North Battleford

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North Battleford
Business District
101st Street

Flag
North Battleford is located in Saskatchewan
North Battleford
Location of North Battleford in Saskatchewan
Coordinates: 52°45′27″N 108°17′10″W / 52.75750°N 108.28611°W / 52.75750; -108.28611
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
Census division Division #16
Government
 • Mayor Ian Hamilton
 • MLA Herb Cox (SKP)
 • MP Gerry Ritz (CON)
Area
 • Land 33.55 km2 (12.95 sq mi)
 • Metro 1,122.99 km2 (433.59 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • City 13,888
 • Density 414.0/km2 (1,072/sq mi)
 • Metro 19,216
 • Metro density 17.1/km2 (44/sq mi)
Time zone CST (UTC−6)
Website City of North Battleford

North Battleford is a small city in west central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is directly across the North Saskatchewan River from the town of Battleford. Together, the two communities are known as the Battlefords. The Battlefords Provincial Park is 40 km north on Highway 4. North Battleford borders the Rural Municipality of North Battleford No. 437, as well as the North Battleford Crown Colony (census subdivision).[1]

Contents

Demographics [edit]

Census Population
1911 2,105
1921 4,108
1931 5,986
1941 4,694
1951 7,473
1961 11,230
1971 12,698
1981 14,030
1991 14,350
2001 13,692
2006 13,190
2011 13,888

In the late 2000s a large number of Ruthenians have emigrated to Canada, concentrating in North Battleford. Most of them came from the same town of Ruski Krstur.[2]

History [edit]

For thousands of years prior to European settlement, succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples lived in the area. The Battlefords area (including the present city of North Battleford and town of Battleford) was home to several historic aboriginal groups, including the Algonquian-speaking Cree and Blackfeet, and the Siouan Assiniboine tribes, who contested for control of local resources.

Early European settlement began as a result of fur trading by French colonists in the late 18th century. The Canadians founded Fort Montaigne d'Aigle (Eagle Hills Fort) nine miles below the confluence of the Saskatchewan and Battle Rivers in 1778.[3] A year later the fort was abandoned following conflict between traders and natives.

Permanent European settlement in the area centred around the town of Battleford, founded 1875 and located on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. Battleford served as capital of the North-West Territories between 1876 and 1883.[4]

In 1905 the construction of the Canadian Northern Railway main line to Edmonton placed the line on the north side of the North Saskatchewan River. North Battleford was incorporated as village in 1906, a town in 1907 and a city (with population 5000) in 1913.[5]

Population growth stagnated until the 1940s and then grew to approximately 10,000 by the 1960s. The city has grown into an administrative center and service hub for the economic, education, health and social needs of the region. North Battleford is the home of one of four branches of the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum. This branch focuses on the agricultural history of Saskatchewan, including a pioneer village. The city also has the Allen Sapp Gallery, featuring a noted Cree painter.

The Latter Rain Revival, a Christian movement, started here in 1946–48.[6]

In 2001 a problem with the city's water system led to the infection of approximately 6280 people with cryptosporidiosis; a lawsuit for several million dollars in damages was filed in 2003.[7]

Transportation [edit]

North Battleford is served by the North Battleford Airport, while the North Battleford/Hamlin Airport is no longer in use. The city also recently added a public transit system, in addition to the book-as-needed "Handi-bus" for the handicapped.

Local media [edit]

Newspaper

The local newspaper is the Battlefords' News Optimist.[8] It is published weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays, and has circulation in the surrounding area.

The Battlefords' Daily News is a widely read online publication of news and local events which is updated regularly.

Feed The Artist Magazine[9] is a local non-profit periodical print and online publication that features the work of primarily local artists, photographers, and writers.

Radio

Three local radio stations serve the area; CJNB, CJCQ-FM ("Q98"), and CJHD-FM ("93.3 The Rock"). Some Saskatoon radio stations can also be received.

Television

The Battlefords are served by CFQC-TV-2 channel 6, an analogue repeater of CTV station CFQC-DT Saskatoon.

Notable North Battlefordians [edit]

Climate [edit]

North Battleford experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). The average high during the end of July is 25C (76F) and the average low is 11C (52F).[11] For the middle of January the average high is -12C (10F) and the average low is -23C (-9F).[12]

Climate data for North Battleford
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.1
(48.4)
10.4
(50.7)
16.7
(62.1)
32.2
(90)
34.9
(94.8)
37.8
(100)
36.7
(98.1)
37.9
(100.2)
35.6
(96.1)
30
(86)
19.5
(67.1)
9.8
(49.6)
37.9
(100.2)
Average high °C (°F) −11.8
(10.8)
−7.9
(17.8)
−1.1
(30)
10.3
(50.5)
18.2
(64.8)
22
(72)
24
(75)
23.5
(74.3)
17.3
(63.1)
10.3
(50.5)
−2.1
(28.2)
−9.6
(14.7)
7.8
(46)
Daily mean °C (°F) −17
(1)
−13.2
(8.2)
−6.2
(20.8)
4.2
(39.6)
11.4
(52.5)
15.7
(60.3)
17.6
(63.7)
16.8
(62.2)
10.9
(51.6)
4.2
(39.6)
−6.6
(20.1)
−14.5
(5.9)
1.9
(35.4)
Average low °C (°F) −22.2
(−8)
−18.4
(−1.1)
−11.3
(11.7)
−2
(28)
4.6
(40.3)
9.3
(48.7)
11.2
(52.2)
10
(50)
4.4
(39.9)
−1.9
(28.6)
−11.2
(11.8)
−19.5
(−3.1)
−3.9
(25)
Record low °C (°F) −46.1
(−51)
−44.1
(−47.4)
−37.2
(−35)
−27.8
(−18)
−13.2
(8.2)
−1.7
(28.9)
2.2
(36)
−1.8
(28.8)
−8.9
(16)
−27.2
(−17)
−35.8
(−32.4)
−44.2
(−47.6)
−46.1
(−51)
Precipitation mm (inches) 17.1
(0.673)
10.4
(0.409)
15.2
(0.598)
25.8
(1.016)
38.6
(1.52)
61.3
(2.413)
71.2
(2.803)
53.9
(2.122)
31.7
(1.248)
13.9
(0.547)
17.4
(0.685)
16.9
(0.665)
373.2
(14.693)
Source: Environment Canada[13]

References [edit]

  1. ^ geodepot.statcan.ca
  2. ^ "Battlefords ride immigration wave". The StarPhoenix. CanWest. April 28, 2008. Retrieved 2010-07-12. 
  3. ^ atlas.nrcan.gc.ca
  4. ^ esask.uregina.ca
  5. ^ esask.uregina.ca
  6. ^ christianity-guide.com
  7. ^ "Waterborn cryptosporidosis outbreak, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Spring 2001". Canada Communicable Disease Report (Public Health Agency of Canada). 27-22. November 15, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-01. 
  8. ^ Battlefords' News Optimist
  9. ^ Feed The Artist Magazine
  10. ^ Jody Lehman's Statistics at hockeydb.com URL accessed 2009-03-01
  11. ^ "Climate Data Almanac for July 31". Environment Canada. Retrieved October 20, 2012. 
  12. ^ "Climate Data Almanac for January 10". Environment Canada. Retrieved October 20, 2012. 
  13. ^ Environment Canada - Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 6 December 2010

External links [edit]

Coordinates: 52°45′27″N 108°17′10″W / 52.75750°N 108.28611°W / 52.75750; -108.28611