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hockeytownon Feb 07, 2011 7:14pm
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South East Saskatchewan Wapella
South East Saskatchewan WapellaGeography
The town of Wapella is a small town located along the No. 1 Highway. In 1996, Wapella's population was 384, and in 2006 its population was 414.
History
Early settlers arrived in the Wapella area in 1882, as did the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The town is located on Sec. 9 west of the first meridian, 28 miles west of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border, and 122 miles east of Regina. The first postal service operated at the section house in 1882, and in 1884 the first post office was opened. The first school in Wapella was opened in 1885, with a larger two-story school built in 1896. These early days saw four general stores operating in the town, as many as six elevators, and three hotels. 'A cyclone did severe damage to the town in 1900' stated the newspaper, The Wapella Post. Coal was discovered on the Emil Prake farm. A flourmill was built. The dam was built in 1896.
Like other towns in the area, Wapella thrived on the agriculture. In 1952, oil was discovered in the area and a tract of land was designated as the Wapella Oil Fields. Wapella installed water and sewer in 1962, while Trans-Canada Pipeline installed natural gas in 1960. Wapella today is an active town, with several thriving businesses, good recreational facilities, and a strong community spirit.