Buckingham House (fur trade post)
Encyclopedia
Buckingham House was a fur-trade
post of the Hudson's Bay Company
, located near the current hamlet of Elk Point, Alberta
.
During the late 18th century both the North West Company
and the Hudson’s Bay Company began moving farther up the North Saskatchewan River
as pelts became ‘trapped out’ surrounding established forts. Buckingham House was founded in 1792 and acted not only as a trading post
, but also a provisioning one. Its location on the North Saskatchewan, which straddled the plains
–parkland
divide, allowed it to process furs from the parkland
to the north and buffalo
from the plains
to the south. Buckingham House was only in operation for eight years, at which time there were few pelts in the area.
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...
post 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...
, located near the current hamlet of Elk Point, Alberta
Elk Point, Alberta
Elk Point is a town located in the east central part of the Canadian province of Alberta. It is located on Highway 41.A number of oil related businesses have located in Elk Point. Agriculture is also important in the Elk Point area....
.
During the late 18th century both the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
and the Hudson’s Bay Company began moving farther up the North Saskatchewan River
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....
as pelts became ‘trapped out’ surrounding established forts. Buckingham House was founded in 1792 and acted not only as a trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
, but also a provisioning one. Its location on the North Saskatchewan, which straddled the plains
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
–parkland
Aspen parkland
Aspen parkland refers to a very large area of transitional biome between prairie and boreal forest in two sections; the Peace River Country of northwestern Alberta crossing the border into British Columbia, and a much larger area stretching from central Alberta, all across central Saskatchewan to...
divide, allowed it to process furs from the parkland
Aspen parkland
Aspen parkland refers to a very large area of transitional biome between prairie and boreal forest in two sections; the Peace River Country of northwestern Alberta crossing the border into British Columbia, and a much larger area stretching from central Alberta, all across central Saskatchewan to...
to the north and buffalo
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
from the plains
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
to the south. Buckingham House was only in operation for eight years, at which time there were few pelts in the area.