The origins of Prince George can be traced to the North West Company fur trading post of Fort George, which was established in 1807 by Simon Fraser and named in honour of King George III. The post was centred in the centuries-old homeland of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, whose very name means "people of the confluence of the two rivers".
Throughout the 19th century Fort George remained unchanged, while Fort St. James reigned as the main trading post and capital of the New Caledonia area. Even during theCariboo Gold Rush, Fort George was isolated, although Quesnel prospered as theCariboo Road was built to its doorstep, making it the main staging area for the miners going to the goldfields at Baskerville. Then, when the Collins Overland Telegraph Trailwas built in 1865-67, it bypassed Fort George, following the Backwater Trail from Quesnel and continuing northwest towards Hazelton.
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
Finally in 1903, Fort George's fortune began to change when it was announced that the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (later CN Rail) would pass near the fur post. In 1906, agricultural settlement began around Fort George and then in 1909, development of the town began as two rival land speculation companies built the communities of South Fort George and Central Fort George. South Fort George was built on the Fraser River near the Hudson’s Bay Company’s trading post and Central Fort George was built two miles (3 km) to the northwest on the Nechako River. Both communities flourished due to the marketing strategies of the land promoter for Central Fort George, George Hammond, who advertised the community all over Canada and Britain, describing Fort George in glowing terms as being the future hub of British Columbia, having mild winters and being suitable for any agricultural endeavour (except for the growing of peaches). Ten paddle steamer sternwheelers serviced the area, coming up on the Fraser River from Soda Creek
