Russell, Manitoba

Russell is an unincorporated urban community in the Municipality of Russell – Binscarth within the Canadian province of Manitoba that held town status prior to January 1, 2015 when it and the nearby Village of Binscarth amalgamated with the Rural Municipality of Russell. It is located along PTH 16 and PTH 83, and is at the western terminus of PTH 45. Russell is approximately 15 km (9 mi) east of the Saskatchewan border and 340 km (211 mi) northwest of Winnipeg. The community is home to 1,611 people (2011 census).

This article is about the community in western Manitoba, Canada. For the municipality, see Municipality of Russell – Binscarth. For the former municipality, see Rural Municipality of Russell.
Russell
A view of the arches spanning Main Street in Russell, Manitoba.
Nickname(s): 
Manitoba's ski town[1]
Russell
Location of Russell in Manitoba
Coordinates: 50°46′51″N 101°17′02″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceManitoba
RegionParkland
Established1880
Government
 • MLA (Riding Mountain)Greg Nesbitt (PC)
 • MP (Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette)Robert Sopuck (CPC)
Area
 • Total1.51 km2 (0.58 sq mi)
Elevation
556 m (1,823 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total1,395[2]
 • Density923/km2 (2,390/sq mi)
 • Change 2011-16
1.8%
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)204
HighwaysPTH 16
PTH 45
PTH 83
WebsiteFormer Town of Russell

Russell is the home of Manitoba's Beef and Barley Festival, which is held annually in October to celebrate the region's strong agricultural tradition. Grain farming and cattle ranching are extensive in the surrounding areas.

History

European-Canadians first settled the area around Russell around 1880. The first post office began operations at a site north of the present community in 1880, and was called "Shell River". The closest CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) point was renamed to Russell in 1889. It was named after Lord Alexander Russell.[3] Also in 1889, a Dr Barnardo's Home for boys was established. The home and local farmers sponsored transportation for British orphans to come to the area to work on farms. Russell was officially incorporated as a town in 1913.

Industrial development

Recent changes to agriculture, such as the elimination of the Western Grain Transportation Subsidy, have put the region in a unique position. With one of the highest freight rates in western Canada, the Russell area is well-positioned to experience an explosion in value-added processing. Bunge Canada, an advanced canola-processing plant, is located at Harrowby, 15 km (9 mi) west of Russell.

Nearby potash mining in Saskatchewan provides jobs for numerous Russell residents, as well as purchasing supplies and services locally. The first potash mine in Manitoba has been proposed for a site just southwest of Russell, but due to the greater depth of the potash and higher taxes versus Saskatchewan, progress has been stalled for the last 20 years.

Russell and the surrounding rural municipalities are promoting tourism through the Asessippi Parkland Economic Development Corp.

Education

A semi-major service centre for the regional agricultural communities, Russell provides educational facilities ranging from day care and nursery, to post-secondary facilities. Russell is part of the Park West School Division. The Assiniboine Community College also has a regional campus located in Russell. The community has access to First Year Distant Education transmission, allowing individuals to take first-year education via internet.

Recreation

Recreational facilities include a serviced campground, tennis courts, ball fields, curling and hockey arenas, community halls, a swimming pool, snowboarding and downhill skiing, and a nine-hole golf course.

Russell is located only 27 km (17 mi) from Asessippi Provincial Park, the site of Asessippi Ski Area & Resort—a world-class ski facility and year-round family park. The park also contains the Lake of the Prairies, a 64 km-long lake. In Manitoba the lake recorded an annual walleye catch per square kilometre that is five times greater than the provincial average.[4]

Climate
Climate data for Russell
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 6.1
(43.0)		 10.5
(50.9)		 18.9
(66.0)		 33
(91)		 36.5
(97.7)		 41.1
(106.0)		 40
(104)		 37.2
(99.0)		 34.4
(93.9)		 31.1
(88.0)		 21.1
(70.0)		 12.2
(54.0)		 41.1
(106.0)
Average high °C (°F) −13.5
(7.7)		 −10.1
(13.8)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 8.6
(47.5)		 17.4
(63.3)		 21.6
(70.9)		 24.5
(76.1)		 23.2
(73.8)		 16.2
(61.2)		 9.1
(48.4)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 −11.5
(11.3)		 6.7
(44.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −18
(0)		 −14.7
(5.5)		 −7.4
(18.7)		 3
(37)		 11
(52)		 15.5
(59.9)		 18.1
(64.6)		 16.8
(62.2)		 10.5
(50.9)		 4
(39)		 −6.5
(20.3)		 −15.7
(3.7)		 1.4
(34.5)
Average low °C (°F) −22.6
(−8.7)		 −19.4
(−2.9)		 −12.1
(10.2)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 4.6
(40.3)		 9.3
(48.7)		 11.7
(53.1)		 10.3
(50.5)		 4.8
(40.6)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 −10.2
(13.6)		 −19.8
(−3.6)		 −3.9
(25.0)
Record low °C (°F) −48.9
(−56.0)		 −47.8
(−54.0)		 −42.8
(−45.0)		 −31.1
(−24.0)		 −12.2
(10.0)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 −8.9
(16.0)		 −14.4
(6.1)		 −27.8
(−18.0)		 −37.2
(−35.0)		 −43.3
(−45.9)		 −48.9
(−56.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 23.7
(0.93)		 20.7
(0.81)		 32.4
(1.28)		 25.5
(1.00)		 47.4
(1.87)		 82.7
(3.26)		 70.7
(2.78)		 67
(2.6)		 61.4
(2.42)		 29.2
(1.15)		 20.5
(0.81)		 25.3
(1.00)		 506.5
(19.94)
Source: Environment Canada[5]

Notable people

References
  1. Bill Redekop (July 29, 2017). "Arch enemies rising in Russell as structure divides residents". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  2. "2016 Census profile". Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  3. "Place Names of Manitoba".
  4. "Asessippi Provincial Park". Parkland Tourism Association. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  5. "Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000". Environment Canada. Retrieved 24 August 2012.


50°46′51″N 101°17′02″W

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