Humboldt is a city in the province of
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...
, Canada. It is located 113 km east of
Saskatoon
Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Hig ...
at the junction of
Highway 5 and
Highway 20
Route 20, or Highway 20, may refer to:
International
* European route E20
Australia
* Sturt Highway (NSW/VIC/SA)
* Yarra Bank Highway
Brazil
* BR-020
Canada
* Alberta Highway 20
* British Columbia Highway 20
* Manitoba Highway 20
* New ...
. The city is surrounded by the
Rural Municipality of Humboldt No. 370.
History
Named after German explorer
Alexander von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt (14 September 17696 May 1859) was a German polymath, geographer, naturalist, explorer, and proponent of Romantic philosophy and science. He was the younger brother of the Prussian minister ...
, Humboldt began as a telegraph station located on the
Carlton Trail, a wagon route used in the early days of
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces, Canadian West or the Western provinces of Canada, and commonly known within Canada as the West, is a Canadian region that includes the four western provinces just north of the Canada� ...
as a route from
Fort Garry (Winnipeg) to
Fort Edmonton. The name "Humboldt" was approved in 1875 for a 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
The Métis ( ; Canadian ) are Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples who inhabit Canada's three Canadian Prairies, Prairie Provinces, as well as parts of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and the Northern United State ...
uprising led by
Louis Riel taking place at
Batoche Batoche may refer to:
*Batoche, Saskatchewan, a historic site in Saskatchewan
*Batoche (electoral district), an electoral district in Saskatchewan
* Batoche (former electoral district), a former electoral district in Saskatchewan
*Batoche (N.W.T. el ...
just 100 km northwest, Humboldt became the only communication link between Prime Minister
John A. Macdonald and his forces in the West, thus a site of strategic significance. General
Frederick Middleton
General Sir Frederick Dobson Middleton (4 November 1825 – 25 January 1898) was a British general noted for his service throughout the Empire and particularly in the North-West Rebellion in Canada.
Imperial Military career
Educated at Mai ...
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, converting 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 stagecoach robbery in Western Canada. Parts of the Carlton Trail in the form of wagon tracks/ruts still exist in the Humboldt area.
Humboldt in its beginnings was primarily
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
. It became the largest settlement in the
Territorial Abbey of Saint Peter-Muenster also called St. Peter's Colony established by
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
monks from St John's Abbey in
Collegeville,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...
. Immigration to the area from both the
Northern Plains states of the US and Germany was promoted by the German American Land Company. Many immigrants from the
German Empire
The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...
settled in areas in and around Humboldt such as
Muenster,
Fulda,
Pilger,
St Gregor and
Englefeld. Immigrants from the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War ...
who were
ethnic Germans
, native_name_lang = de
, region1 =
, pop1 = 72,650,269
, region2 =
, pop2 = 534,000
, region3 =
, pop3 = 157,000
3,322,405
, region4 =
, pop4 = ...
settled in the area west of Humboldt and south of the hamlet of
Carmel.
After being established as a community, Humboldt became an important location in Saskatchewan previously known as the "Heart of the Sure Crop District" for its reliable growing weather, which led the town to become a centre for farming equipment and supply businesses.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash
On April 6, 2018, the
Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team was involved in a
serious bus crash. The bus was carrying the team to a playoff game in
Nipawin, Saskatchewan
Nipawin () is a town in Saskatchewan, Canada, on the Saskatchewan River portion of Tobin Lake. The town lies between Codette Lake, created by the Francois-Finlay Dam (built in 1986) and Tobin Lake, created by the E.B. Campbell Dam built in ...
, when it collided with a tractor trailer loaded with peat moss at an intersection known as Armley Corner, near Nipawin. Sixteen of the 30 people on board the bus died — the driver, the general manager/head coach, the assistant coach, a radio commentator, a volunteer, the club's female trainer, and 10 players between the ages of 16 and 21. Fourteen players were injured, several of them seriously. News of the crash received significant national and international media coverage, and numerous dignitaries and politicians sent their condolences to the team and city. Two days after the crash, a vigil was held at the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt, which was attended by over 5,000 people and televised nationally. Attendees included Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau ( , ; born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who is the 23rd and current prime minister of Canada. He has served as the prime minister of Canada since 2015 and as the leader of the Liberal Party since ...
