Humboldt, Saskatchewan

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Humboldt
City of Humboldt

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Nickname(s): 'Boldt, The 'Boldt, Crumboldt
Humboldt, Saskatchewan is located in Saskatchewan
Humboldt
Coordinates: 52°12′07″N 105°07′23″W / 52.20194°N 105.12306°W / 52.20194; -105.12306Coordinates: 52°12′07″N 105°07′23″W / 52.20194°N 105.12306°W / 52.20194; -105.12306
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
Establishment 1875
Incorporated (town) April 1, 1907
Incorporated (city) November 7, 2000
Government
 • Mayor Malcolm Eaton, (2009)
 • Humboldt City Council Aaron Behiel, Leon Fleischhacker, Gord Lees, Rob Muench, Phillip Smith, Leon Winkel[1]
 • MLA, Humboldt Donna Harpauer (SKP), (2011)
 • MP, Saskatoon—Humboldt Brad Trost (CPC), (2011)
Area
 • Total 11.66 km2 (4.50 sq mi)
Elevation 548.60 m (1,799.87 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 5,678
 • Density 421.9/km2 (1,093/sq mi)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
Area code(s) 306
Highways Hwy 5 / Hwy 20
Railways Canadian National
Website http://www.cityofhumboldt.ca

Humboldt is a Canadian city located in the province of Saskatchewan, 113 km east of Saskatoon at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 20. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Humboldt No. 370.

Contents

History [edit]

Humboldt Telegraph Station
Humboldt Post Office
National Historic Site

Named after German explorer Alexander von Humboldt, Humboldt began as a telegraph station located on the Carlton Trail, a wagon route used in the early days of Western Canada as a route from Fort Garry (Winnipeg) to Fort Edmonton. The name "Humboldt" was approved in 1875 for a site in the North West Territories along the Canadian Pacific Telegraph Line at which a repair station was built (8 km south-west of the present city site). Built in 1878, the Humboldt Telegraph Station[2] played an integral part in communications for the developing West.[3]

With the Métis uprising led by Louis Riel taking place at Batoche just 100 km northwest, Humboldt became the communication link between Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and his forces in the West, thus a site of strategic significance. General Frederick Middleton arrived in April 1885 with 950 soldiers, established a garrison at the station, and used it as his base for scouting operations. At that time, the Humboldt station was crucial, since the telegraph line further west was periodically cut – so Humboldt was the last secure link to the East.

On May 1, 1885, Humboldt became the site of a large supply depot under Maj. Lt.-Colonel G. T. Denison of the Governor Generals' Body Guard. A combined force of approximately 460 men built an elaborate series of entrenchments, converting the station into a fortified military encampment to protect the supplies. The troops left Humboldt in July 1885. The area was also the site of the first stagecoach robbery in Western Canada.[4]Parts of the Carlton Trail in the form of wagon tracks/ruts still exist in the Humboldt area.

Humboldt in its beginnings was primarily German Catholic. Immigration to the area from both the Northern Plains states of the USA and Germany was promoted by the German American Land Company. St Peter's Abbey at Muenster was established by Benedictine monks from St John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. Many immigrants from Germany settled in areas in and around Humboldt such as Muenster, Fulda, Pilger, St Gregor and Englefeld. Immigrants from the Russian Empire who were ethnic Germans settled in the area west of Humboldt and south of the hamlet of Carmel.

After being established as a community, Humboldt became an important location in Saskatchewan known as the "Heart of the Sure Crop District" for its reliable growing weather, which led the town to become a centre for farming equipment and supply businesses.

Humboldt aerial view

Climate [edit]

Humboldt experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). It is a great distance from any large bodies of water, and thus lacks any moderating influences on its climate. The latitudinal difference of Saskatchewan can typically explain a 6–8°C difference mean in annual temperatures across the province.

Demographics [edit]

Main Street, showing German-themed building design

According to the 2006 census, Humboldt has a population of 4,998 people which is a decrease in 3.2% from the previous census in 2001. Around 16% of the population consists of youths under the age of 15. The 2006 Census states that the median age of the Humboldt population is 45.

Canada census – Humboldt, Saskatchewan Community Profile
  2011 2006 2001

Population:
Land area:
Population density:
Median age:
Total private dwellings:
Mean household income:

5,678 (13.6% from 2006)
13.6 km2 (5.3 sq mi)
421.9 /km2 (1,093 /sq mi)

2,567

4,998 (-3.2% from 2001)
11.72 km2 (4.53 sq mi)
426.4 /km2 (1,104 /sq mi)
45.3 (M: 42.7, F: 47.9)
452
$40,640

5,161 (1.7% from 1996)
11.66 km2 (4.50 sq mi)
442.6 /km2 (1,146 /sq mi)
41.9 (M: 39.5, F: 44.5)
2,313
$37,174
References: 2011[6] 2006[7] 2001[8]

The above land area figure was provided by the City of Humboldt in 2006.

According to the 2006 Census, Humboldt consists of mostly Caucasian and Aboriginal people. 97.8% of the population is of Caucasian ethnicity as well as a small portion of visible minorities. The other 2.2% are Aboriginal persons.

Economy [edit]

Field in the Humboldt district
Humboldt railway station

About 95% of all goods produced in the province directly depend on its basic resources (grains, livestock, oil and gas, potash, uranium and timber) and their refined products.

Wheat, canola, flax, peas, rye, lentils, canary seed and barley are mainly grown in the area. Beef cattle production, pork production – as well as other livestock – are significant for the community. With many farmers in the area, agricultural-related businesses were formed. Some of the services offered are in trucking and financial management, finance, business services, wholesale trade, transportation, etc. These jobs became significant for the farming community as well as the manufacturing community.

Notable people [edit]

Notable people who were born, grew up in or established their fame in Humboldt:

References [edit]

  1. ^ "City of Humboldt". City of Humboldt. Retrieved 2009-10-02. 
  2. ^ A Line Through the Wilderness
  3. ^ "Humboldt History". City of Humboldt. Retrieved 2009-10-02. 
  4. ^ "The Legacy of St. Peter's Colony(P.12)". Retrieved 2013-01-06. 
  5. ^ Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 27 July 2012
  6. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2011-03-10. 
  7. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2011-03-10. 
  8. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2011-03-10. 

External links [edit]

 Wakaw Annaheim
Lake Lenore
Carmel
Bruno
Meacham
Saskatoon		 Muenster
St. Gregor
Englefeld
Watson
  Humboldt  
Burr
Guernsey
Lanigan		 Leroy
Saskatchewan Subdivisions of Saskatchewan
Subdivisions
Communities
Cities
Topics
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