The Town of Arborg is located in Manitoba's Interlake Region, 100 kilometres north of Winnipeg, Manitoba's capital city. The Arborg area was originally part of the Rural Municipality of Bifrost, but was incorporated as its own entity in 1964. The community with a population of 1010 has experienced steady growth since its incorporation.
Arborg is a service and shopping centre for a market area of almost 13,000. The town is large enough to provide all the expected comforts, yet maintains a sense of community and small town hospitality. A variety of businesses and industries call Arborg home.
History
The Interlake Region around Arborg is rich in Icelandic history. In 1876, the Canadian Government set aside a reserve for Icelandic settlers, which the Icelanders called the "Republic of New Iceland", along the west shore of Lake Winnipeg. By 1887 the people of the reserve voted to become part of Manitoba and formed a municipality. Settlements on the shore of the lake gradually spread west along the Icelandic River and approached the present day site of Arborg in 1890. In 1901, the homestead of Ardal was settled which gave Arborg its name.
The Interlake Region, where Arborg is located, is a unique combination of landscape and terrain. The lake has a moderating effect on the climate and much of the area is covered in wooded areas of ash and poplar. The land is relatively flat and much of the brush has been cleared for farming fields.
Economic Base
The Town of Arborg serves as the main service centre for a number of residents and communities in the Northern Interlake Region. Many retail businesses provide a wide array of goods and services to area residents. Farming plays an important role in the local economy with many diverse agricultural operations in the area. Conventional grain and oilseed crops, as well as livestock producers, operate alongside more unique operations like PMU producers. The area also supports many strong lamb producers, and a growing rabbit industry.
The Arborg area is also well known for producing very high quality forage and grass crops for livestock production. Local producers are currently developing an alfalfa dehydrating facility, able to ship dry product to foreign markets. Manufacturing firms and machine shops in Arborg produce many things from pellet burning stoves for international markets, to custom products for local customers.
Nearby Lake Winnipeg supports a strong commercial fishery and many Arborg residents make their living fishing the lake year round. Arborg is also home to many businesses providing specialty services to the fishing industry.
Major Attractions
Arborg has many recreational, sporting and cultural activities available. The Arborg Recreation Complex boasts a number of facilities. Located at the north end of Ingolfs Street, the complex houses a skating arena, curling rink, community hall, day care, playground, and a baseball park. The complex is home to a number of organized sports and activities, such as minor and adult sports teams and an active seniors club.
Arborg has a bowling alley, movie theatre and public library situated in the historic CPR Station in the main commercial section of town. The town also has numerous walking trails and paths throughout and along the picturesque Icelandic River.
