Beechy

The Beechy area was first settled by ranchers early in the 20th century, with Robert Cruikshank acknowledged as the first settler in the area.{{cite web|url=http://www.beechysask.ca/history.htm|title=History page on beechysask.ca|access-date=2007-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008220058/http://www.beechysask.ca/history.htm|archive-date=2007-10-08|url-status=dead}} Starting in the 1910s, the large-scale immigration of Europeans to the Canadian prairies resulted in an increase in population for Beechy as well, attracting settlers who started ranching and farming in the area, which remains Beechy's primary activity today.

In 1919 the Canadian National Railway surveyed the Beechy area and determined it to be an ideal place for a marketplace. Work on the railroad was begun; news of the future railroad stop attracted merchants. The train first arrived on December 21, 1921.

The growth in population brought other much-needed services to this rural community, the first grain elevator was constructed in 1922. Beechy incorporated as a village on May 11, 1925.{{cite web | url=http://municipal.gov.sk.ca/Municipal-History/Urban-Incorporated-Dates | title=Urban Municipality Incorporations | publisher=Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations | access-date=June 1, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015042810/http://municipal.gov.sk.ca/Municipal-History/Urban-Incorporated-Dates | archive-date=October 15, 2014}}

{{Weather box

|location = Beechy, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1926–present

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 12.8

|Feb record high C = 15.0

|Mar record high C = 24.0

|Apr record high C = 34.4

|May record high C = 36.5

|Jun record high C = 41.1

|Jul record high C = 42.8

|Aug record high C = 39.5

|Sep record high C = 37.8

|Oct record high C = 32.8

|Nov record high C = 25.5

|Dec record high C = 17.2

|year record high C = 42.8

|Jan high C = -7.0

|Feb high C = -4.1

|Mar high C = 2.5

|Apr high C = 12.3

|May high C = 18.5

|Jun high C = 22.8

|Jul high C = 26.4

|Aug high C = 25.9

|Sep high C = 19.4

|Oct high C = 11.6

|Nov high C = 1.1

|Dec high C = -5.1

|year high C = 10.4

|Jan mean C = -12.1

|Feb mean C = -9.2

|Mar mean C = -2.8

|Apr mean C = 5.5

|May mean C = 11.5

|Jun mean C = 16.2

|Jul mean C = 19.1

|Aug mean C = 18.4

|Sep mean C = 12.4

|Oct mean C = 5.3

|Nov mean C = -3.8

|Dec mean C = -10.2

|year mean C = 4.2

|Jan low C = -17.1

|Feb low C = -14.3

|Mar low C = -8.0

|Apr low C = -1.3

|May low C = 4.4

|Jun low C = 9.5

|Jul low C = 11.8

|Aug low C = 10.9

|Sep low C = 5.3

|Oct low C = -1.1

|Nov low C = -8.6

|Dec low C = -15.2

|year low C = -2.0

|Jan record low C = -46.7

|Feb record low C = -48.3

|Mar record low C = -41.1

|Apr record low C = -26.7

|May record low C = -14.5

|Jun record low C = -4.4

|Jul record low C = 0.0

|Aug record low C = -3.3

|Sep record low C = -17.8

|Oct record low C = -26.1

|Nov record low C = -33.5

|Dec record low C = -41.1

|year record low C = -48.3

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 14.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 8.5

|Mar precipitation mm = 16.6

|Apr precipitation mm = 17.5

|May precipitation mm = 46.2

|Jun precipitation mm = 73.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 61.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 40.6

|Sep precipitation mm = 33.8

|Oct precipitation mm = 18.2

|Nov precipitation mm = 13.3

|Dec precipitation mm = 14.1

|year precipitation mm = 358.4

|source 1 = Environment CanadaEnvironment Canada - Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=3071&autofwd=1 Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010], accessed 20 July 2016

|date=June 2016

}}

{{stack|

{{Historical populations

| title = Population history
(1981–2016)

