Dawson, Ontario

For the unincorporated township in Manitoulin District, see Unorganized West Manitoulin District.

Dawson is a township located in Rainy River District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The township is located at the mouth of the Rainy River where it flows into Lake of the Woods.

Dawson
Township (single-tier)
Township of Dawson
Township office of Dawson in Rainy River
Dawson
Coordinates: 48°45′N 94°29′W
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
District	Rainy River
Formed	1 January 1997
Government
• Mayor	Douglas Hartnell
• Federal riding	Thunder Bay—Rainy River
• Prov. riding	Kenora—Rainy River
Area [1]
• Land	339.5 km2 (131.1 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	335 m (1,099 ft)
Population  (2016)[1]
• Total	468
• Density	1.4/km2 (4/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Postal Code FSA	P0W 1L0
Area code	807

The township was formed on 1 January 1997, when the former incorporated townships of Atwood, Blue, Dilke, and Worthington were amalgamated.^[3]

The name was chosen in order to recognize the historical Dawson trail which was the main route of settlers moving from the east to the western part of Canada.^[4]

Communities

The primary communities in the township are Blue, McGinnis Creek, Pinewood and Sleeman.

• 
  Pinewood
• 
  Sleeman

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Dawson had a population of 399 living in 190 of its 274 total private dwellings, a change of -14.7% from its 2016 population of 468. With a land area of 343.42 km² (132.60 sq mi), it had a population density of 1.2/km² (3.0/sq mi) in 2021.^[5]

Canada census – Dawson community profile

	2021	2016	2011
Population	399 (-14.7% from 2016)	468 (-16.9% from 2011)	563 (-9.2% from 2006)
Land area	343.42 km2 (132.60 sq mi)	339.5 km2 (131.1 sq mi)	338.35 km2 (130.64 sq mi)
Population density	1.2/km2 (3.1/sq mi)	1.4/km2 (3.6/sq mi)	1.7/km2 (4.4/sq mi)
Median age	56.4 (M: 57.6, F: 53.6)	54.5 (M: 54.9, F: 53.5)	47.8 (M: 49.1, F: 46.2)
Private dwellings	274 (total)  190 (occupied)	292 (total)	307 (total)
Median household income	$75,000	$61,312

References: 2021^[6] 2016^[7] 2011^[8]

Dawson, Ontario
historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1996	631	—
2001	613	−2.9%
2006	620	+1.1%
2011	563	−9.2%
2016	468	−16.9%
[9][1]

Climate

Climate data for Sleeman
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	7 (45)	11 (52)	16.5 (61.7)	31.5 (88.7)	32.5 (90.5)	33.5 (92.3)	35 (95)	34.5 (94.1)	34.4 (93.9)	26.7 (80.1)	22.2 (72.0)	9 (48)	35 (95)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−11.4 (11.5)	−7 (19)	0.3 (32.5)	10.5 (50.9)	18.8 (65.8)	22.3 (72.1)	25 (77)	23.4 (74.1)	17.3 (63.1)	10.5 (50.9)	−0.2 (31.6)	−8.9 (16.0)	8.4 (47.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−17.2 (1.0)	−13.2 (8.2)	−5.6 (21.9)	4.1 (39.4)	11.8 (53.2)	16.2 (61.2)	19 (66)	17.4 (63.3)	11.8 (53.2)	5.7 (42.3)	−4.1 (24.6)	−14 (7)	2.7 (36.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−22.9 (−9.2)	−19.3 (−2.7)	−11.4 (11.5)	−2.2 (28.0)	4.8 (40.6)	9.9 (49.8)	12.9 (55.2)	11.4 (52.5)	6.3 (43.3)	0.8 (33.4)	−8 (18)	−19.1 (−2.4)	−3.1 (26.4)
Record low °C (°F)	−44 (−47)	−41 (−42)	−37.5 (−35.5)	−27.8 (−18.0)	−8 (18)	−2 (28)	1.1 (34.0)	−1.7 (28.9)	−6 (21)	−17 (1)	−39 (−38)	−43 (−45)	−44 (−47)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	27.9 (1.10)	21.6 (0.85)	30.1 (1.19)	37.9 (1.49)	60.4 (2.38)	107.5 (4.23)	86.4 (3.40)	90.5 (3.56)	69.3 (2.73)	57.7 (2.27)	37.2 (1.46)	23.5 (0.93)	650 (25.6)
Source: Environment Canada[2]

See also

• List of townships in Ontario