In 1882, settlers arrived in the area (then called the Northwest Territories) from Ontario and called the area’s trading post York City. The town lay on the Yellowhead Trail connecting Winnipeg with Saskatoon, Edmonton, and the North. When the railway came in 1890, the community relocated 3 kilometres to the south and was renamed Yorkton. A plaque marks the original town site, along with some millstones from the original mill.
The city is the hub of the parklands in east-central Saskatchewan, and has a population of 16,000 (2019). Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park, just northwest of the town provides much recreational opportunities with its miles of sandy beaches and dunes.