North Battleford

File:Library Clock as Seen from Central Park.jpg

For thousands of years prior to European settlement, succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples lived in the area. The Battlefords area (including the present city of North Battleford and town of Battleford) was home to several historic indigenous groups, including the Algonquian-speaking Cree and Blackfeet as well as Siouan Assiniboine First Nation band governments, who contested for control of local resources.

Early European settlement began as a result of fur trading by French colonists in the late 18th century. The Canadians founded Fort Montaigne d'Aigle (Eagle Hills Fort) {{Cite web|url=http://www.enhaut.ca/voor1/voorhis.html#f367|title=Historic Forts of the French Regime and of the English Fur Trading Companies|last=Voorhis|first=Ernest|date=1930|website=Historic Forts of the French Regime and of the English Fur Trading Companies|publisher=Govt. of Canada|access-date=2016-04-27}} nine miles below the confluence of the Saskatchewan and Battle Rivers in 1778.{{Cite web |url=http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/archives/4thedition/historical/079_80?maxwidth=1200&maxheight=1000&mode=navigator&upperleftx=0&upperlefty=0&lowerrightx=2534&lowerrighty=2116&mag=0.5 |title=atlas.nrcan.gc.ca |access-date=2010-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003075506/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/archives/4thedition/historical/079_80?maxwidth=1200&maxheight=1000&mode=navigator&upperleftx=0&upperlefty=0&lowerrightx=2534&lowerrighty=2116&mag=0.5 |archive-date=2012-10-03 |url-status=dead }} A year later the fort was abandoned following conflict between traders and natives.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Permanent European settlement in the area centred around the town of Battleford, founded 1875 and located on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. Battleford served as capital of the North-West Territories between 1876 and 1883.{{Cite web |url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/battleford.html |title=esask.uregina.ca |access-date=2010-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231110719/http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/battleford.html |archive-date=2007-12-31 |url-status=dead }}

In 1905, the construction of the Canadian Northern Railway main line to Edmonton placed the line on the north side of the North Saskatchewan River. North Battleford, built along the railway line, was incorporated as a village in 1906, as a town in 1907, and as a city (with a population of 5,000) in 1913.{{Cite web |url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/north_battleford_city_of.html |title=esask.uregina.ca |access-date=2010-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920233750/http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/north_battleford_city_of.html |archive-date=2012-09-20 |url-status=dead }}

The Assyrians were one of the first settlers of the area in and around North Battleford. The immigrant colony comprised 36 men and a few women from the town of Urmia in northwestern Persia. It was established in 1903 by Dr. Isaac Adams, an Assyrian Presbyterian missionary. In 1907, 40 more settlers arrived. Eventually, due to economic hardships, Dr. Isaac Adams and a few close relatives emigrated to Turlock, California. The descendants of the families who remained in North Battleford have names that are Assyrian in origin. Examples of Assyrian family names include Bakus, Essau, George and Odishaw.{{cite web|last1=Ishaya|first1=Arian|title=Migration and Settlement|url=http://www.multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/a24/2|website=Multicultural Canada|access-date=14 September 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140914224849/http://www.multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/a24/2|archive-date=14 September 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Higgs|first1=Jennifer|title=Presby-assyrians|url=http://presbyterianrecord.ca/2008/01/01/presby-assyrians/|website=Presbyterian Record|access-date=15 September 2014}}

Population growth stagnated until the 1940s and then grew to approximately 10,000 by the 1960s.

The city has grown into an administrative centre and service hub for the economic, education, health and social needs of the region.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

North Battleford used STV-PR in its city elections from 1920 to 1924.Bowler and Grofman, Elections in Australia, Ireland and Malta, p. 206

The Latter Rain Revival, a Christian movement, started here in 1946–48.[http://www.christianity-guide.com/christianity/latter_rain_movement.htm christianity-guide.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007023207/http://www.christianity-guide.com/christianity/latter_rain_movement.htm |date=2008-10-07 }}

