Elfros (2016 population: 90) is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within the Rural Municipality of Elfros No. 307 and Census Division No. 10. It is northeast of Regina and southeast of the Quill Lakes at the junction of Highway 16 and Highway 35. It was the hometown of the protagonist in the 2018 Canadian horror film Archons.

Elfros
Village of Elfros
Icelandic settler statue in Elfros
Icelandic settler statue in Elfros
Elfros is located in Saskatchewan
Elfros
Location of Elfros in Saskatchewan
Elfros is located in Canada
Elfros
Elfros (Canada)
Coordinates: 51°44′30″N 103°51′50″W / 51.74167°N 103.86389°W / 51.74167; -103.86389
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
RegionCentral
Census division10
Rural MunicipalityElfros
Government
 • TypeMunicipal
 • Governing bodyElfros Village Council
 • MayorArleigh Helgason
 • AdministratorTina Heistad Douglas
Area
 • Total2.52 km2 (0.97 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total90
 • Density37.5/km2 (97/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
Postal code
S0A 0V0
Area code306
Highways Hwy 16
Hwy 35
RailwaysCanadian Pacific Railway
[1][2][3]

History edit

Elfros was first settled by Icelandic immigrants, and many of the present inhabitants are of Icelandic descent. A post office was opened in 1909.[4] Elfros incorporated as a village on December 1, 1909.[5]

From the Icelandic Pioneer Memorial in Elfros comes the following quotation.

"There were two waves of Icelandic settlement to and within Saskatchewan. The first group came directly from Iceland, paused briefly in Winnipeg, then moved on to Saskatchewan. The second group trekked north and west from older settlements in North Dakota and Manitoba.

In June 1882, the first Icelandic families came to Fishing Lake. The magnets were hay and water. Settlements followed at Foam Lake, Kristnes, Leslie, Mt Hecla, Holar, Elfros, Mozart, Wynyard, Kandahar and Dafoe, creating the largest Icelandic settlement outside of Iceland.

Icelanders were not natural farmers. They were poets, musicians and visionaries, people who saw work as a means to an end. Icelandic communities became cultural centres with bands, choirs and libraries. Icelanders built community halls. Many schools in the Vatnabyggd area have Icelandic names.

Important celebrations included Torrablot, the First Day of Summer, and Independence Day celebrations on June 17 and August 2.

For spiritual nourishment, Icelanders relied on traveling preachers, meeting in homes and community halls.

The Icelanders who came to Saskatchewan became competent farmers but saw the land as a means to improve conditions both for themselves and for their children. Aware of the value of family and community, they left a legacy of art, literacy, music and social responsibility." Elfros at Flickriver

Demographics edit

Population history
(1981–2016)
YearPop.±%
1981199—    
1986221+11.1%
1991181−18.1%
1996167−7.7%
2001161−3.6%
2006110−31.7%
201196−12.7%
201690−6.2%
Source: Statistics Canada via Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics[6][7]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Elfros had a population of 90 living in 48 of its 56 total private dwellings, a change of 0% from its 2016 population of 90. With a land area of 2.48 km2 (0.96 sq mi), it had a population density of 36.3/km2 (94.0/sq mi) in 2021.[8]

In the 2016 Census of Population, the Village of Elfros recorded a population of 90 living in 52 of its 58 total private dwellings, a -6.7% change from its 2011 population of 96. With a land area of 2.52 km2 (0.97 sq mi), it had a population density of 35.7/km2 (92.5/sq mi) in 2016.[9]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ National Archives, Archivia Net, Post Offices and Postmasters, archived from the original on 2006-10-06
  2. ^ Canadian Textiles Institute. (2005), CTI Determine your provincial constituency, archived from the original on 2007-09-11
  3. ^ Commissioner of Canada Elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (2005), Elections Canada On-line, archived from the original on 2007-04-21
  4. ^ National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". Archived from the original on 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  5. ^ "Urban Municipality Incorporations". Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "Saskatchewan Census Population" (PDF). Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. ^ "Saskatchewan Census Population". Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Saskatchewan". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Saskatchewan)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2020.