Swan River, Manitoba
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Swan River, Manitoba, Canada.
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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 Northern Manitoba.
Situated on the river called Swan River (the name is believed to have come from the black swans that used to frequent the area). 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 explorer to see 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 1901 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 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.
Stats
Current population of 10,525 with apx 5000 more in the surrounding area. Total Farm Count 397. Acres Under Cultivation 293,286
Events
Swan River hosts the Swan Valley Stampede and Exhibition on the last weekend in July annually.
sources
Geographical Names of Manitoba 2000