{{See also| List of historic places in Battleford}}

A number of heritage buildings are located within the city. The North Battleford Public Library was built in 1916 with a $15,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation of New York.{{cite web

| title =North Battleford Public Library

| url =http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=1991&pid=0

| access-date =2013-12-07}} and the Canadian National Railways Station was built in 1956.{{cite web

| title =Canadian National Railways Station

| url =http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=4582&pid=0

| access-date =2013-12-07}}

North Battleford is situated immediately north of the mouth of the Battle River along the North Saskatchewan River. It borders the Rural Municipality of North Battleford No. 437, as well as the North Battleford Crown Colony (census subdivision).[http://geodepot.statcan.ca/GeoSearch2006/GeoSearch2006.jsp?resolution=H&lang=E&otherLang=F&census=Yes&DisplayData=Yes&NewImage=yes&layer=csd&IdentName=North%20Battleford%20(CN)&IdentUID=4716027 geodepot.statcan.ca]

North Battleford experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). The average high during the end of July is {{convert|24.6|C|1}} and the average low is {{convert|11.3|C|1}}.{{cite web|url=http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/almanac_e.html?txtStationName=north%20battleford&searchMethod=contains&month=7&day=31&timeframe=4&period=30&startRow=1&StationID=3244|title=Climate Data Almanac for July 31 |date=31 October 2011 |publisher=Environment Canada|access-date=October 20, 2012}} For the middle of January the average high is {{convert|-12.3|C|1}} and the average low is {{convert|-22.6|C|1}}.{{cite web|url=http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/almanac_e.html?txtStationName=north+battleford&searchMethod=contains&month=1&day=10&timeframe=4&period=30&startRow=1&StationID=3244&month=1&day=10|title=Climate Data Almanac for January 10 |date=31 October 2011 |publisher=Environment Canada|access-date=October 20, 2012}}

The highest temperature ever recorded in North Battleford was {{convert|39.5|C|1}} on 13 July 2002. The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-51.7|C|0}} on 1 February 1893 and 12 January 1916.

{{North Battleford weatherbox}}

{{wide image|North Battleford Panorama from King Hill.jpg|1000px|View of North Battleford from King Hill showing the Yellowhead Highway leading to Battleford.}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, North Battleford had a population of {{val|13836|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|5696|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|6346|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:13836-14315}}|14315|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|14315|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|33.55|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|13836|33.55|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.

{{canada_census

|location = North Battleford

|2021_population=13,836 | 2021_pop_delta=-3.3 | 2021_land_area=33.55 | 2021_pop_density=412.4

|2021_median_age=38.4 | 2021_median_age_m=36.8 | 2021_median_age_f=39.2

|2021_total_pvt_dwell=6,346 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=5,696 |2021_mean_hh_income=74,000 |2021_geocode=2021A00054716029 | 2021_access_date=2022-04-27

|2016_population=14,315 | 2016_pop_delta=+3.1 | 2016_land_area=33.55 | 2016_pop_density=426.7

|2016_median_age=37.4 | 2016_median_age_m=36.2 | 2016_median_age_f=38.5

|2016_total_pvt_dwell=6,413 |2016_occ_pvt_dwell=5,896 | 2016_mean_hh_income=62,391 | 2016_access_date=2025-02-07

