Humboldt, Saskatchewan

Humboldt
Nickname:  Boldt
Location of Humboldt (indicated by the red box)
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
Establishment	1875
Government
• Mayor	Malcolm Eaton
• Humboldt City Council	Aaron Behiel, Leon Fleischhacker, Gord Lees, Rob Muench, Phillip Smith, Leon Winkel
Area
• Total	11.66 km2 (4.50 sq mi)
Elevation	548.60 m (1,799.87 ft)
Population  (2008)
• Total	5,765
• Density	426.4/km2 (1,104/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
Area code	306
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. Humboldt is the province's newest city, receiving its city charter in 2000.

History

Named after the 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 Canada as a route from Fort Winnipeg to Fort Edmonton. The name “Humboldt” was approved in 1875 for the 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 played an integral part in communications for the developing west.

With the Métis uprising led by Louis Riel taking place at Batoche just 100 km northwest, Humboldt became the important communication link between Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and his forces in the west. It was also a site of strategic importance. General 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, which converted 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 stage coach robbery in Western Canada. Parts of the Carlton Trail in the form of wagon tracks still exist in the Humboldt area.

Humboldt in its beginnings was primarily German Catholic and to this date that has been the predominant cultural characteristic of the community. Immigration to the area from both the Northern Plains States of the USA and from Germany was promoted by the German American Land Company. St Peter's Abbey at Muenster was established by Benedictine Monks coming there from St John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. Many immigrants from Germany settled in areas in and around Humboldt such as Muenster, 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.

Until the 1940s Humboldt had a small Jewish community (less than 10 families) which played a prominent role in its business life, and which contributed generously to its cultural life.

After being established as a city, Humboldt became an important location in Saskatchewan's "Iron Triangle", and is also known as the sure-crop district for its reliable growing weather. This led Humboldt to become a centre for farming equipment and supply businesses. It is also the home of several manufacturing plants including Doepker Industries, Del-Air Systems, Romperland Playground Structures, CIM, and Coil-Tech. Humboldt and area is also the centre of Saskatchewan's Hog Producing area. Big Sky Farms and Stomp Pork Farms are two of Canada's largest pork producers.

Today Humboldt still has a large farm based economy from manufacturing and livestock, although the 2006 census reveals its population as of that year dipped slightly below the 5,000 threshold for city status, although not enough to endanger its city charter.

Demographics

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. In 2008 the population had grown to 5,765 people. 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.

According the the Canada 2006 Census Template:Canada CP 2006

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

According to the 2006 2006 Census, Humboldt consists of mostly Caucasion and Aboriginal people. 97.8% of the population is occupied by Caucasion ethnicity as well as a small portion of visible minority. The other 2.2% is occupied my Aboriginal peoples.

Attractions

Landmarks

Humboldt Water Tower

Humboldt boasts Canada's Largest postage stamp, a replica of a John Diefenbaker $.17 stamp circulated by Canada post. The stamp was painted by Humboldt Artist Rob Muench.

Humboldt has many large murals depicting its history located on building walls throughout the city. Since opening in 1982, the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery has been located in a 1912 national historic site with its landmark tower clock. The building was originally built to house the community’s post office and customs office. The structure features Richardsonian Romanesque architecture which is based on mass, volume and scale for its overall effect rather than enriched or decorative detail.

Humboldt’s postal services were delivered from this building from 1912 to 1975 and the customs office operated from 1912 to 1932. The Humboldt detachment of the RCMP had their offices and living quarters on the second floor from 1933 to 1964.

The museum includes three floors of exhibits on the history of Humboldt and area, an archives and research room, Sports Hall of Fame collection, art exhibitions, and extensive community programming.

The Humboldt Water Tower, previously condemned to be torn down, is being funded by community groups who wish to preserve this part of the city's heritage.

Events & Festivals

The Humboldt Polkafest is held early in summer (May-June), and is a weekend of Polka music, dancing, and German food.

The Summer Sizzler and Rodeo is held around July 1 (Canada Day) and features pro rodeo, the Jaycee Demolition Derby as well as a number of other events. There is also a parade downtown and other activities held at Centennial Park.

Oktoberfest is a celebration of Humboldt's German Heritage featuring good beer and good sausage, held in the fall at the Uniplex.

