Morris, Manitoba
Morris (49°21′18″N 97°21′54″W / 49.35500°N 97.36500°W) is a small town of about 1800 people in the Pembina Valley region of Manitoba, Canada, located 51 km south of Winnipeg and 42 km north of Emerson. Morris is host to the annual Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition. Highway 75 which turns into Interstate 29 is the major highway which runs from Winnipeg to Missouri. Morris is the only town in which Highway 75 is called Main Street. The town of Morris is mostly surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Morris, except for a relatively small eastern border with the northwest corner of the Rural Municipality of Montcalm, across the Red River of the North.
Community history
The town of Morris was named after Alexander Morris, the second Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. The town has a very long history involving floods and beaver pelt companies.
Fur traders started to settle in the Morris area in the late 18th century because of its strategic location along the Red River. By 1801, there were two fur-trading stations at the settlement. Barges came up and down the Red River, and the Red River Ox Carts that traveled between Fort Garry and the Pembina Settlement went right through Morris, and offered many opportunities for trade. By 1869, the ox carts began to carry settlers to the areas around the Scratching River (now the Morris River) and the population began to grow. The town was officially incorporated in 1883.
Morris lies in the middle of the Red River Valley. The shallow valley spreads for many kilometers to the east and west, but only rises a few meters at most. The land is remarkably flat. Repeated flooding in the past has left the valley floor covered in rich river silt. The fine black soils are some of the best producing agricultural soils in the world. The Red River Valley is part of the remnants of the prehistoric "Lake Agassiz", which was once much larger than Lake Superior, which is the biggest of the five Great Lakes.
Location and transportation
The location of Morris is along PTH 75, which is the main route for Manitobans to get into the U.S.. Morris is also served by PTH 23, running east and west, providing access to much of southern Manitoba. Morris is also served by three railroad companies. The first is the Canadian National Railway whose line runs north/south from Winnipeg to the Canadian/U.S. border. The second is the Canadian Pacific that has a branch which currently ends (it was formerly a line all of the way to the US border at Gretna) in Altona. The third was the Southern Manitoba Railway which runs west from Morris for 80 miles. The Southern Manitoba Railway was torn up in 2008, due to non-use.
Economy
The economy of Morris is based on agriculture. Much of this can be easily said by the community's location in this fertile agricultural region. The Town of Morris is a major service provider to the surrounding agricultural community. Morris is currently in a state of growth and development, and many opportunities exist for new business. The business community provides strong support for future trade based on its prime location along the Mid-Continent Trade Corridor. Easy access to markets in Canada, the United States and Mexico, make Morris an ideal place to locate a business. Currently, businesses and manufacturers in Morris produce and supply a variety of goods to both national and international markets.
Sports
Morris is the home of the Pembina Valley Twisters of the MMJHL having joined in 2001
| Team | Founded | League | Arena | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembina Valley Twisters | 2001 | MMJHL | Morris Rec. Complex | 1 |
Another sport, originating from Enfield, United Kingdom, was adopted in this small town. This sport is called Koneball. Created in 2003, the sport is played by a small group of people from Morris and the surrounding Southern Manitoban area. This group formed the Manitoba Koneball Association, to eventually house all Manitoba's Koneballers and base itself in the town of Morris.
| Competition | Year | Champ |
|---|---|---|
| League | 2011
2012 |
Chad Siemens
TBA |
| Playoffs | 2011 | Chad Siemens |
| Double Dash | 2011 | Brothers of Destruction (Alex Enns & Chad Enns) |
| Dual Annihilation | 2011 | Team A (Andrew Speight & Lorne Janzen) |
Major attractions
.JPG)
The Town of Morris holds a variety of annual events, which brings many visitors to the community each year. Each July, the Valley Agricultural Society hosts the Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition, known as the Big "M". For four days, thousands of spectators and participants from across North America come to watch the competition. The Fair and Exhibition offers something for everyone. One of the largest dairy shows in the province, light and heavy horse shows, school work and home-craft competitions, commercial and craft displays, Loule's famous petting zoo, midway rides, free family entertainment, indoor cabaret Friday and Saturday evening featuring top country bands, community Church service and the popular kids pedal tractorpull on Sunday. The Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition is the largest professional rodeo east of Calgary, Alberta. The Valley Agricultural Society, formed in 1895 was originally established as agriculture fair. This fair was combined with a professional rodeo in 1964 to become an annual event anticipated by many.
