After the population of the Yukon grew to 35,000 at the height of the gold rush in 1898, Dawson was made the first territorial capital. However, after the gold dwindled and the population dispersed, Dawson began to lose ground to
Whitehorse, which had railroad service. In 1951, the territorial capital was moved to Whitehorse.
Dawson is located on the Yukon River.