Galleries & Museums

Humboldt & District Museum & Gallery The Humboldt and District Museum & Gallery offers visitors a unique view of the multicultural heritage of Humboldt and area. There is a pioneer home with exhibits featuring old-fashioned furniture and appliances. A replica of the 1878 Humboldt Telegraph Station is also offered to visitors. It is complete with a computer interactive component for visitors to learn morse code. The museum is also home to the Sports Hall of Fame collection, which features sports legends such as Glenn Hall and Leo Parker, as well as other sports memorabilia. [[1]]

Facilities & Services

Humboldt has three elementary schools, two Catholic (St. Augustine and St. Dominic) and one public (Humboldt Public School). It has one high school (Humboldt Collegiate Institute), which is public. There is also a satellite of the University of Saskatchewan, St. Peter's College, located in Muenster. St. Peter's College also hosts many sporting and arts events. Humboldt is in the process of building a new hospital facility on the north end of the city, the facility will serve Humboldt and district. Humboldt has a museum downtown, an Antique and Vintage Museum south of the city and one public library. The Uniplex is Humboldt's recreational facility with curling rink, one skating and hockey rink and an indoor aquatic centre featuring a waterslide, large pool, whirlpool, kiddie pool and a community centre for conventions and meetings. There is one indoor mall, The Humboldt Mall as well as several strip malls and a vibrant downtown district. The city also features one of Saskatchewan's nicest 18 hole golf courses. The course is located next to Wateridge Park a lake-front urban park, and the Humboldt Historical Park and Campground.

Situate 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Humboldt along Saskatchewan Highway 5 and two miles (3 km) south is the Kloppenburg Wildlife Refuge. It consists of 160 acres (0.65 km²) of land which have never been cultivated. This property was donated to provide to future generations an example of the vegetation and natural conditions of the land around Humboldt before European settlement after 1900.

Humboldt has ten churches: Humboldt Alliance Church, St. John's Lutheran, St. Andrew's Anglican Church, St. Augustine Catholic Church, Living Word Ministries, All Saints Ukrainian Catholic Church, Humboldt Bible Church, Westminster United Church of Canada, First Baptist Church and Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Carlton Trail Regional College is headquartered in Humboldt.

Sports

Humboldt is home to the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League .

Humboldt also has a high school 9-man football program known as HCI Mohawks. They have won provincial championships in 1975, 1996, 1997, and 2008.

The Humboldt Speed Skating Club is nationally renowned. The club is home to several Canadian and a North American speed skating champion. Humboldt speed skaters regularly win Provincial, Canadian and North American medals. In many National Championships the Humboldt skaters win more medals than provincial teams. Canadian and North American medalists include Addison Thiel, Ebony Thiel, Nathan Bernhard (Canadian and North American Champion), Ryan Bernhard (Canadian Champion) and William Dutton. Dutton and Nathan Bernhard are presently (2008) training as members of the Saskatchewan provincial team at the National training center, the Calgary Olympic Oval.

Dutton was a member of the 2009 Canadian World Junior speed skating team. He skated the third fastest men's junior 500 in the world for 2009. Dutton finished 6th in the combined 500s in the 2009 Zakopane World Junior Championship. He qualified for the 2009-2010 Canadian speed skating National development team.

Notables

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

• Jack Adams, former clerk at Arlington Hotel who founded and owned much of the Canadian division of Holiday Inns
• Kelly Bates, BC Lions guard
• Al Duerr, former mayor of Calgary, Alberta
• Glenn Hall, professional ice hockey goaltender
• Otto Lang, Rhodes Scholar, Law School Dean, Federal Cabinet Minister, and Executive
• Brad Lauer, former professional ice hockey player
• Rusty Malinoski, professional wakeboarder
• Kyle McLaren, San Jose Sharks defenceman
• Brendan Witt, New York Islanders defenceman
• Ann Saddlemyer, world renowned Scholar, former Head of Massey College, University of Toronto
• Jeremy Wotherspoon, speed skater
• Robbie Malinoski, professional snowmobiler

External links

• Humboldt Museum & Gallery
• Tourism Saskatchewan
• Humboldt Broncos

References

• "City of Humboldt". cityofhumboldt.ca. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
• "Humboldt Telegraph Station". virtualmuseum.ca. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
• "Humboldt History". City of Humboldt. Retrieved 2008-09-12.

• "2006 Census". 2006 Census. Retrieved 2009-05-08.

• Template:Cite web\url=http://www.humboldtmuseum.ca/