Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan

For other uses, see Wood Mountain (disambiguation).

Wood Mountain (2016 population: 20) is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within the Rural Municipality of Old Post No. 43 and Census Division No. 3. Its name is derived from the Red River Métis words "montagne de bois" (meaning mountain of wood in French), due to the abundance of poplar trees in the otherwise barren region. Highway 18 and Highway 358 intersect south of the community.

Wood Mountain
Village
Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevator
Wood Mountain Show map of Old Post No. 43 Wood Mountain Show map of Saskatchewan
Coordinates: 49°22′15″N 106°23′01″W
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
Region	South-central
Rural Municipality	Old Post
Incorporated (village)	1930
Government
• Governing body	Wood Mountain Village Council
• Mayor	Edward McIvor
• Clerk	Vicki Greffard
• MLA	Dave Marit
• MP	Jeremy Patzer
Area
• Total	0.61 km2 (0.24 sq mi)
Population  (2006)
• Total	20
• Density	32.6/km2 (84/sq mi)
Time zone	CST
Postal code	S0H 4L0
Area code	306
Highways	Highway 18 Highway 358
Railways	Canadian Pacific Railway (Defunct)
Website	Village of Wood Mountain
[1][2][3][4]

Wood Mountain is known for its annual stampede that has been held every year for more than 124 years.

This village is northeast of the First Nations administrative office for the band government of the Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation.^[5]

History

Wood Mountain was the terminus of the Fort Ellice–Wood Mountain Trail that was used from 1757 to the 1850s to haul provisions such as pemmican by the Métis and First Nations. The trail was over 400 kilometres (250 mi) long.^[6] It incorporated as a village on March 4, 1930.^[7]

Demographics

Population history
(1981–2016)

Year	Pop.	±%
1981	41	—
1986	36	−12.2%
1991	46	+27.8%
1996	31	−32.6%
2001	40	+29.0%
2006	20	−50.0%
2011	25	+25.0%
2016	20	−20.0%
Source: Statistics Canada via Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics[8][9]

Building at the Wood Mountain Métis settlement in 1874

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Wood Mountain had a population of 20 living in 8 of its 14 total private dwellings, a change of 0% from its 2016 population of 20. With a land area of 0.61 km² (0.24 sq mi), it had a population density of 32.8/km² (84.9/sq mi) in 2021.^[10]

In the 2016 Census of Population, the Village of Wood Mountain recorded a population of 20 living in 9 of its 10 total private dwellings, a -25% change from its 2011 population of 25. With a land area of 0.61 km² (0.24 sq mi), it had a population density of 32.8/km² (84.9/sq mi) in 2016.^[11]

Economy and tourism

Abandoned buildings in Wood Mountain

Historically, Wood Mountain's economy has relied mainly on the agriculture industry. The community still has strong roots to farming and ranching, but with its location and rich history, tourism has become a main industry. The region has accommodations, such as hotels and bed and breakfasts,^[12] a cafe restaurant, outdoor pool, library, community hall, churches, museums, campgrounds, and parks.

Local attractions

• Wood Mountain Regional Park^[13]
• Wood Mountain Rodeo & Ranching Museum (located at Wood Mountain Regional Park)
• Wood Mountain Community Pool
• Wood Mountain Post Historic Park^[14]

Events

• Wood Mountain Stampede, oldest continuous annual Rodeo in Canada. It is located at Wood Mountain Regional Park and has run since 1890.^[15]
• Wood Mountain Farmers Market

Regional attractions

• Wood Mountain Hills
• Grasslands National Park
• St. Victor Petroglyphs Provincial Historic Park
• Thomson Lake Regional Park

Notable residents

• Andrew Suknaski, poet
• Kacy & Clayton, folk-rock group

See also

• List of communities in Saskatchewan

References

1. National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters".
2. Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System". Archived from the original on November 21, 2008.
3. Canadian Textiles Institute. (2005). "CTI Determine your provincial constituency".
4. Commissioner of Canada Elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (2005). "Elections Canada On-line".
5. "Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation". Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
6. "The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan | Details".
7. "Urban Municipality Incorporations". Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
8. "Saskatchewan Census Population" (PDF). Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
9. "Saskatchewan Census Population". Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
10. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Saskatchewan". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
11. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Saskatchewan)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
12. "Limerick Hotel Licensed Dining Room | Tourism Saskatchewan".
13. "Wood Mountain Regional Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
14. "Wood Mountain Post Provincial Historic Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
15. "Wood Mountain Stampede". Wood Mountain. Retrieved August 20, 2024.

External links

• Official website