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History of Maple Creek
Although Maple Creek is considered to have been established
in 1883, it actually got its beginning in the late fall of 1882.
A group of hardy workers decided to spend the winter camped
on the banks of the Maple Creek, rather than return with the
rest of the track-laying crew when construction halted for the
winter a few miles east of the present town site. Historians
report that 22 men made up the population of Maple Creek during
the winter of 1882.
 With
the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and the
movement of the NWMP 'A' Division from Fort Walsh to the railhead
in the spring of 1883, the community of Maple Creek was born.
The new community was comprised of businesses and pioneers
that had either come to the west by train or had relocated
from the Village of Fort Walsh. Agriculture was initiated
immediately and, in 1884, Maple Creek exported 650 bushels
of wheat and the first shipment of cattle from western Canada.
In short order (1885-1887) schools and churches were erected,
new settlers and businesses were attraated, and by 1896 the
settlement was large enough to require an 'overseer'. Elected
to this position was Mr. J.J. English. By 1902 the village
boasted a population of 461.
On April 30, 1903, under the statutes of the North West Territories,
Maple Creek was incorporated as a town and the first town
election was held shortly afterwards. Mr. John Dixon was elected
Maple Creek's first mayor. The first meeting of the newly
incorporated Town Council was held May 26, 1903.
 The
community experienced many firsts in its early years of growth.
In 1907, the Mayor and Councillors decided to proceed with
a gravity-fed water system for the town. Water was piped into
the community from springs located some nine miles southeast
of Maple Creek. Most of Maple Creek's present water supply
still comes from that main source. A sewage system was installed
in the community in 1913. The town also had its own electric
light system and a flourmill in the early years. Later, Maple
Creek embarked on a program to pave virtually every street
in the community - one of the first towns of its size in the
province to undertake such a project.
The pictures above show the Cypress Hills and
cattle brandings.
Ranching is still a very important part of life in
Maple Creek.
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