, the
Premier of Saskatchewan, and popular Canadian sports personalities
Don Cherry and
Ron MacLean. Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench called the tragedy a "truly dark moment" for the city.
Climate
Humboldt experiences a
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freez ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, nota ...
''Dfb'')
featuring long, cold winters and brief, warm summers. The region falls into the USDA
Plant Hardiness Zone 3a.
It is a great distance from any large bodies of water, and thus lacks any moderating influences on its climate. The latitudinal difference of Saskatchewan can typically explain a 6–8 °C difference mean in annual temperatures across the province.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Humboldt was on 19 July 1941.
Environment Canada
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC; french: Environnement et Changement climatique Canada),Environment and Climate Change Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of the Environment ...
br>
accessed 11 July 2016 The coldest temperature ever recorded was on 12 January 1916.
Environment Canada
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC; french: Environnement et Changement climatique Canada),Environment and Climate Change Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of the Environment ...
br>
/ref>
Demographics
In the 2021 Canadian census, 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada (StatCan; french: Statistique Canada), formed in 1971, is the agency of the Government of Canada commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and cultu ...
, Humboldt had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
Economy
About 95% of all goods produced in the province directly depend on its basic resources (grains, livestock, oil and gas, potash, uranium and timber) and their refined products.
Wheat, canola, flax, peas, rye, lentils, canary seed and barley are mainly grown in the area. Beef cattle production, pork production – as well as other livestock – are significant for the community. With many farmers in the area, agricultural-related businesses were formed. Some services offered are in trucking and financial management, finance, business services, wholesale trade, transportation, etc. Humboldt is in the heart of potash country with many people employed in the mines near the city. The manufacturing community represented in the "Iron Triangle" also employs a large number of people in the city and surrounding district.
Attractions
Humboldt has a number of heritage buildings listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. They include the Canadian National Railways ( Canadian Northern Railway) Station (built in 1905), a Post Office (built in 1911–1912), the Humboldt Provincial Court House (built in 1914–1920). and the Humboldt Water Tower (built in 1914) has been renovated with a spiral staircase and a circular observation platform on top.
The Humboldt Post Office is a National Historic Site of Canada (built in 1911–1912). It houses the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery. Across the street is the Humboldt and District Art Gallery in the old Merchant Bank Building.
Marysburg Assumption Church is located 16 km (10 miles) north of Humboldt.
Mount Carmel Shrine is located 23 km (14 miles) west and St. Peter's Abbey and St. Peter's Cathedral are 10 km (6 miles) east of the city in Muenster.
The Humboldt Murals located in the town centre depict historic scenes.
Festivals
*The Summer Sizzler is held in late-June of each year. The event features a midway, demolition derby, cabaret, slo-pitch tournament, tractor pull, Sizzler Strut Marathon and live on-stage entertainment. On the opening day, there is a parade through downtown and a pancake breakfast at Centennial Park.
*Canada Day celebrations occur every year on July 1 concluding with fireworks at Water Ridge Park.
*The Humboldt StreetFest is held in mid-August and is organized by the Humboldt Downtown Business Improvement District.
Sports and recreation
Humboldt is home to over 30 acres of parks and open spaces as well as a growing pedestrian trails and pathways system.
There are eleven parks around the city, including: A.E. Kilcher Park, Bill Brecht Memorial Park, Carl Schenn Recreational Park, Centennial Park, Civic Park, Glenn Hall Park, Peace Park, St. Augustine School Grounds, St. Dominic School Grounds, Water Ridge Park, St. Elizabeth Park and Wilf Chamney Park.
