Virden, Manitoba

Virden, Manitoba

Virden, Manitoba (pop. 4010) is a regional centre, serving southwestern Manitoba. Oil was first discovered in 1951, and Virden has since come to be known as the "Oil Capital of Manitoba".

The town is located at the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway (also known as Highway #1) and Highway 83 and is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Wallace.

History

In 1882, the Canadian Pacific Railway's (CPR) end of the steel was in the Virden area. A settlement, named Gopher Creek, began approximately one mile east of the town's present location. The name was chosen because of a creek of the same name. This creek, in turn was named for the numerous gophers found in the area.The CPR then chose to relocate the town to section 22, township 10, range 26 west. At this point, the town tried to change its name to Manchester, but that name was already selected by another community. As a result, the town picked the name Virden. The exact origin of the name is not known, but the most probable explanation is that it is a spelling mistake for Verden, Germany. [cite book |last=Clingan|first=Ida |title=The Virden Story |year=1957 |publisher=Friesen Printers] During World War II, Virden was home to No.19 Elementary Flying Training School - part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

Industry

Oil

Oil was first discovered near Virden in 1956. [cite web|url=http://www.communityprofiles.mb.ca/cgi-bin/cd/index.cgi?id=4606|title=Virden Area Census Division Profile|accessdate=2007-08-26] The town sits atop one of Manitoba's largest oilfields, the Virden Oilfield. Two of the other largest fields, the Daly and the Sinclair, are also in the vicinity of the town. [cite web|url=http://www.virden.ca/page.aspx?page_id=15| title=Natural Resources|accessdate=2007-08-26]

Tourism

Virden Pioneer Home Museum

Known as the "Victorian Home on the Prairies", the Pioneer Home Museum exists within a late nineteenth century home. With over 9000 donated items relating to Virden area, the Museum's collection is extensive. It is open daily from May to September and offers guided tours by youth guides.

References

External links

* [http://www.communityprofiles.mb.ca/cgi-bin/csd/index.cgi?id=4606034 Town of Virden Community Profile]


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