francis "Frank" Work Beaton moved the post to a new location directly across the Peace River.	5 Fort St. John 1925 Factor F.W. Beaton again moved the post to be closer to where the settlers were establishing homesteads. By this time, the river had ceased to be the main avenue of transportation.	6 Fort St. John Current In the late 1920's, C.M. Finch purchased two quarters of land. In 1928, he moved his general merchandise store from the living room of his cabin to newly constructed premises. He also built a government building to house the land, telegraph and post offices. He donated five acres for a Catholic Church and additional land for a hospital, firmly establishing the site for the town.

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