Davidson, Saskatchewan

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Davidson
Town
Davidson's business districtWashington Avenue
Davidson's business district
Washington Avenue
Nickname(s): Community In Motion
Davidson is located in Saskatchewan
Davidson
Davidson
Location of Davidson in Saskatchewan
Coordinates: 51°10′N 105°35′W / 51.16°N 105.58°W / 51.16; -105.58
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
Region Saskatchewan
Census division No. 11
Rural Municipality No. 252
Post Office established 1903
Village Incorporated March 7, 1904
Town Incorporated November 15, 1906
Government
 • Mayor Clayton J. Schneider
 • Governing body Davidson Town Council
Area
 • Land 4.49 km2 (1.73 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 1,025
 • Density 228.4/km2 (592/sq mi)
Time zone CST
Postal code S0G 1A0
Area code(s) 306
Highways Highway 11
Waterways Lake Diefenbaker
Last Mountain Lake
Website Official website
[1][2]

Davidson is a town in south central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located 104 kilometres (65 mi) southeast of Saskatoon beside provincial highway 11, in the rural municipality of Arm River. It is located almost exactly halfway between Saskatoon and Regina, and was a popular stopping-off point for travellers before Highway 11 was rerouted east of the town.

History[edit]

In 1902 Colonel Andrew Duncan Davidson, an enthusiastic entrepreneur from Glencoe, Ontario, came to Saskatchewan in hopes of creating a 'midway' settlement between the cities of Regina and Saskatoon. With agriculture as one of his driving passions, Davidson through the Saskatchewan Valley Land Company purchased 700,000 acres (2,800 km2) from the railway and the federal government[3] in an area where the soil was particularly suitable for grain farming. Davidson organized a train route that travelled from Chicago to Saskatoon; making one stop in Davidson on the way. This train route brought American bankers, entrepreneurs and newspapermen in hopes of starting up new businesses in the area. With the expansion of the community underway, Davidson also managed to sell more than 180,000 acres (730 km2) of land in the area.[4]

Within a short period of time, Davidson, which was declared the name of the community, was nicknamed the 'Midway Town' because of its central location. On November 15, 1906, Davidson was officially declared a town.[5]

During World War II the Royal Canadian Air Force built and operated No. 23 Elementary Flying Training School as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan[6] on a site 7 km southeast of Davidson. The school opened on 9 November 1942 and moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan on 29 January 1945.

The airfield was located at 51°14′46″N 105°52′53″W / 51.24611°N 105.88139°W / 51.24611; -105.88139 (Davidson Airport) and should not be confused with Davidson Municipal Airport which is adjacent to the town.

Train station
Grain elevators

Demographics[edit]

Climate[edit]

Education[edit]

Davidson Elementary School and Davidson High School were formerly part of the Davidson School Division, which also included schools in the communities of Kenaston, Craik and Eyebrow. As of January 1, 2006, DES and DHS are part of the Sun West School Division. In a small community, the school is at its core. This allows many opportunities for the community to get actively involved in the school and vice versa. Some of the partnerships between the school and the community include working for "Communities in Bloom," contributing to the recycling program at SARCAN, and planting trees around the newly established walking trail. Davidson School's mission statement is "Developing, Encouraging, Succeeding; Creating the Future"

Media[edit]

The community newspaper is the Davidson Leader, publishing since 1904.

Recreation[edit]

  • Hockey, baseball, fitness, curling, figure skating, dance, gymnastics and riding are some of the activities offered to members of the community. Davidson has been dubbed as "The Community in Motion".
  • Davidson is home to the nine hole Davidson Golf and Country Club.
  • A newly renovated swimming pool beside the local campground offers swimming lessons.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". Retrieved 23 September 2013. 
  2. ^ Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System (Town of Davidson)". Retrieved 23 September 2013. 
  3. ^ "Peel's Prairie Provinces (Saskatchewan Valley Land Co.)". c. 1906. Retrieved 2013-09-23. 
  4. ^ "The Canadian Encyclopedia (DAVIDSON, ANDREW DUNCAN) Volume XIV (1911-1920)". Retrieved 2013-09-23. 
  5. ^ "Davidson, Saskatchewan". Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina. 2006. Retrieved 2013-09-23. 
  6. ^ Hatch, F. J. (1983). The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945. Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence. ISBN 0660114437. 
  7. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-09-11. 
  8. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-09-11. 
  9. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-11. 
  10. ^ Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 24 July 2010

External links[edit]

Location[edit]

Coordinates: 51°16′N 105°58′W / 51.267°N 105.967°W / 51.267; -105.967 (Davidson, Saskatchewan)