Biggar Encyclopaedia

Biggar

Biggar is a town of 2,351 residents in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada located at the junction of Saskatchewan Highways 4, 51 and 14. Saskatoon, the largest city of Saskatchewan is located 58.39 miles (94 km) east of Biggar on Highway 14. North Battleford is situated 58.63 miles (94 km) north on Highway 4. The capital city of Saskatchewan, Regina, is located 219.21 miles (353 km) southeast. Biggar was initially founded in 1907 with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway followed by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. In 1909, Biggar was ncorporated as a village, population over 100 residents. The settlement organised its first post office April 1, 1909, the one room school house, Biggar School District #2497, the GTP round house and several businesses. The village, was named the G.T.P.R. divisional point in 1910, and the consruction of Western Canada's largest train station, which again saw an increase in the population. Biggar incorporated as a town with population over 500 and has maintained town status since 1911. The Canadian Pacific Railway touched "North Biggar" in 1911, and the land between the two railways was nearly sold out. Business lots 25 x 100 feet sold for $3,600 in 1911, and residential lots between $200 to $500 each. City status requires a population over 5,000. Biggar is located at latitude 52° 4.200' and longitude 107° 58.800' W or Township 35, Range14, west of the 3rd Meridian The town is still designated as a divisional point on the Canadian National Railway, and is also served by the Biggar municipal airport (TC LID: CJF8).	Main Street, Biggar, Saskatchewan The village of Perdue and the unincorporated area of Leney are located to the east of Biggar. The unincorporated area of Palo and village of Landis are the closest settlements west. To the north is the dissolved village of Cando, and to the south are the unincorporated areas of Marriott and Valley Centre. The Rural Municipality of Biggar Number 347 has offices for the rural civic government on Second Avenue West within Biggar. Biggar sign post marks the official location of the site of Biggar. The motto of Biggar is "New York is big, but this is Biggar". According to the town of Biggar website, the slogan is attributed to a survey crew in about the year 1909. Following a night out, the town saw the phrase written upon a sign. Instead of being a prank, the graffitti became the town slogan. Since adopting this

Biggar is a town of 2,351 residents in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada located at the junction of Saskatchewan Highways 4, 51 and 14. Saskatoon, the largest city of Saskatchewan is located 58.39 miles (94 km) east of Biggar on Highway 14. North Battleford is situated 58.63 miles (94 km) north on Highway 4. The capital city of Saskatchewan, Regina, is located 219.21 miles (353 km) southeast. Biggar was initially founded in 1907 with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway followed by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. In 1909, Biggar was ncorporated as a village, population over 100 residents. The settlement organised its first post office April 1, 1909, the one room school house, Biggar School District #2497, the GTP round house and several businesses. The village, was named the G.T.P.R. divisional point in 1910, and the consruction of Western Canada's largest train station, which again saw an increase in the population. Biggar incorporated as a town with population over 500 and has maintained town status since 1911. The Canadian Pacific Railway touched "North Biggar" in 1911, and the land between the two railways was nearly sold out. Business lots 25 x 100 feet sold for $3,600 in 1911, and residential lots between $200 to $500 each. City status requires a population over 5,000. Biggar is located at latitude 52° 4.200' and longitude 107° 58.800' W or Township 35, Range14, west of the 3rd Meridian The town is still designated as a divisional point on the Canadian National Railway, and is also served by the Biggar municipal airport (TC LID: CJF8).

Main Street, Biggar, Saskatchewan

The village of Perdue and the unincorporated area of Leney are located to the east of Biggar. The unincorporated area of Palo and village of Landis are the closest settlements west. To the north is the dissolved village of Cando, and to the south are the unincorporated areas of Marriott and Valley Centre. The Rural Municipality of Biggar Number 347 has offices for the rural civic government on Second Avenue West within Biggar.

Biggar sign post marks the official location of the site of Biggar. The motto of Biggar is "New York is big, but this is Biggar". According to the town of Biggar website, the slogan is attributed to a survey crew in about the year 1909. Following a night out, the town saw the phrase written upon a sign. Instead of being a prank, the graffitti became the town slogan. Since adopting this

motto, the town has been nicknamed the "Little Apple" in reference to New York being the "Big Apple". on 26 April 1954 the Biggar Board of Trade purchased four signs with "New York is Big But This Is Biggar" to put up on each of the highway approaches

Year	Party	Provincial MLA
1912	Liberal	Charles H. Cawthorpe
1917	Liberal	George H Harris
1921	Progressive	John Meikle
1925	Liberal	Robert P Hassard
1929	Conservative	William W Miller
1934	Liberal	Robert P Hassard
1938	CCF	John A Young
1944	CCF	Woodrow S. Lloyd
1971	NDP	Elwood L Cowley
1982	PC	Harry D Baker
1991	NDP	Grant D.G. Whitmore
2003	SP	Randall P Weekes

The first village overseer was Arthur W. Mooney appointed in June of 1909, and the current town Mayor is Raymond Sadler officiating over the civic infrastructure services with and elected town council and town manager, R.G. (Bob Tyler). The town council also provides government to the localities of Biggar Airport, Castlewood, Loverna Junction, Lydden, Mead, and Normanton. On the provincial level, government affairs are served by the Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Randy Weekes, for the Constituency of Biggar. Biggar was the former provincial district serving the area between 1912 to 1995. when it became re-formed into the Rosetown Biggar district. The area is now served again by the Biggar provincial district which was re-formed in 2002. The honourable Kelly Block is the current Member of Parliament for the Saskatoon--Rosetown--Biggar federal riding. Between 1933 and 1966, Biggar has been served by the federal riding of Rosetown--Biggar. Major James Coldwell of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation served between 1935 to 1958, Coldwell was followed by Progressive Conservative Clarence Owen Cooper until 1965 when Progressive Conservative MP Ron D. McLelland served the area. The riding of Saskatoon--Biggar formed the federal riding between 1966 to 1976 with the first election of New Democrat Party representative A.P. Gleave until 1974 when he was replaced by Progressive Conservative incumbent Ray Hnatyshyn.

The town of Biggar spans a land area of 15.75km2(6.1sqmi) giving it a population density of 129.1 persons per square kilometre (334/sq mi). In 2006, 47% of the population were male and of these 175 were under the age of 15. The female population of 1, 075 persons had 160 younger than 15. Of the 910 families the typical household in Biggar has 2.1 residents with a median income of $81,152. The national median income for the same year, 2005 was 76,494. Economically, the household income is mainly derived from employment in business services followed by farming and manufacturing for the men. Out of the 1,000 persons employed 47% of these are women employed mainly in other services and health care. In 2001, in comparison, 460 female workers were mostly employed in the health and education service sector bringing in average full time average earnings of $25,589 yearly. 600 men with an average annual income of $48,092 were mainly employed in business services followed by manufacturing and construction industries. Agricultural pursuits were the third highest employer of the task force during 2001.

Year	Population
1916	830
1991	2352
1996	2351
2001	2243
2006	2033
2010	2351*

Census Populations
*Town Count

rwchambe	Latest page update: made by rwchambe , Dec 9 2010, 2:48 PM EST (about this update About This Update Edited by rwchambe 3 words added 3 words deleted view changes - complete history)
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