[1] It stands on the east bank of the Yukon River, 13 km (8.1 mi) downstream of the town of Dawson City.

The fort was established in 1874 by François Mercier, Jack McQuesten, and Francis Barnfield for the Alaska Commercial Company to serve as a trading post.

The site of the fort was chosen by François Mercier and it was constructed by Jack McQuesten and Francis Barnfield with the help of the Hän.

Fort Reliance would become a major trading hub in the region until it was abandoned by the traders in 1877 due to the theft of their goods by some of the Hän.

[3] The fort continued to be operated as a fur trading post, but eventually became a supply stop for gold prospectors on the Yukon.

The remains of a Hän fishing village, Nuclaco, exists on a small island near the west bank of the Yukon River, just across from the fort.

[7] Fort Reliance was erroneously reported on the 1880 United States census as being located within Alaska (Yukon Division), despite being some 80 km (50 mi) due east of the international boundary.