Russell is a town located in western Manitoba, on the Yellowhead Route #16 of the Trans Canada Highway, about 165 km NW of Portage la Prairie. The town has a population of aout 1,500 people and is a center for agriculture, commerce, and culture in the region.
Russell History
The area around Russell was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including the Cree and Ojibwe, who were there t mean the first European explorers and fur traders, who arrived in the 1700s.
The town of Russell was established in 1882, when the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was built through the area and built a railway station. The town was named after Alexander Russell, a prominent Manitoba politician and businessman.
The arrival of the railway led to an influx of settlers, who established farms and businesses in the area. In the early 1900s, Russell experienced a period of growth and prosperity, due to the region’s fertile farmland. Becuase of its access to transportation, the town became an important hub for agriculture, especially crops such as wheat, barley, and oats.
During World War II, Russell hosted a prisoner of war camp for German soldiers on the outskirts of town. After the war, Russell continued to grow and prosper and added new schools, hospitals, and other public facilities.