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Swift Current, Saskatchewan

Swift Current
City
City of Swift Current
Nickname(s): "Speedy Creek"
Motto: Where life makes sense
Swift Current is located in Saskatchewan
Swift Current
Swift Current
Location of Swift Current in Saskatchewan
Coordinates: 50°17′17″N 107°47′38″W / 50.28806°N 107.79389°W / 50.28806; -107.79389
Country  Canada
Province  Saskatchewan
Established 1883
Incorporated (village) September 21, 1903
Incorporated (town) March 15, 1907
Incorporated (city) January 15, 1914
Government
 • Mayor Denis Perrault
 • Governing body Swift Current City Council
 • MP David L. Anderson (CON) - Cypress Hills—Grasslands
 • MLA Brad Wall (SKP) - Swift Current
Elevation 817 m (2,680 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 15,503
 • Density 644.9/km2 (1,670/sq mi)
 • Agglomeration 17,535
Time zone CST (UTC−6)
Website www.swiftcurrent.ca

Swift Current is a small city in southwest Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated along the Trans Canada Highway 170 kilometres (110 mi) west from Moose Jaw, and 218 kilometres (135 mi) east from Medicine Hat, Alberta. Swift Current grew 3.7% between 2006 and 2011 ending up at 15,503 residents. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Swift Current No. 137.

Swift Current's history began with Swift Current Creek which originates at Cypress Hills and traverses 100 miles (160 km) of prairie and empties into the South Saskatchewan River. The creek was a camp for First Nations for centuries. The name of the creek comes from the Cree, who called the South Saskatchewan River Kisiskâciwan, meaning "it flows swiftly". Fur traders found the creek on their westward treks in the 1800s, and called it "rivière au Courant" (lit: "river of the current"). Henri Julien, an artist travelling with the North-West Mounted Police expedition in 1874, referred to it as "Du Courant", and Commissioner George French used "Strong Current Creek" in his diary. While it took another decade before being officially recorded, the area has always been known as "Swift Current".

The settlement of Swift Current was established in 1883, after the CPR surveyed a railway line as far as Swift Current Creek. In 1882, initial grading and track preparation commenced, with the first settlers arriving in the spring of 1883. During the early part of its settlement, the economy was based almost exclusively on serving the new railway buildings and employees. There was also a significant ranching operation known as the "76" ranches. It included 10 ranches raising sheep and cattle and stretched from Swift Current to Calgary. The ranch located at Swift Current dealt with sheep. At one point there were upwards of 20,000 sheep grazing on the present day Kinetic Grounds. The head shepherd was John Oman, originally from Scotland. He donated land to build Oman School in 1913. Other early industries included gathering bison bones for use in fertilizer manufacturing, the making of bone china and sugar refining. Métis residents also ran a successful Red River ox cart "freighting" business to Battleford until the late 1880s. During the Riel Rebellion of 1885, Swift Current became a major military base and troop mustering area due to its proximity to Battleford but this was only for a short time. On February 4, 1904, the hamlet became a village and then a town on March 15, 1907, when a census indicated a population of 550. Swift Current became incorporated as a city on January 15, 1914, with Frank E. West being the mayor at the time.


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