Situated west of Humboldt along Highway 5 and two miles (3 km) south is the Kloppenburg Wildlife Refuge. It consists of which have never been cultivated.
The Uniplex is Humboldt's recreational facility featuring a curling rink, an indoor aquatic center, a fitness center and a convention center. The Elgar Petersen Arena, part of the Uniplex, is a 1,900-seat arena, home to the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, two-time National Champions and 10-time SJHL Champions, as well as Humboldt's minor hockey teams and club skating club. Also on the Uniplex grounds is Centennial Park with ball diamonds, a skateboard park and a soccer/football field.
An 18-hole golf course is located next to Water Ridge Park, which includes walking trails, a spray park and gazebo and the Humboldt Historical Park, mini golf and campground.
St. Elizabeth Park features Humboldt's nine-hole disc golf course.
Churches
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.
Education
Humboldt has three elementary schools: two Catholic (St. Augustine and St. Dominic) and one public (Humboldt Public School).
It has one public high school, Humboldt Collegiate Institute. It is co-managed by Horizon School Division No. 205 and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. Th
Humboldt Collegiate Institute
has senior and junior volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Sum ...
teams (boys' and girls'), senior and junior basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
teams (boys' and girls'), soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
(boys' and girls'), badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players p ...
, golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping wi ...
, cross-country, track & field
Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping eve ...
and a nine-man football program known as HCI Mohawks. The Mohawks won provincial championships in 1975, 1996, 1997, 2008 and 2010.
Carlton Trail Regional College has its headquarters in Humboldt.
Infrastructure
Transportation
The city is served by Highway 5 and Highway 20
Route 20, or Highway 20, may refer to:
International
* European route E20
Australia
* Sturt Highway (NSW/VIC/SA)
* Yarra Bank Highway
Brazil
* BR-020
Canada
* Alberta Highway 20
* British Columbia Highway 20
* Manitoba Highway 20
* New ...
.
Humboldt Airport
Humboldt Airport is located south of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada.
See also
* List of airports in Saskatchewan
References
Registered aerodromes in Saskatchewan
Humboldt No. 370, Saskatchewan
Humboldt, Saskatchewan
{{S ...
, (TC LID: CJU4), is located 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) south of the city.
Humboldt is serviced by CN Rail and is home to a number of rail workers.
Health care
Humboldt District Health Complex is home to the Humboldt Hospital and Community Health Services. Humboldt has two medical clinics and four pharmacies in addition to local dental, chiropractic, home care, optometry, physiotherapy as well as health and wellness services.
Government
Humboldt City Council
The Humboldt City Council is the municipal governing body for the city. The council consists of the mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
and six councillor
A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries.
Canada
Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...
s. The current council sits between 2020 and 2024. The last civic election was held on November 9, 2020. Historically, the mayor and councillors were elected to three-year terms; however, the terms have increased to four years. Michael Behiel was elected as Mayor in 2020, after serving as Councillor from 2016-2020. Rob Muench was elected for his first term as Mayor in the 2016 election, and had previously been on City Council for 10 years as Councilor. In 2020, he was elected as Councillor.
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The City of Humboldt is the largest centre in the provincial electoral district of Humboldt-Watrous. Donna Harpauer
Donna Harpauer is a Canadian provincial politician. She was the Saskatchewan Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the constituency of Humboldt and won the seat for the new riding of Humboldt-Watrous in the 2020 election ...
of the Saskatchewan Party is the current MLA for the riding.
Member of Parliament
The City of Humboldt is currently within the federal electoral district of Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek
Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek (french: Sentier Carlton—Eagle Creek) is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan. It encompasses a portion of Saskatchewan formerly included in the electoral districts of Saskatoon—Humboldt, Saskatoon—Rose ...
which is represented by Kelly Block
Kelly Block (born November 30, 1961) is a Canadian politician representing the electoral district of Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek since 2015. She was first elected in the 2008 Canadian federal election to serve as the Member of Parliament for th ...
of the Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada (french: Parti conservateur du Canada), colloquially known as the Tories, is a federal political party in Canada. It was formed in 2003 by the merger of the two main right-leaning parties, the Progressive Co ...
