 Southern Lakes was originally created as part of the 2002 Electoral Boundaries Commission when the riding of Ross River-Southern Lakes was divided into the ridings of Southern Lakes and Pelly-Nisutlin.Southern Lakes retained the communities of Carcross and Tagish and merged with the bedroom community of Marsh Lake.The riding was also part of the traditional territory of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, the Teslin Tlingit Council, the Kwanlin Dün First Nation, and the Ta'an Kwach'an Council.