First Nations have lived in the Nipigon area for thousands of years, leaving behind rock paintings on the cliffs at the mouth of the Nipigon River. During the European colonization, the area was home to a succession of
fur trading forts and posts. Starting in 1665, French explorers built several forts on Lake Nipigon. Circa 1717,
Zacharie Robutel de La Noue built Fort Ste Anne, its exact location now uncertain but possibly in a shallow bay on the south-east shore of Helen Lake (at the site of today's
Lake Helen 53A reserve). It operated until 1775. The
North West Company had a post at the mouth of the Nipigon River from 1785 to 1821, which was likely taken over by the
Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) when these two companies merged in 1821. In 1885, the
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) tracks were completed across the north shore of Lake Superior, boosting trade at the HBC post. But since the post was along the river, trade gradually shifted to new businesses built closer to the railroad. In 1899, the HBC built a retail shop across from the railway station in order to compete. In 1937, the bridge for the
Trans-Canada Highway was built over the Nipigon River. The mill was the main employer in the town. Less than a month earlier workers at the mill had purchased it from
Columbia Forest Products of
Portland, Oregon. At the time of the sale, a $4-million modernization plan for the mill was also announced. More than 100 people were employed at the plant, which produced hardwood underlayment for vinyl, plywood and laminate flooring. ==Demographics==