La Ronge, Saskatchewan

Location map|Canada Saskatchewan
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lon_dir=W|lat_dir=N
lat_deg = 55
lat_min = 06
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lon_deg = 105
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caption = La Ronge in Saskatchewan

La Ronge is a community of about 3500 people in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, 250 km north of Prince Albert. There are an additional 2000 people living in the Lac La Ronge Indian Reserve bordering the town, [ [http://www.llrib.ca/ La Lac Ronge Indian Reserve website, accessed 12 August 2007] ] and another 1000 people living in the neighbouring community of Air Ronge. [ [http://www.townoflaronge.ca/Welcome/Introduction.php Town of La Rongewebsite] ] It is the largest settlement in northern Saskatchewan.

The town lies on the western shore of Lac La Ronge and is adjacent to Lac La Ronge Provincial Park. The town derives its name from the French indicative "la" and the surname of Johannes von Rönge, a Catholic priest and the co-founder of German Catholicism. He was suspended because of his attacks against the papacy and against venerating the seamless robe of Jesus in Trier. In 1844 he was excommunicated, and lived in England from 1849 to 1861 as a political refugee. The rest of his family and close followers scattered to Canada, the USA and Southern Africa as Protestant Missionaries.

Another theory (the origin of which is unclear), suggests the name is derived from the French word "ronger" meaning "to gnaw", perhaps a reference to an early explorer's observation of a jagged shoreline, or trees that had been chewed by beavers. According to Cree myth, a giant beaver gnawed the shoreline to its current shape.Fact|date=October 2007

La Ronge began as a fur trading post and meeting place but with the decline of hunting and the fur market La Ronge has diversified into other areas. Several mining companies, government agencies, and airlines now keep offices in La Ronge and many other businesses have started to support the staff and their families.

La Ronge is surrounded by several first nations communities and has a rich cultural heritage.

The community is also home to the La Ronge Ice Wolves junior "A" hockey team.

Town statistics

Canada_CP_2006|pop=2,725|popDelta=-0.1%
landArea=11.86|popDensity=229.8|medianAge=28.9|medianAgeM=28.1|medianAgeF=29.5
privateDwell=1318|privateDwellusual=945

See also

* List of Indian reserves in Saskatchewan

References

Geographic Location
Centre = La Ronge
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