|2011_population=13,888

|2011_pop_delta=+5.3

|2011_land_area=33.55

|2011_pop_density=414.0

|2011_pop_rank=

|2011_median_age=36.9

|2011_median_age_m=35.5

|2011_median_age_f=38.3

|2011_total_pvt_dwell=6,195

|2011_total_pvt_dwell_usual=5,768

|2011_mean_hh_income=

|2011_access_date=2014-07-25

|2006_population=13,190

|2006_pop_delta=-3.7

|2006_land_area=33.55

|2006_pop_density=393.2

|2006_pop_rank=

|2006_median_age=37.6

|2006_median_age_m=35.8

|2006_median_age_f=39.2

|2006_total_pvt_dwell=5,943

|2006_total_pvt_dwell_usual=5,520

|2006_mean_hh_income=

|2006_access_date=2014-07-25

|2001_population=13,692

|2001_pop_delta=-2.6

|2001_land_area=33.51

|2001_pop_density=408.6

|2001_pop_rank=

|2001_median_age=36.5

|2001_median_age_m=34.9

|2001_median_age_f=37.8

|2001_total_pvt_dwell=5,976

|2001_total_pvt_dwell_usual=

|2001_mean_hh_income=

|2001_access_date=2014-07-25

}}

{{Historical populations

| title = {{Nowrap|Historical census populations –}} North Battleford

| type = Canada

| align = none

| cols = 3

| percentages =

| footnote =

| source = Statistics Canada

|1911|2,105

|1921|4,108

|1931|5,986

|1941|4,694

|1951|7,473

|1961|11,230

|1971|12,698

|1981|14,030

|1991|14,350

|2001|13,692

|2006|13,190

|2011|13,888

|2016|14,315

|2021|13,836

}}

In the late 2000s many Ruthenians have emigrated to Canada, concentrating in North Battleford. Most of them came from the same town: Ruski Krstur.{{cite web

|url = http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=d47b16e5-aad7-4796-b376-91532517cc3d

|title = Battlefords ride immigration wave

|work = The StarPhoenix

|publisher = CanWest

|date = April 28, 2008

|access-date = 2010-07-12}}

In 2018, Maclean's ranked North Battleford as Canada's most dangerous place for overall crime.{{cite news |title=Canada's Most Dangerous Places 2018 |url=https://www.macleans.ca/canadas-most-dangerous-places/ |access-date=15 July 2018 |work=Maclean's}} The prior year, Maclean's published an article about this, Canada's most dangerous place, North Battleford, is fighting for its future, discussing the safety initiatives planned by the community.{{cite web| url = http://www.macleans.ca/society/north-battleford-canadas-most-dangerous-place-is-fighting-for-its-future/| title = Canada's most dangerous place, North Battleford, is fighting for its future - Macleans.ca}}

After the article was published, Mayor Ryan Bater said:

The reality is we require the provincial and federal levels of government to take notice of this and align their efforts with ours. This needs to be a partnership. This can't be something the governments do in silos and we need to be working together. If we can do that, then sometime in the future we can see some great results.{{Cite web|url=http://battlefordsnow.com/article/586628/nb-reacts-article-calling-city-most-dangerous-canada|title=Officials react to article calling North Battleford 'Canada's most dangerous city'}}

City Manager Jim Puffalt added that the per person index may not be accurate because the population data does not consider the numerous transients, estimated at just over 14,000. In his view, the city has roughly 30,000 people at any time. "If you put our rates over 30,000 people we wouldn't be number one [in the Maclean's study]," he said.

In 2023, the City of North Battleford earned its highest position on the Crime Severity Index (CSI) since 1998,{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2013-07-29 |title=Crime severity index and weighted clearance rates, police services in Saskatchewan |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3510006101 |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=www150.statcan.gc.ca}} with the city challenging the dubious 'Crime Town' moniker.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-28 |title=Battlefords RCMP and city challenge accuracy of 'Crime Town' label |url=https://www.sasktoday.ca/crime-cops-court/battlefords-rcmp-and-city-challenge-accuracy-of-crime-town-label-7336465 |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=SaskToday.ca |language=en}}

File:North Battleford City Hall.jpg

North Battleford is represented in the provincial Legislative Assembly by the member for The Battlefords.

It is represented in the House of Commons by the member for Battlefords-Lloydminster.

File:North Battleford SK - grain elevator.jpg

North Battleford is the home of one of four branches of the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum. This branch focuses on the agricultural history of Saskatchewan, including a pioneer village.{{cite web|url=http://www.wdm.ca/nb.html |title=Western Development Museum - North Battleford |publisher=Wdm.ca |access-date=2013-08-13}} A prominent feature is the former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool grain elevator No. 889 from Keatley, Saskatchewan. The grain elevator was moved to the museum grounds in 1983.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsoptimist.ca/wdm-s-iconic-elevator-needs-help-1.1578931|title=WDM's iconic elevator needs help|author=Leslee Newman, WDM Curatorial Centre|work=Battlefords News-Optimist|access-date=31 December 2014}}

The city also has the Allen Sapp Gallery, featuring the noted Cree painter.

