Southey, a quaint town nestled in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Located on Highway 6, approximately 55 km north of Regina, the capital city of Saskatchewan, Southey is a town with a rich history and a vibrant community.
The vast prairie land of the North-West Territories, where Southey now stands, was opened for settlement during the late 1880s and 1890s. Before this, the area was home to the First Nations people and their rich culture. The first wave of settlers, Europeans and Americans, followed the river valleys and the westward movement of the railway.
The first early settlement in the Southey area consisted of ranchers north and south of the present townsite. H.B. Chandler, one of the first settlers, filed on land on the south side of town in 1903. When the railway arrived in the area, he proposed the site be named “Southey”, after Robert Southey, one of his favourite English poets.
From this point on, the town grew and developed with the appearance of the first stores, school, banks, elevators, barber shop, hardware and implement dealers, restaurants, lumber yard, telephone system, sidewalks, fire brigades, and others in the 1905 - 1912 period. This growth led to Southey being incorporated in 1907–08. Subsequently, streets were named after other British writers and poets, so it is possible to travel down streets named Keats, Browning, Burns, Byron, Coleridge, Frost, Kipling, Milton, and others.
In 1988, Southey celebrated its 80th anniversary and in 2008, the town had a 100th year celebration.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Southey had a population of 832 living in 339 of its 356 total private dwellings, a change of 3.5% from its 2016 population of 804. With a land area of 1.56 km2 (0.60 sq mi), it had a population density of 533.3/km2 (1,381.3/sq mi) in 2021. According to the 2011 census, Southey's median age was 39.9 years (males:37.4 yrs., females:42.0 yrs.) It had the median household income was $71,585.
Southey offers a variety of sports and recreational activities for residents and visitors alike. The town boasts a curling rink, swimming pool, nearby golf courses, and an ice rink at the Southey Communiplex. The Southey Marlins of the senior men's Highway Hockey League play there, although the team is currently on a hiatus.
The Southey Cable Company, owned and operated by the Town of Southey, provides cable services under the guidance of the Southey Cable Committee. This local company is a testament to the town's commitment to providing essential services to its residents.
