North Battleford, a city nestled in west-central Saskatchewan, Canada, is the seventh-largest city in the province. It lies directly across the North Saskatchewan River from the Town of Battleford, and together, they are known as "The Battlefords".
The Battlefords area, including North Battleford, has been home to various indigenous groups for thousands of years before European settlement. The Algonquian-speaking Cree and Blackfeet, as well as the Siouan Assiniboine First Nation band governments, were among the historic indigenous groups that lived in the area.
European settlement began in the late 18th century due to French colonists' fur trading. The town of Battleford, founded in 1875, served as the capital of the North-West Territories between 1876 and 1883. North Battleford was incorporated as a village in 1906, a town in 1907, and a city in 1913. The city has since grown into an administrative center and service hub for the region's economic, education, health, and social needs.
North Battleford is home to several heritage buildings. The North Battleford Public Library, built in 1916 with a $15,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation of New York, and the Canadian National Railways Station, built in 1956, are among the city's historic sites.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, North Battleford had a population of 13,836 living in 5,696 of its 6,346 total private dwellings. This represented a change of -3.3% from its 2016 population of 14,315.
In the late 2000s, many Ruthenians emigrated to Canada, concentrating in North Battleford. Most of them came from the same town: Ruski Krstur.
In 2018, Maclean's ranked North Battleford as Canada's most dangerous place for overall crime. However, the city has been actively working on safety initiatives to improve its future.
North Battleford experiences a humid continental climate. The average high during the end of July is 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) and the average low is 11.3 °C (52.3 °F). For the middle of January, the average high is −12.3 °C (9.9 °F) and the average low is −22.6 °C (−8.7 °F).
North Battleford is home to one of the four branches of the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum, which focuses on the agricultural history of Saskatchewan. The city also houses the Allen Sapp Gallery, featuring the noted Cree painter.
The North Battleford Access Communications Centre, a 2,500-seat multi-purpose arena, is home to the Battlefords North Stars ice hockey team. The city also hosts the North Battleford Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo annually in April.
North Battleford faced a significant challenge in 2001 when a problem with the city's water system led to the infection of approximately 6,280 people with cryptosporidiosis. However, the city has since made significant improvements, with the North Battleford Energy Centre, a natural gas-fired power station, becoming operational in 2013.
North Battleford is served by the North Battleford Airport. The city also recently added a public transit system, in addition to the book-as-needed "Handi-bus" for people with disabilities.
