Humboldt, a city nestled in the heart of Saskatchewan, Canada, is a place where history, culture, and natural beauty converge. Located 113 km east of Saskatoon, Humboldt is a city surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Humboldt No. 370.
Humboldt, named after the German explorer Alexander von Humboldt, has a rich history that dates back to the early days of Western Canada. The city began as a telegraph station on the Carlton Trail, a wagon route from Fort Garry (Winnipeg) to Fort Edmonton. The Humboldt Telegraph Station, built in 1878, played a crucial role in the development of the West.
During the Métis uprising led by Louis Riel, Humboldt became the only communication link between Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and his forces in the West. The city was also the site of the first stagecoach robbery in Western Canada.
Humboldt's early settlers were primarily German Catholics, and the city became the largest settlement in the Territorial Abbey of Saint Peter-Muenster, established by Benedictine monks from St John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota.
On April 6, 2018, Humboldt was thrust into the international spotlight when the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team was involved in a tragic bus crash. Sixteen of the 30 people on board the bus died, and 14 players were injured. The crash received significant national and international media coverage, and a vigil held at the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt was attended by over 5,000 people and televised nationally.
Humboldt experiences a humid continental climate, with long, cold winters and brief, warm summers. The region falls into the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 3a. The highest temperature ever recorded in Humboldt was 41.1 °C (106 °F) on 19 July 1941, and the coldest temperature ever recorded was −50.6 °C (−59 °F) on 12 January 1916.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Humboldt had a population of 6,033 living in 2,494 of its 2,707 total private dwellings, a change of 2.8% from its 2016 population of 5,869.
Humboldt boasts a number of heritage buildings listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. The city is also home to the Humboldt Murals, which depict historic scenes.
Humboldt hosts several festivals throughout the year, including the Summer Sizzler in late-June, Canada Day celebrations on July 1, and the Humboldt StreetFest in mid-August.
Humboldt is home to over 30 acres of parks and open spaces, as well as a growing pedestrian trails and pathways system. The city also boasts a recreational facility featuring a curling rink, an indoor aquatic centre, a fitness centre, and a convention centre.
Humboldt is served by Highway 5 and Highway 20, and has its own airport. The city is also serviced by CN Rail and is home to a number of rail workers.
