The Rural Municipality of South Cypress is located in south central Manitoba, and is located only 10 kilometres south of Spruce Woods Provincial Park. South Cypress is only a short drive east from Manitoba's second largest city, Brandon.
South Cypress is easily accessed by Provincial Trunk Highways 2 and 5 (just off of the Trans Canada Highway).
History
David Thompson, an early Canadian explorer and geographer, visited the Glenboro-South Cypress area in 1798. He noted that the soil was a rich sandy-loam with thick grass growing in it. Indeed, this rich fertile land attracted the first settlers (Jonas Christie and James Duncan) to the area in 1879. The Canadian Pacific Railway was built in the area in the late 1880's, and with it came an infusion of people. By 1894, the population was 500 people. Today, the population is about 860 people.
The R.M. of South Cypress is home to the STOCKTON FERRY, the only operational ferry left in southwestern Manitoba, and one of very few left in western Canada.
Economic Base
The economy of the Rural Municipality of South Cypress is based primarily in agriculture. The municipality is home to a number of mixed farming operations including wheat, barley, oats, flax and corn farming. Beef, cattle and sheep are also raised in the municipality.
The Village of Glenboro is the major service centre in South Cypress, supplying farm machinery, technical services, and professional services for the surrounding farming communities.
Major Attractions
Located about 10 kilometres north of Glenboro is Spruce Woods Provincial Park. Spruce Woods offers camping facilities, swimming, fishing, hiking, and many picnic areas. Located along the banks of the Assiniboine River, canoeing, fishing, hiking, swimming and camping and biking are all possible during the warmer months. The park also features skating, tobogganing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. The park also features the remains of the S.S.Alpha, the last steamship to carry furs up the Assiniboine.
The Manitoba desert - Spruce Sands - can also be found in the park! This scenic desert is also just a few kilometres away from the local beach.
Facilities - Recreation, Parks, Culture
South Cypress offers a plethora of activities and events for the active! Do not to miss the famous town-wide Yard Sale held annually every May in Glenboro. The municipality also offers Fair Days, a Farmer's Market, harness racing and various sporting activities held throughout the year!
