Gourt Home::Gourt :: Swan River, Manitoba
Swan River is a community in Manitoba, Canada.
History
Located in a valley between the Duck Mountains and the Porcupine Mountains, the town of Swan River is close to the Saskatchewan border 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 band of the North West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the RCMP, made it's 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. Winnipeg Free Press, Tuesday, May 24, 2005.
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 support industries for farming. Almost fifty percent of the surrounding area is under cultivation, most of which is seeded to 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 implements, etc), forestry, manufacturing and tourism.
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.
Stats
Current population of the townsite according to Stats Canadais 4,032, and 2,923 people live in the rural municipality of Swan River.
Events
Swan River hosts the Northwest Round-up and Exhibition on the last weekend in July annually.
Sources
- Geographical Names of Manitoba 2000
- *
External links
"Swan River, Manitoba"