First European settlement of the territory of New Albion began with the establishment of the Ericson Bay Company. From 1670 until the partition of the Ericson Bay Territory in 1824 European settlement consisted mostly of fur traders and trading post staff, with the exception of York Factory, which saw the settlement of a terraforming team to ensure the surrounding land was able to be cultivated to support the population. This mostly consisted of the establishment of heating grids in order to keep air and ground temperature at a level allowing farming.