Rural Municipality of Springfield

Springfield
Rural municipality
Rural Municipality of Springfield
Birds Hill Provincial Park in northwestern Springfield
Birds Hill Provincial Park in northwestern Springfield
Location of the RM of Springfield in Manitoba
Location of the RM of Springfield in Manitoba
Coordinates: 49°55′45″N 96°41′38″W / 49.92917°N 96.69389°W / 49.92917; -96.69389
CountryCanada
ProvinceManitoba
RegionWinnipeg Metro Region
Incorporated1880
Government
 • MayorPatrick Therrien
 • MLAs
 • MPs
Area
 • Rural municipality1,096.17 km2 (423.23 sq mi)
 • Metro
530,679 km2 (204,896 sq mi)
Elevation
242 m (794 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Rural municipality16,142
 • Density15/km2 (38/sq mi)
 • Metro
778,489
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Postal Code
Area codes204, 431
Websitewww.rmofspringfield.ca

Springfield is a rural municipality (RM) in Manitoba, Canada. It stretches from urban industrial development on the eastern boundary of the city of Winnipeg, through urban, rural residential, agricultural and natural landscapes, to the Agassiz Provincial Forest on the municipality's eastern boundary. Birds Hill Provincial Park nestles into the north-western corner of Springfield.

Springfield's population was 16,142 as of the 2021 census, making it the second most populous RM in the province (slightly behind the RM of Hanover) and fifth most populous municipality overall (behind the cities of Winnipeg, Brandon, and Steinbach, and RM of Hanover).[1]

History

The Springfield area is part of the traditional territory of Anishnaabe and Swampy Cree First Nations. In 1870, the area became part of the new province of Manitoba. In 1871, the area was covered under Treaty 1 between the British Crown and the First Nations. The treaty facilitated the settlement of southern Manitoba including agricultural settlements in the Springfield area.

Springfield was incorporated in 1880 as a result of changes made to the Rural Municipality of Springfield and Sunnyside (1873–1880).[2] The municipality received its name due to the presence of multiple natural springs found within its borders.[3] While farming is still important in the municipality, today many residents are employed in nearby Winnipeg.

Communities

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Springfield had a population of 16,142 living in 5,795 of its 5,992 total private dwellings, a change of 5.2% from its 2016 population of 15,342. With a land area of 1,096.17 km2 (423.23 sq mi), it had a population density of 14.7/km2 (38.1/sq mi) in 2021.[1]

Historical population[4]
YearPop.±%
18911,000—    
18961,367+36.7%
19012,585+89.1%
19115,015+94.0%
19215,666+13.0%
19316,486+14.5%
19416,863+5.8%
19515,375−21.7%
19565,120−4.7%
19615,608+9.5%
19665,670+1.1%
YearPop.±%
19715,955+5.0%
19766,944+16.6%
19818,986+29.4%
19869,836+9.5%
199111,102+12.9%
199612,162+9.5%
200112,602+3.6%
200612,990+3.1%
201114,069+8.3%
201615,342+9.0%
202116,142+5.2%
Panethnic groups in the Rural Municipality of Springfield (2001−2021)
Panethnic group 2021[5] 2016[6] 2011[7] 2006[8] 2001[9]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 13,625 86.51% 13,260 88.22% 12,675 92.42% 12,055 93.09% 11,855 94.39%
Indigenous 1,770 11.24% 1,410 9.38% 890 6.49% 740 5.71% 595 4.74%
African 100 0.63% 115 0.77% 55 0.4% 85 0.66% 35 0.28%
East Asian[b] 75 0.48% 35 0.23% 20 0.15% 50 0.39% 20 0.16%
Southeast Asian[c] 60 0.38% 120 0.8% 30 0.22% 0 0% 20 0.16%
South Asian 50 0.32% 55 0.37% 0 0% 10 0.08% 20 0.16%
Middle Eastern[d] 15 0.1% 20 0.13% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.08%
Latin American 10 0.06% 15 0.1% 10 0.07% 10 0.08% 10 0.08%
Other/multiracial[e] 35 0.22% 10 0.07% 10 0.07% 0 0% 25 0.2%
Total responses 15,750 97.57% 15,030 97.97% 13,715 97.48% 12,950 99.69% 12,560 99.67%
Total population 16,142 100% 15,342 100% 14,069 100% 12,990 100% 12,602 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Attractions

The RM of Springfield contains many sites of historical and cultural significance such as the Sunnyside cemetery, the Springfield Hutterite colony, North Springfield school, Springfield Agricultural Society, and the Dugald rail accident site.[10]

In 1996, the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Cooks Creek was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.[11]

Government

Municipal

Springfield's administrative center is in Oakbank, the largest community in the RM. The RM is governed by a mayor and councillors representing the RM's five wards. The government has come under some media scrutiny for having the highest compensation to mayor and council ($242,974 total for 2015) relative to all other municipalities in the Winnipeg capital region.[12]

Provincial

The RM is represented by two ridings in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly: Springfield-Ritchot (west) and Dawson Trail (east). The former Springfield electoral district included all of the RM and parts of adjacent East St. Paul.

Federal

The RM is split between two federal ridings: Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman (north) and Provencher (south). From 1914 through 1966, a federal riding was also called "Springfield" with varying boundaries not always coterminous with the municipality.[13]

Notes

  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Manitoba". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Goldsborough, Gordon (March 1, 2022). "Manitoba Communities: Springfield (Rural Municipality)". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  3. ^ Manitoba Department of Industry and Commerce (2000). Geographical Names of Manitoba. Winnipeg: Manitoba Conservation. ISBN 0-7711-1517-2. OCLC 51764498.
  4. ^ Goldsborough, Gordon (February 11, 2022). "Manitoba Communities: Springfield (Rural Municipality)". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  5. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 26, 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 27, 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (November 27, 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (August 20, 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  9. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (July 2, 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  10. ^ "Search results for "Springfield"". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  11. ^ "Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception National Historic Site of Canada". Parks Canada - Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Parks Canada. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  12. ^ Bill Redekop (February 17, 2015). "Salaries for municipal leaders in the capital region vary widely – Winnipeg Free Press". Winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  13. ^ "SPRINGFIELD, Manitoba (1914 - 1966)". Parliament of Canada. Library of Parliament. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012.

Further reading

  • Kraushar, Aileen, et al. 1974. Springfield 1st Rural Municipality in Manitoba 1873-1973. Dugald: Dugald Women's Institute. ISBN 0-919212-40-9.

External links

  • R.M. of Springfield (official site)
  • Community Profile: Springfield Rural Municipality, Manitoba; Statistics Canada
  • Map of Springfield R.M. at Statcan
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