File:North Battleford Civic Centre.jpg

The North Battleford Access Communications Centre,{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Angela|title=City approves Access Communications' proposal for naming rights to North Battleford Civic Centre|url=https://battlefordsnow.com/2020/09/29/city-approves-access-communications-proposal-for-naming-rights-to-north-battleford-civic-centre/|access-date=2021-07-26|website=battlefordsNOW|language=en}} a 2,500-seat multi-purpose arena, is home to the Battlefords North Stars ice hockey team of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.{{cite web

| title = North Battleford Civic Centre

| url =http://www.nbleisure.com/indoorfac/arenas.html

| access-date =2014-03-08}}

It is also home to the North Battleford Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo, held annually in April.

The InnovationPlex (formerly North Battleford CUplex),{{cite web

| title =NEWS RELEASE - MAY 24, 2013 (NORTH BATTLEFORD CELEBRATES NEW COMPLEX)

| url =http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=730fd851-52dd-426f-bb44-0500b39bbf72

| access-date =2014-03-08}}{{cite web

| title =Barr-Ryder Architecture (The Credit Union Cuplex)

| url =http://www.barr-ryder.com/cuplex.html

| access-date =2014-03-08}} which opened in 2013, includes the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts,{{cite web

| title =Dekker Centre for the performing arts (The Credit Union Cuplex)

| url =http://www.dekkercentre.com/

| access-date =2014-03-08}} the Northland Power Curling Centre,{{cite web

| title =The Battlefords News-Optimist (Northland Power Curling Centre officially open by John Cairns)

| url =http://www.newsoptimist.ca/article/20121030/BATTLEFORD0101/310309999/-1/battleford/northland-power-curling-centre-officially-open

| access-date =2014-03-08}} the NationsWest Field House,{{cite web

| title =The Battlefords News-Optimist (NationsWEST Field House now open by John Cairns)

| url =http://www.newsoptimist.ca/article/20130306/BATTLEFORD0101/303069988/-1/BATTLEFORD/nationswest-field-house-now-open

| access-date =2014-03-08}} and the Battlefords CO-OP Aquatic Centre.{{cite web

| title =Barr-Ryder Architecture (BATTLEFORDS CO-OP AQUATIC CENTRE)

| url =http://www.barr-ryder.com/battlefords-co-op-aquatic-centre.html

| access-date =2014-03-08}}

In 2001, a problem with the city's water system led to the infection of approximately 6,280 people with cryptosporidiosis; a lawsuit seeking several million dollars in damages was filed in 2003.{{cite journal

|url = http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/01vol27/dr2722ea.html

|title = Waterborn cryptosporidosis outbreak, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Spring 2001

|journal = Canada Communicable Disease Report

|publisher = Public Health Agency of Canada

|volume = 27-22

|date = November 15, 2001

|access-date = 2010-11-01}} Between 5,800 and 7,100 people suffered from diarrheal illness, and 1,907 cases of cryptosporidiosis were confirmed. Equipment failures at the city's antiquated water filtration plant following maintenance were found to have caused the outbreak.{{cite web

|title = WATERBORNE CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS OUTBREAK, NORTH BATTLEFORD, SASKATCHEWAN, SPRING 2001

|url = http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/01pdf/cdr2722.pdf

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050507162525/http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/01pdf/cdr2722.pdf

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 2005-05-07

|access-date = 2014-03-08

}} The provincial and municipal government offered compensation to victims{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/north-battleford-water-compensation-1.4086444 |title=Province, city to compensate North Battleford, Sask., tainted water victims |publisher=CBC News |date=2017-04-26 |access-date=2017-04-26}} after the lawsuit was approved in 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/north-battleford-water-class-action-1.4069627 |title=Class action approved for North Battleford tainted water victims |publisher=CBC News |date=2017-04-13 |access-date=2017-04-26}}

The North Battleford Energy Centre, a natural gas-fired power station owned by Northland Power, has been operational since 2013.

