The Stuart Nechako is a sub-region of the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako and is home to 21,771 people living in small towns, rural settings and remote communities, including seven First Nations communities.
The District of Fort St James is located on Highway 27 along the southern shores of Stuart Lake and has an estimated population of 1,999 (2004).
Fort St James is a service centre for the smaller communities and remote residences scattered through the northern Stuart Nechako area.
Fort St James, founded in 1806 as a fur trading post, is the oldest established community west of the Rocky Mountains. The Fort St James National Historic Site commemorates the rich history of the fur trade, western North American exploration and the collaboration with the First Nations traditions and knowledge that is still an important part of the economy today in Fort St James.
