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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

Dawson's Creek

Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series created by Kevin Williamson.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series created by Kevin Williamson. It aired on The WB from 1998 to 2003, following a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts.

What it is

The series centres on Dawson Leery and his friends as they navigate adolescence and early adulthood. It ran for six seasons and 128 episodes, with a core cast including James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams.

Key details

Created by Kevin Williamson, the show is loosely based on aspects of his own youth. It premiered on January 20, 1998, and ended on May 14, 2003. The fictional setting is Capeside, Massachusetts.

Why it matters

Dawson's Creek helped define The WB's brand in the late 1990s and influenced later teen dramas. It launched its lead cast to wider fame and remains a notable part of North American television history.

In short

  • Teen drama series created by Kevin Williamson.
  • Aired on The WB from 1998 to 2003, six seasons, 128 episodes.
  • Set in fictional Capeside, Massachusetts.
  • Main cast: James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams.
Canadian angle

The series aired internationally and remains part of the broader North American television canon familiar to Canadian viewers through English-language teen drama programming.

Quick questions

What is Dawson's Creek about?
It follows a group of friends in Capeside, Massachusetts, as they move from high school through college and deal with relationships and personal growth.
Who created Dawson's Creek?
The series was created by Kevin Williamson.
When did Dawson's Creek air?
It aired from January 20, 1998, to May 14, 2003.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson's_Creek
    Supports: Premise, main cast, setting, and original run dates.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/question/What-is-Dawsons-Creek
    Supports: Creator, premise, cultural impact, and original run.
  3. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson's_Creek
    Supports: Creator, production company, filming location, premiere date, and episode count.
  4. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson%E2%80%99s_Creek
    Supports: Original run and episode count.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118300/
    Supports: Series premise, setting, and premiere date.