North Battleford is served by the North Battleford Airport, while the North Battleford/Hamlin Airport is no longer in use. The city also recently added a public transit system, in addition to the book-as-needed "Handi-bus" for people with disabilities.

BattlefordsNOW.com is an online local news site focusing on what's happening "right NOW" in the Battlefords and surrounding area.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

The local newspaper is the Battlefords' News-Optimist.[http://www.newsoptimist.ca/ Battlefords' News Optimist] It is published weekly on Thursdays and has circulation in the surrounding area.

Feed The Artist Magazine[https://archive.today/20130410030535/http://www.feedtheartist.ca/ Feed The Artist Magazine] is a local non-profit periodical print and online publication that features the work of primarily local artists, photographers, and writers.

Three local radio stations serve the area: CJNB, CJCQ-FM ("Q98"), and CJHD-FM ("93.3 Beach Radio{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=battlefordsNOW |title=CJHD transitions to endless summers as 93.3 BEACH RADIO |url=https://battlefordsnow.com/2023/05/19/cjhd-transitions-to-endless-summers-as-93-3-beach-radio/ |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=battlefordsNOW |language=en}}"). Some Saskatoon radio stations can also be received.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

The Battlefords were served by CFQC-TV-2 channel 6, an analogue repeater of CTV station CFQC-DT Saskatoon. That repeater ended all analog broadcasting transmissions in 2021, and there are no plans for converting it to digital television.{{Cite web|url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2019/2019-268.htm|title=CRTC Decision 2019-268|date=July 30, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/local-news/no-more-analog-signal-for-ctv-saskatoon-in-nb-1.24292324|title = No more analog signal for CTV Saskatoon in NB}}

{{div col}}

• Andrew Albers: baseball player
• Lloyd Axworthy: Canadian politician and spokesman
• Wade Belak: former NHL player
• Colby Cave: former NHL player
• Perry J. Dahl: United States Air Force colonel and a World War II flying ace
• Ron Delorme: former NHL player
• Deidra Dionne: Canadian freestyle skier, Olympic medalist
• Lillian Dyck: Neuroscientist, Canadian senator
• Johnny Esaw: former sports' broadcaster, former vice-president of CTV Sports
• Bob Francis: former NHL player, NHL coach
• Emile Francis: former NHL player, coach, and general manager
• Ray Hare: former NFL running back
• Bruce Hoffort: former NHL Goaltender
• Dale Hoganson: former NHL player
• Bill Hunter: hockey coach, owner, and general manager; founder of the Western Hockey League
• Carole James: politician, former leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party, Deputy Premier of British Columbia
• Dave King: NHL coach
• Skip Krake: former NHL centre
• Jody Lehman: former EIHL goalie
• Bernie Lukowich: former NHL player
• Alistair MacLeod: author
• Merlin Malinowski: former NHL right winger
• Rueben Mayes: former NFL player
• Joni Mitchell: musician, artist
• Nancy Nash: Singer and Performer
• Lee Richardson: Canadian politician
• Allen Sapp: Canadian Cree painter
• Corey Schwab: former NHL goalie
• Gregg Sheppard: former NHL forward
• Fiona Lesley Smith: Member of the Canada women's national ice hockey team
• Herbert Sparrow: former Canadian senator
• Len Taylor: former Saskatchewan cabinet minister and federal MP
• Al Tuer: former NHL defenceman
• Jesse Wallin: former NHL defenceman, WJC Gold Medallist, WHL GM/Head Coach
• W. Brett Wilson: Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

{{div col end}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|North Battleford}}

• {{Official website|http://www.cityofnb.ca/}}

{{Geographic location

|North=North Battleford No. 437

|West=North Battleford No. 437

|Center=North Battleford

|East=North Battleford No. 437

|South=Battleford / North Battleford Crown Colony / Battle River No. 438

}}

{{Subdivisions of Saskatchewan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Saskatchewan

Category:Pannonian Rusyns

Category:Rusyn diaspora in Canada

Category:Serbian-Canadian culture

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