Dauphin, Manitoba, a city nestled in the heart of Canada, is a vibrant community with a rich history and a thriving cultural scene. As of the 2021 Canadian Census, the city boasts a population of 8,368, making it the ninth largest community in Manitoba. Named after Lake Dauphin and Fort Dauphin by explorer Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye, the city serves as a hub to the province's Parkland Region and hosts several summer festivals, including Dauphin's Countryfest and Canada's National Ukrainian Festival.
Situated in western Manitoba, Dauphin is conveniently located near Duck Mountain Provincial Park and Riding Mountain National Park. It lies just west of Lake Manitoba and Dauphin Lake and south of Lake Winnipegosis, making it a prime location for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.
The history of Dauphin dates back to 1741 when the nearby lake was named "Dauphin" by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye, in honour of the heir to the French throne. The area began to see settlers in 1883, with the establishment of two early settlements, Gartmore and "Old Dauphin". The arrival of the railway in 1896 shifted the settlement to its present site, marking the beginning of Ukrainian settlement in the area. Dauphin was incorporated as a city in 1998 and has since become an important centre for the transportation of grain.
Dauphin is served by several Manitoba Provincial Trunk Highways, including PTH 5, PTH 10, PTH 20, PTH 5A, PTH 10A, and PTH 20A.
The Lt. Col W.G. (Billy) Barker VC Airport serves the area, although no scheduled flights are currently operated from the airport.
The Dauphin railway station is served by Via Rail's Winnipeg–Churchill train. The rail line, owned by Canadian National (CN), also operates freight trains through the town.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Dauphin had a population of 8,368 living in 3,779 of its 4,048 total private dwellings. With a land area of 12.67 km2 (4.89 sq mi), it had a population density of 660.5/km2 (1,710.6/sq mi) in 2021. The median household income in 2005 was $35,527, below the Manitoba provincial average of $47,875.
The 1996 Canadian census revealed that Ukrainians constitute the largest ethnic group in Dauphin, with 41.04% of the population. Almost 26% of the population can speak Ukrainian. Other significant ethnic groups include residents with English ancestry (24.17%), Scottish ancestry (17.61%), and Irish ancestry (12.3%). Approximately 10% of the population is of Aboriginal origin.
Dauphin experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold winters and warm summers. The highest temperature ever recorded in Dauphin was 40.6 °C (105 °F) on 28 June 1931. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −44.4 °C (−48 °F) on 25 February 1890 and 18 February 1966.
