Dryden, Ontario, is the second-largest city in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Despite being the least populous community in Ontario incorporated as a city, Dryden has a rich history, thriving industries, and stunning geography that make it a unique destination.
Before European settlement, the Dryden area was home to the Anishinaabe, who used the shores of the Wabigoon River as a camping site. The city was founded as an agricultural community by John Dryden, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, in 1895. The success of an experimental farm attracted settlers from southern Ontario, and the community, initially known as New Prospect, began to grow.
The discovery of gold in 1886 further boosted the population. In 1897, the community was renamed Dryden in honor of the minister of agriculture. It was incorporated as a town in 1910 and as a city in 1998 after merging with the neighboring township of Barclay.
One of the earliest industries in the area was pulp and paper, with a paper mill built in 1910. However, the town also faced environmental challenges, with mercury contamination from the paper operations causing significant damage in the 1970s. Dryden also gained national attention as the site of the March 10, 1989 crash of Air Ontario Flight 1363, which resulted in 24 fatalities.
Dryden is located on the Wabigoon River and Wabigoon Lake in northwestern Ontario. It borders Thunder Lake and Aaron Provincial Park on the east, and the smaller Milanese's Lakes are also located within the city. Dryden is located 340 kilometres (210 miles) northwest of Thunder Bay. Nearby communities include Wabigoon, Vermilion Bay, Kenora, and Sioux Lookout. Dryden is also near the Eagle Lake First Nation.
Dryden experiences a humid continental climate with short, warm summers, and long, cold winters. The highest temperature ever recorded in Dryden was 39.4 °C (103 °F) on 11 July 1936. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −46.7 °C (−52 °F) on 11 February 1914. Compared to the rest of the province, the annual temperature range is wider and precipitation is more concentrated in the summer.
As of the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Dryden had a population of 7,388. The population centre, or urban area, of Dryden had a population of 5,586 in the 2016 census. The city's population peaked at 8,198 measured in the 2001 Canadian Census and is slowly declining due to lack of support for an aging population and high taxes.
Dryden is home to the 5.6-metre (18 ft) tall "Max the Moose" statue on the Trans-Canada Highway, which has been described as the "mascot" of the city. It hosts several annual music concerts and is home to a variety of arts groups, including "Theatre 17", the Dryden Regional Arts Council, and the Dryden Community Band.
Dryden is served by Dryden Regional Airport and the Dryden Water Aerodrome. It is located on Ontario Highway 17, part of the Trans-Canada Highway, between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay. Several secondary highways pass through or near the city. The Dryden Regional Health Centre, founded in 1952, employs 300 staff and volunteers. Dryden is home to several schools and a campus of Confederation College. The Dryden Fire Service, established in 1908, operates out of two fire stations and responds to about 250 incidents annually. The City of Dryden also operates a landfill and recycling facility.
