Data Point related to: CITY/TOWN
Humboldt
The City of Humboldt is named after Baron Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859), a renowned German scientist and naturalist who extensively explored Central and South America. The name 'Humboldt' was officially approved in 1875 for a site in the Northwest Territories along the Canadian Pacific Telegraph Line, where a repair station was built 8 km southwest of the current city location. At that time, the only permanent residents were telegraph operators, linemen and their families, and members of the North West Mounted Police. The station played a crucial role in communication for the developing West and during the 1885 Métis Resistance at Batoche. Humboldt secured its place in Canadian history in 1885. During the Métis Resistance led by Louis Riel at Batoche, 100 km northwest of Humboldt, the city became a vital communication link between Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and his forces in the West, making it a site of strategic importance. General Frederick Middleton arrived in April 1885 with 950 soldiers, established a garrison at the station, and used it as a base for scouting operations. At that time, the telegraph line further west was periodically cut, making the Humboldt Station the last secure link to the East. On May 1, 1885, Humboldt became the site of a large supply depot under Major Lieutenant-Colonel G. T. Denison of the Governor General’s Body Guard. A force of approximately 460 men constructed an elaborate series of entrenchments, converting the station into a fortified military encampment to protect the supplies. The troops left Humboldt in July 1885. As Western Canada developed, settlers began arriving in the area at the turn of the century. Humboldt’s history was significantly influenced by the establishment of St. Peter’s Colony by Benedictine monks. In search of suitable land to establish a new colony, Father Bruno Doerfler, O.S.B., and businessmen from Minnesota arrived in Winnipeg in 1902. They traveled as far west as Calgary, up to Wetaskiwin, east to Battleford, and finally arrived in Saskatoon on August 27, after covering 400 miles by team and wagon. In 1903, the businessmen formed the German American Land Company and purchased 100,000 acres of railroad land in the district to sell to settlers who wanted more than a quarter section of land. The company attracted German Catholics living in the United States to homestead in St. Peter’s Colony, promoting the area as offering 'churches, schools, and German neighbors' and highlighting the spiritual guidance provided by Benedictine fathers. The arrival of the Canadian Northern Railway in September 1904 provided a critical route to the new community. By May 1905, the first passenger trains arrived, and the district began to thrive. The name 'Humboldt' was officially transferred to the village in 1905, and it became a town in 1907. Humboldt achieved city status in November 2000, becoming Saskatchewan’s thirteenth city.
Type of Data Point - Website/Blog Post
Humboldt's History - humboldtmuseum.ca
Visit page of City/Town - Humboldt
Inserted: 28-08-2024 00:08:02
Questions related to this Data Point
During the Métis Resistance, what strategic role did Humboldt play?
How did Humboldt become historically significant in 1885?
What role did the Humboldt telegraph station play during the development of the West?
What was originally built 8 km southwest of the current Humboldt city location?
When did Humboldt officially become a city?
When did the Canadian Northern Railway arrive in Humboldt?
When was the name "Humboldt" officially approved for the site in the Northwest Territories?
Which general established a garrison in Humboldt during the 1885 Métis Resistance?
Who is the City of Humboldt named after?
Who were the only permanent residents in the Humboldt area when the telegraph station was established?
Why was the Humboldt telegraph station crucial during the Métis Resistance?
Contexts related to this Data Point
Cities - Villages and Towns in Canada
Historical information about Canadian towns and villages
Map of Saskatchewan
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Dates/Years/Periods related to this Data Point
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Credits: Monique Vezina, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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