Radville, Saskatchewan, a small town nestled in the RM of Laurier No. 38, is a charming destination with a rich history and a vibrant community. Incorporated in 1911, Radville is conveniently located along Highway 28 and Highway 377, making it easily accessible for visitors.
From the 1920s to the 1970s, Radville was a bustling hub of activity, boasting a livery, the Canadian National Railway (CN), and five grain elevators. The town was also a CN divisional point, featuring a roundhouse with a turntable, water tank, sand house, coal dock, ice house, bunkhouse, Roadmaster office, stores, stockyard, loading platform, freight, and express service. The Radville railway station, now a museum, is a testament to the town's vibrant past.
The town was home to a variety of businesses, including a blacksmith shop, four general stores, a dress shop, a bakery, Watson's Hardware Store, Clarke's Electric, an appliance store, a Credit Union, a jeweller, two barber shops, a dry cleaner, two lumber yards, Vennard's locker plant, a liquor store, and a law office. However, the upgrading of Highway No. 28 in about 1975 led to a shift in local regional commerce towards the larger urban centre of Weyburn.
Radville, Saskatchewan, is home to several historic buildings. One such building is the local restaurant, which has transformed over the years from the Bon Ton Barber Shop and Dr. Joseph P. O'Shea's office to the Radville Family Restaurant II in 2002.
The town has also hosted several theatres, with the last one, the Oasis Theatre, closing its doors in 1977. The Oasis was later converted into the Alley Oops bowling alley by local entrepreneur George Hays. Hays also purchased the local newspaper, the Radville Star, and moved the publication into the same building.
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, originally the Bank of Commerce, was built in the early 1920s and closed in 2017. The Empire Hotel, another early 1920s construction, is still in operation today.
Located about a mile north of the town, the Larsen Dam, also known as the Radville Dam, served as the primary water reservoir for Radville until approximately 1984. The dam is stocked by the wildlife and fisheries department of the government, and has been home to northern pike, fresh water perch, pickerel, and trout over the years.
Established in 1965, the Radville-Laurier Regional Park is a hub of recreational activities. Renamed in 1975 to reflect the partnership between the RM and the town, the park features 42 campsites, ball diamonds, playgrounds, an outdoor swimming pool, a golf course, and a recreation centre. The Robertdale Golf and Country Club, a 9-hole sand greens golf course, is a popular attraction within the park.
Radville is served by Saskatchewan Highway 28, Saskatchewan Highway 377, and the Radville Airport, ensuring easy access for visitors and residents alike.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Radville had a population of 778 living in 331 of its 392 total private dwellings, a change of -3.6% from its 2016 population of 807. With a land area of 2.95 km2, it had a population density of 263.7/km2 in 2021.
