Rural Municipality of Manitou Lake No. 442

The RM of Manitou Lake No. 442 incorporated as a rural municipality on December 12, 1910.[2] It takes its name from Manitou Lake, which is Algonquian for "mysterious being".

In 1905, the first settlers came from Canadian regions, the British Isles, and the United States. The area was known as the Manitou Lake District. In 1907-1908 a post office was established in the home of Mr. Alex Wright, approximately one mile north-east of the present Marsden town site. The post office served the surrounding rural area. The Wrights named the post office 'Marsden'. One story recounts the name as originating from the birthplace of Mrs. Wright in Yorkshire, England; another reports it was named after the famous Marsden Rock near Newcastle, England. The adjacent area became known as the Marsden Rural Post Office District. Between 1919 and 1922, the post office was relocated one mile south to the RM office of Manitou Lake No. 442.

In 1905, the vast prairie land was covered with long grass referred to as 'prairie wool'. There were few trees or bluffs. The fertile black soil attracted many first settlers to the area and soon farms developed with sod and log homes. Farmers turned sod with horse and ox teams, sometimes using a walking plough (sulky) to prepare the ground for grain sowing. Grain was cut with binders, stooked, and threshed. Farmers hauled grain by wagon or horse-drawn sleigh to Zumbro and Artland. In the winter months, grain was hauled across the ice of Manitou Lake. Early settlers purchased groceries and supplies at Lashburn, Artland, or Chauvin, Alberta. A popular shopping method of the time was the Eaton's catalogue.

The settler's children first attended school in Learig, and in 1925 a four-room schoolhouse was built in the hamlet of Marsden.

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the RM of Manitou Lake No. 442 had a population of 505 living in 199 of its 250 total private dwellings, a change of -11.9% from its 2016 population of 573. With a land area of 839.29 km² (324.05 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.6/km² (1.6/sq mi) in 2021.[7]

In the 2016 Census of Population, the RM of Manitou Lake No. 442 recorded a population of 573 living in 209 of its 236 total private dwellings, a 4.8% change from its 2011 population of 547. With a land area of 850.95 km² (328.55 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.7/km² (1.7/sq mi) in 2016.[4]

Agriculture, cattle, and oil are primary industries for the population of 590 residents of the RM of Manitou Lake. Wheat, canola, barley, oats, peas, and flax are typical crops in the area. The region is famous for its prize-winning purebred cattle that include Hereford, Charolais, Simmental, and Angus. Agriculture diversification is noticeable with specialty livestock production such as elk and bison.

The oil industry plays a significant role in the local economy. Oil wells and batteries in the countryside evidence heavy crude oil extraction in the region.

Big Manitou Regional Park (52.7967°N 109.7886°W / 52.7967; -109.7886) is a regional park located on the north-west corner of Manitou Lake, near where the creek that drains Wells Lake flows into Manitou Lake. This park was originally established in 1975 as a part of Suffern Lake Regional Park.[8] In 2019, it was granted full park status and officially named Big Manitou Regional Park[9] It is located about 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) south and east of Marsden. The park facilities include a campground with 32 campsites, showers, cookhouse, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, ball diamonds, and a soccer field. Manitou Lake Golf Club[10] is also located in the park. It is a 9-hole, sand greens course.

Manitou Sand Hills are 105,000 acres of Crown grazing land set aside by the Saskatchewan government that surround much of the southern half of Manitou Lake in the southern portion of the RM. There is camping and guided trail rides through the Manitou Sand Hills, which are one of Western Canada's most distinctive landscapes.[11]

The RM of Manitou Lake No. 442 is governed by an elected municipal council and an appointed administrator that meets on the first Thursday after the first Tuesday of every month.[3] The reeve of the RM is Ian Lamb while its administrator is Joanne Loy.[3] The RM's office is located in Marsden.[3]

• List of rural municipalities in Saskatchewan
• List of communities in Saskatchewan
• List of protected areas of Saskatchewan