.
Notable people
Notable people who were born, grew up in or established their fame in Humboldt:
* Kelly Bates, former CFL guard
Guard or guards may refer to:
Professional occupations
* Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault
* Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street
* Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning
* Prison gu ...
, former head coach with the Simon Fraser Clan (2015-2017), and current offensive line coach with the BC Lions
* Al Duerr, former mayor of Calgary
Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, maki ...
, Alberta
* William Dutton, 2014 Olympian 500m and 1000m long-track speed skater
Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in travelling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating. ...
*
* Jillian Gallays, wrestler
* Glenn Hall
Glenn Henry Hall (born October 3, 1931) (aka Gunner Hall) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. During his National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, and St. Louis Blues, Hall seldom missed ...
, former professional ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice ...
goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as the goalie) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays in or near ...
. Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
champion and Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame (french: Temple de la renommée du hockey) is a museum and hall of fame located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League (NHL) rec ...
inductee
* Lylian Klimek, sculptor
* Otto Lang
:''see also Otto Lang (film producer) and Otto Lang (actor)''
Otto Emil Lang, (born May 14, 1932) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician.
Life and career
Lang was born in Handel, Saskatchewan. In 1961, he was appointed Dean of Law at the ...
, Rhodes Scholar, law school dean, Federal Cabinet Minister, and executive
* Brad Lauer
Brad R. Lauer (born October 27, 1966) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player. He is currently an associate coach of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Lauer previously served as the head coach ...
, former NHL forward and current assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division, and play their home games at Honda Center ...
* Ross Lonsberry
David Ross Lonsberry (February 7, 1947 – May 4, 2014) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Pen ...
, professional ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice ...
player, two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...
* Rusty Malinoski
Rusty Malinoski, known as Bone crusher, is a Canadian professional wakeboarder who was the first athlete to successfully land a 1080° in a wakeboard competition.
While Parks Bonifay and Danny Harf had both been recorded landing 1080s b ...
, professional wakeboarder
* Kyle McLaren
Kyle Edgar McLaren (born June 18, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks.
Playing career
McLaren was drafted by the Bosto ...
, former NHL defenceman
Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the latter a reference t ...
* Nathan Paetsch
Nathan Paetsch (born March 30, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Playing career
Paetsch was originally drafted in th ...
, former NHL defenceman
Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the latter a reference t ...
* Lyndon Rush
Lyndon Rush (born November 24, 1980) is a Canadian retired bobsledder who has competed since 2004. Rush took up bobsleigh after spending five years playing Canadian football for the University of Saskatchewan. He initially trained as a brakeman b ...
, 2010 Olympian bronze medal in four-man bobsleigh and 2014 Olympian Canadian bobsledder
* David Schmidtz
David Schmidtz (; born 1955) is a Canadian-American philosopher. He is Presidential Chair of Moral Science at West Virginia University's Chambers College of Business and Economics. He is also editor-in-chief of the journal ''Social Philosophy & ...
, political philosopher
* Brianne Theisen-Eaton
Brianne Theisen-Eaton (born 18 December 1988) is a Canadian retired track and field athlete who competed in the heptathlon and women's pentathlon. She won the bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Theisen-Eaton holds the Canadian record for ...
, 2012 and 2016 Olympian, heptathlete and Canadian record-holder in the women's pentathlon, 2016 Olympic bronze medallist (heptathlon)
* Dustin Tokarski
Dustin Michael Tokarski (born September 16, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins of th ...
, NHL Goaltender
* Brendan Witt, former NHL defenceman
Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the latter a reference t ...
* Jeremy Wotherspoon, speed skater
Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in travelling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating. ...
with 67 World Cup wins
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Cities in Saskatchewan
Division No. 15, Saskatchewan