Norman Wells is the regional centre for the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The town is situated on the north side of the Mackenzie River and provides a view down the valley of the Franklin and Richardson Mountains.DemographicsAccording to the 2011 Census the town has a population of 727, which is a decrease of 4.5% from the 2006 Census figure of 761. 300 people identified as aboriginal, and of these, 165 were First Nations, 110 were Métis and 25 were Inuit. In 2012 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 838 with an average yearly growth rate of 1.2 from 2001.The main languages in the town are North Slavey and English.Of the population, 79.8% is 15 and older, with the median age being 33.2, slightly more than the NWT averages of 78.3% and 31.2.HistoryOil was first seen by Alexander MacKenzie during his exploration of the river in 1789 but it was not until 1911 that an oil bearing formation was discovered. Imperial Oil, a major employer in the town, was established in the area in 1937 with a refinery built in 1937.