| type = Canada

| align = right

| footnote = Source: Statistics Canada via Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics{{cite web | url=http://www.stats.gov.sk.ca/stats/population/SaskCensusPopulation8106.pdf | title=Saskatchewan Census Population | publisher=Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics | access-date=May 31, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105944/http://www.stats.gov.sk.ca/stats/population/SaskCensusPopulation8106.pdf | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | url=https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/86690/formats/100724/download | title=Saskatchewan Census Population | publisher=Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics | access-date=May 31, 2020}}

|1981|279

|1986|299

|1991|298

|1996|281

|2001|295

|2006|243

|2011|239

|2016|228

}}

}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Beechy had a population of {{val|209|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|103|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|112|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:209-228}}|228|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|228|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|1.09|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|209|1.09|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000247 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Saskatchewan | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=April 1, 2022}}

In the 2016 Census of Population, the Village of Beechy recorded a population of {{nts|228}} living in {{nts|116}} of its {{nts|147}} total private dwellings, a {{percentage|{{#expr:228-239}}|228|1}} change from its 2011 population of {{nts|239}}. With a land area of {{convert|1.06|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|228|1.06|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2016.{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=47 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Saskatchewan) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=May 30, 2020}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2024}}

One of the first baseball teams in the area was formed in Beechy in 1911. Baseball is still played in the village today by the Beechy Breakers.

Beechy's first organized hockey team played during the winter of 1935–1936. After World War II, those Beechy residents who served overseas, which included the entire hockey team, returned to Beechy and created the Beechy Bombers hockey team. The first skating rink was built in 1952.

The first agricultural fair was held in the area in 1922. The agricultural society was organized in 1936 and granted its charter in 1945. The first racetrack was built in 1948, and the following year the first harness races were held.

The community hall was built in 2000, replacing the much older Legion Hall which was demolished and replaced with a monument.

The biggest event in Beechy is the Beechy Western Days rodeo, first held in 1968.

The Sand Castles and Sunken Hill formations are {{convert|7.2|km}} south-west of Beechy, north of Lake Diefenbaker. The scenic giant Sand Castles were formed due to many years of wind and rain erosion. The Sunken Hill was formed from the sudden collapse of a subterranean natural gas pocket.{{Cite web |url=http://www.beechysask.ca/tourism.htm |title=Tourism |access-date=2015-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416080151/http://www.beechysask.ca/tourism.htm |archive-date=2015-04-16 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Unique Places to visit in Saskatchewan |url=https://www.todocanada.ca/unusual-places-visit-saskatchewan/ |publisher=To Do Canada |access-date=31 March 2024 |date=21 July 2023}} The formations, which are on private land, were closed to the public in 2019 due to "increasing visitation and associated risks".{{cite news |last1=Ruttle |first1=Derek |title=Beechy Sandcastles Closed to Public in 2019 |url=https://www.sasktoday.ca/central/in-the-community/beechy-sandcastles-closed-to-public-in-2019-4132480 |access-date=31 March 2024 |work=SaskToday.ca |publisher=Glacier Media |date=2 May 2019}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2024}}

Originally, Beechy's health services consisted of just one medical practitioner, and the "hospital" was based out of a private residence, with extra rooms built on for wards. This hospital was used until 1966, when the Beechy Union Hospital was opened. In 1991, the Beechy Union Hospital was closed by the provincial government and the building now serves as a clinic.

{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2024}}

Schoolchildren in the RM of Victory No. 226 are bussed to Beechy for their education.

• Elwin Hermanson - politician; represented Beechy on the federal level as the Member of Parliament for Kindersley—Lloydminster; Reform Party House Leader; then represented the area provincially, becoming the first leader of the Saskatchewan Party and Leader of the Opposition until 2003 when he relinquished the leadership
• Herbert J. Swan - politician; former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

• List of communities in Saskatchewan
• List of villages in Saskatchewan

{{Reflist}}

• {{official|http://www.beechysask.ca}}

{{Subdivisions of Saskatchewan|villages=yes}}

{{SKDivision7}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Villages in Saskatchewan

Category:Victory No. 226, Saskatchewan

Category:Division No. 7, Saskatchewan

{{coord|50|53|00|N|107|23|00|W|region:CA-SK_type:city|display=title}}