The Rural Municipality of Stuartburn is located along the Canada/United States border, 120 kilometres south of the City of Winnipeg. The R.M. was first formed in 1902, but went bankrupt and was disbanded in 1944 becoming a Local Government District. In 1997, Stuartburn was again incorporated as a municipality, and is currently home to 1563 people.
History
The area was first opened to homesteading in 1896, and most of the early settlers were of Ukrainian decent. The offer of (virtually) free land, prospects of employment, and freedom of religion, cultural and political matters attracted them to Canada. The area was also popular for its abundant fresh water, and wooded areas that provided shelter from the often-harsh weather. The land in the municipality is generally flat, with sandy soils and many low-lying, swampy areas. Wooded areas dot the landscape. Stands of Ash, Poplar and Oak provide cover for wildlife. The region supports a large population of white-tailed deer, as well as, many small mammals and birds. The eastern portion of the municipality gives way to spruce and evergreen forests as the area leads into the Sandilands Provincial Forest. Many areas around the community of Gardenton remain as virgin tall-grass prairie. These areas are increasingly scarce on the prairies, and the municipality has taken steps to preserve and protect them.
Economic Base
Many of Stuartburn's residents are actively involved in farming. The soils of the area are sandy, rocky, and often suffer from poor drainage. The fields do not lend themselves well to grain production, but the wooded area is almost perfectly suited to cattle farming and forage crop production. The many cattle grazing fields and pastures in Stuartburn far outnumber the residents who inhabit the municipality.
Vita, the municipality's largest Unincorporated Urban Centre, acts as a service centre for Stuartburn and other surrounding areas. Vita has a school and hospital, a grocery store, and other small businesses offering retail goods and services. A curling rink and hockey arena offers recreation activities.
