Esterhazy, Saskatchewan
| Town of Esterhazy | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Nickname(s): Potash Capital of the World | |
 Town of Esterhazy
|
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| Coordinates: 50°39′N 102°4′W / 50.650°N 102.067°WCoordinates: 50°39′N 102°4′W / 50.650°N 102.067°W | |
| Country | Canada  |
| Province | Saskatchewan  |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| • Mayor | Herbert Hozjan |
| Population | |
| • Total | 2,602 |
| Time zone | Central Standard Time (UTC-6) |
| Postal Code | S0A 0X0 |
| Area code(s) | 306 |
| Website | esthzy.sasktelwebhosting.com |
Esterhazy is a town in the southeastern portion of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, located 83 km southeast of Yorkton along Highways 22 and 80. The town is located within the rural municipality of Fertile Belt No. 183.
History
Esterhazy is reputed to be named for Count Paul Otto d'Esterhazy, an immigrant agent who was christened Johannes Packh, but at age 35 claimed he had "incontrovertible proof" that he was a Hungarian aristocrat of the Esterházy family. This claim was never recognized by the Esterházy family, one of the wealthiest families in Hungary. A year after making his claim, he immigrated to Saskatchewan, south of the current location of the town of Esterhazy, and in 1886 helped settle 35 Hungarian families, founding the colony of Kaposvar, named after the Hungarian city Kaposvár. The colony flourished, and many more immigrants settled the area as the years went by. In 1905 the town of Esterhazy was officially founded.
The area that is now the township of Esterhazy was first settled by English settlers in 1882, who founded Sumner Parish in the north. Later colonies included the Swedes to the west, Czechs to the southwest, northeast a German colony, northwest a Welsh one, and a Jewish settlement in the southeast, near Wapella, Saskatchewan.
On July 8, 2009 the Esterhazy Flour Mill was designated as a national historic site of Canada, and is one of 45 Saskatchewan National Historic Sites.[1] The plaque commemorating the national historic site designation was unveiled on September 3, 2011. Garry Breitkreuz, Member of Parliament for Yorkton—Melville unveiled the plaque on behalf of the Peter Kent, Canada's Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.[2]
In 1906, Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church, also known as Kaposvar Church, was built in 1906-1907 by Brothers of Father Jules Pirot with Hungarian farmers hauling stones from the surrounding area. A large stone church, today it is the home of the Kaposvar Historic Site and Museum. This church is on a very well kept site, where tours of the church can be taken. [3][4]
In 1962, IMC Global (now Mosaic), a mining company, completed the shaft for a potash mine, and today the two joint mines, K1 and K2, combined produce more potash than any other mine in the world, granting Esterhazy the title of "Potash capital of the world." [5]
Students from Tantallon, Yarbo and Gerald are bused here, since the communities no longer have enough students to have a school open.
The Esterhazy Airport, located southwest of town, is also nearby.
References
- ^ Reynish, Dan (2009-07-08). "Esterhazy Flour Mill declared a historic site". CBC News. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ^ Norek, Audra (2011-09-03). "Harper Government Commemorates Esterhazy Flour Mill". Canada News Centre. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ^ "Kaposvar Historic Site" (PDF). Heritage Property Directory. Saskatchewan Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ^ Adamson, Julia (16-Feb-2013). "Saskatchewan Roman Catholic Churches ~ Online Parish Registers ~ History > Esterhazy". Saskatchewan Gen Web. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ^ "Facts about Esterhazy". Town of Esterhazy. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ^ "The Miner-Journal". Retrieved 2013-03-04.
External links
- Official website
- Esterhazy - Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan
