Swan River, Manitoba
Swan River is a community in Manitoba, Canada. It is in the Regional Municipality of Swan River and in the Swan River Valley. Swan River acts as the hub to the surrounding communities of Minitonas, Benito, Bowsman, Birch River, and also to the other communities in the valley. As of 2006 Swan River is Manitoba's 12th largest in population.
History
Located in a valley between the Duck Mountains and the Porcupine Mountains, the town of Swan River is close to the Saskatchewan boundary in west central Manitoba.
The town is situated along the river from which it takes its name. The name is believed to have come from the Trumpeter Swans that used to frequent Swan Lake, into which the Swan River flows. The first permanent settlement dates back to 1770 when fur traders from both the Hudson Bay Company and the Northwest Company bought and sold goods by way of birch bark canoes.
Henry Kelsey was the first European explorer to visit the area in 1690.
In 1876, the musical band of the North West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, made its debut in what was later to become Swan River. The instruments used in the band were purchased by the 20 officers in the band and shipped from Winnipeg by dog sled. [1]
The first pioneers arrived in the Swan Valley through the Duck Mountains in 1897 and quickly developed the farming potential of the area. The proposed construction of a line of the Canadian Northern Railway was announced in 1898 and the town was founded in 1900 though it was little more than a post office at the time. Swan River was officially incorporated as a town in 1908.
Economy
The economic base of the town lies in agriculture and forestry along with support industries for same. Almost fifty percent of the surrounding area is under cultivation, most of which is seeded to cereal grain, oilseeds and other specialty crops. There are also many mixed farms producing cattle, pigs and farm raised wild animals. Other major industries are health care, retail services (farming forestry implements, etc) manufacturing and tourism.
Transportation
Highways:
The town is served by provincial highways 10, 10A, 83, and 83A. Provincial Highway 83 starts near Swan River's southwest corner, and continues south to the American border near Westhope, ND. It then continues south as U.S. Route 83 to the Mexican border near Brownsville, TX.
Airport:
Swan River Airport had air service to Winnipeg and sometimes Dauphin prior to 2005, when these services ceased. The airport is still in use by charter services and private pilots.
Sports
Swan River is home to the Swan Valley Stampeders ice hockey team, who play in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. They play their games in the Swan River Centennial Arena.
Statistics
The population of the townsite according to Stats Canada in 2005 was 4,032, with an additional 2,923 people living in the surrounding rural municipality of Swan River.
Events
Swan River hosts the annual Northwest Round-up and Exhibition on the last weekend of July. The Northwest Round-up and Exhibition, which is hosted by the Agricultural Society, includes a parade, chariot and chuck wagon races, heavy and light horse shows, talent stage, concert, dances, “Down on the Farm”, home living and school work exhibits, midway and the rodeo, which features events like the heavy horse pull, barrel racing, calf roping, or bull riding.
Recent local awards and distinctions
- Designated as 'Forest Capital of Canada 1998'
- In 2004, members of the Swan River Curling Club (Skip: Brent Scales, Third: Gord Hardy, Second: Grant Spicer, Lead: Todd Trevellyan) won the Safeway Select provincial curling finals and competed in the 2004 Nokia Brier in Saskatoon, SK.
- The current mayor, Glen McKenzie, was in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Test the Nation on March 11, 2007 and was the only one of the mayors from Manitoba.
References
- ^ Winnipeg Free Press, Tuesday, May 24, 2005.
2. http://www.town.swanriver.mb.ca/home.html
Sources
- Geographical Names of Manitoba 2000
- Article about the 2004 Curling Club
