Winnipeg, Manitoba

Winnipeg ({{coor dm |49|53|N|97|09|W|type:city(620000)_scale:300000_region:CA-MB}}, CST) is a Canadian city and the provincial capital of the province of Manitoba. Located in Western Canada, Winnipeg plays a prominent role in transportation, finance, manufacturing, agriculture and education. It is known as the Gateway to the West.

History

In 1738, the Sieur de la Vérendrye built the first post on the site, Fort Rouge, but it was later abandoned. Other posts were built in the Red River region, which was fiercely contested by the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. Fort Gibraltar, a post of the North West Company on the site of present-day Winnipeg, was renamed Fort Garry in 1822 and became the leading post in the region. In 1835, Fort Garry was rebuilt after the devastating flood of 1826 and although it played a small role in the actual trading of furs, it housed the residence of the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company for many years. In 1869-1870, Winnipeg was the site of the Red River Rebellion, a conflict between the local Métis people led by Louis Riel and newcomers from eastern Canada. This rebellion led directly to the entry of Manitoba into Confederation as Canada's fifth province in 1870. On November 8, 1873, Winnipeg was incorporated as a city. In 1876 the post office officially adopted the name "Winnipeg", three years after the city's incorporation.

Related Topics:
1738 - Sieur de la Vérendrye - Fort Rouge - North West Company - Hudson's Bay Company - Fort Gibraltar - Fort Garry - 1822 - 1835 - 1826 - 1869 - 1870 - Red River Rebellion - Métis - Louis Riel - November 8 - 1873 - 1876

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The name Winnipeg is a transcription of the western Cree word w?nip?k (????), meaning "muddy waters" from w?ni (??) - dirty, or soiled - and nipiy (???) - water. It is the Cree name of Lake Winnipeg, some sixty kilometres to the north (about forty miles).

Related Topics:
Cree - Lake Winnipeg

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Winnipeg experienced an economic boom during the 1890s through 1920s. The population rose from about 25,000 in 1891 to more than 200,000 by 1921. The Manitoba Provincial Legislature Building reflects the optimism of these boom years. Built of Tyndall Stone in 1920, it is topped by the "Golden Boy", a four-metre-high five-ton sculpture sheathed in 23.5 karat (98%) gold. The Golden Boy carries a sheaf of golden grain in his left arm, while his right hand holds high a torch. The Golden Boy's torch was illuminated in 1970, as part of Manitoba's Centennial Celebration. The lamp was removed in 2003 in the course of a refurbishment of the famous statue, when it was discovered the cable supplying power to the lamp also contributed to the erosion of its internal frame. The statue is now lit at night by floodlights.

Related Topics:
1890s - 1920s - 1891 - 1921 - Tyndall Stone - 1920 - Gold - 1970 - 2003

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The current city of Winnipeg was created by the Unicity Act of 1971. The municipalities of St. James-Assiniboia, St. Boniface, Transcona, St. Vital, West Kildonan, East Kildonan, Tuxedo, Old Kildonan, North Kildonan, Fort Garry, and Charleswood were amalgamated with the Old City of Winnipeg. Small portions of the city have since seceded, but the vast majority of the populated area of the city remains within one single municipality. In order to prevent urban sprawl, the city restricted development to inside an urban limit line and in most cases left several kilometres of open space between the municipal boundary and suburban developments. Surrounding municipalities have a combined population of fewer than 100,000.

Related Topics:
Unicity Act of 1971 - St. James-Assiniboia - St. Boniface - Transcona - St. Vital - West Kildonan - East Kildonan - Tuxedo - Old Kildonan - North Kildonan - Charleswood - Urban limit line - Suburb

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