Beatton River
Encyclopedia
The Beatton River is a tributary of the Peace River
, flowing generally east, then south through north-eastern British Columbia
, Canada
. The river rises at Pink Mountain, about 10 km west of the Alaska Highway
hamlet of the same name, and flows 240 km generally east, then south, draining into the Peace River just downstream of Fort St. John
. The river meander
s mostly through the boreal forest and muskeg
of the Peace Plain. Its major tributaries are the Doig
and Blueberry
Rivers.
The area around the river is the homeland of the Dane-zaa or Beaver First Nation
. Archaeologists
have found evidence of human habitation in the area dating back at least 10,000 years. The mouth of the Beatton River was the location of a Northwest Company fort established in 1806. Modern-day British Columbia's first European settlement was fur trading
Rocky Mountain Fort, established in 1794 at the mouth of the Moberly River near the present Fort St. John. The river became an important route for First Nations people in their trading relationship with the Europeans. The present community of Fort St. John is situated to the west of the Beatton.
The river, originally called the "North Pine" is named for Frank Beaton (1863-1944), the manager of the Hudson's Bay Company
post in the early twentieth century, who homesteaded
by the river. Beaton spelled his name with one "t" but the river is now spelled Beatton.
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
, flowing generally east, then south through north-eastern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The river rises at Pink Mountain, about 10 km west of the Alaska Highway
Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
hamlet of the same name, and flows 240 km generally east, then south, draining into the Peace River just downstream of Fort St. John
Fort St. John, British Columbia
The City of Fort St. John is a city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Peace River Regional District, the city covers an area of about 22 km² with 22,000 residents . Located at Mile 47, it is one of the largest cities along the Alaska Highway. Originally...
. The river meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
s mostly through the boreal forest and muskeg
Muskeg
Muskeg is an acidic soil type common in Arctic and boreal areas, although it is found in other northern climates as well. Muskeg is approximately synonymous with bogland but muskeg is the standard term in Western Canada and Alaska, while 'bog' is common elsewhere. The term is of Cree origin, maskek...
of the Peace Plain. Its major tributaries are the Doig
Doig River
Doig River is a river in Alberta and northern British Columbia, Canada.It originates on the northern fringes of Peace River Country in northern Alberta, south of the Chinchaga Wildland Park, in the Halverson Ridge of the Clear Hills, then flows westwards into British Columbia...
and Blueberry
Blueberry River (British Columbia)
The Blueberry River is a river in the Peace River Block of northeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is a tributary of the Beatton River, which is a tributary of the Peace River....
Rivers.
The area around the river is the homeland of the Dane-zaa or Beaver First Nation
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
. Archaeologists
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
have found evidence of human habitation in the area dating back at least 10,000 years. The mouth of the Beatton River was the location of a Northwest Company fort established in 1806. Modern-day British Columbia's first European settlement was fur trading
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
Rocky Mountain Fort, established in 1794 at the mouth of the Moberly River near the present Fort St. John. The river became an important route for First Nations people in their trading relationship with the Europeans. The present community of Fort St. John is situated to the west of the Beatton.
The river, originally called the "North Pine" is named for Frank Beaton (1863-1944), the manager of the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
post in the early twentieth century, who homesteaded
Homestead principle
The homestead principle in law is the concept that one can gain ownership of a natural thing that currently has no owner by using it or building something out of it...
by the river. Beaton spelled his name with one "t" but the river is now spelled Beatton.
External links
- Beatton River Provincial Park is located at the confluence of the Beatton and Peace Rivers.
- The History of Fort St. John provides this excellent history of First Nations habitation along the Beatton River.
- Frank Beatton: The Bridge Between Fur and Farm offers insight into the life of the man for whom the river is named, and the transitional history of the region in the early twentieth century.