MORRIS, MANITOBA, CANADA

The town of Morris, MB has a long and prosperous pioneer history. Named after Alexander Morris, the second Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba (1872-1876), the town is located along the Red River of the North in the South Central region of Manitoba and is encompassed by the wide prairie landscape for miles in any direction.

Early Settlement
By 1801, Morris boasted two fur-trading stations at the settlement and its primary focus was provisioning barges coming up and down the Red River. River traffic as well as the Red River ox carts traveling between Fort Garry and the Pembina settlement offered many opportunities for trade. By 1869, the ox carts began to carry settlers to areas around the Scratching River and its population continued to grow.

Along with the Red River, it is the farm landscape that identifies the area's heritage. The soils of the Red River Valley, considered to be some of Canada's best, have always enabled farmers to harvest above average crop yields. The productive soil, the climate, and the proximity to traffic routes and markets ensure a diverse range of agricultural pursuits.

In 1883, the town of Morris was incorporated on a site almost three miles square. At that time, this was larger than the still young town of Winnipeg.

Commerce
Early settlers grew mainly cereal products, but today's farmers have diversified. Primary crops include wheat, barley, flaxseed, canola, lentils, and hay. West and north of Morris there is intensive hog and poultry production with Morris making up 44% of the hog production and 25% of the egg quota for the Province of Manitoba.

In addition to large-scale farming, regional market gardens are popular with farmers growing strawberries, raspberries, and several vegetable crops for Manitoba's produce consumer.

With a trade area population of approximately 10,000 people, Morris has also developed into a well-rounded service center boasting a variety of well-established agricultural industries. Morris' strategic location in the heart of the Red River Valley at the crossroads of numerous interstate highways is strengthened by the fact that it is only 40 minutes from Winnipeg and 25 minutes from the international border. Three grain elevators, a bulk fertilizer dealer, two agricultural implement manufacturers, chemicals, bulk fuel and petroleum products are among the agricultural-industries located along the rail way right-of-ways that provide the shipping and transport ease required for successful trade.

Present
According to Canada Census data, the growth of Morris has been relatively stable over the last thirty years and today stands at 1,616. The agricultural land has always been a prime focus for the community, from the first recorded people in the area to the farmers and farm-based business people of Morris today.

Year-round events attract substantial community and tourism involvement. The Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition, the annual Catfish Derby along the Red River, the annual Winter Carnival are among the wealth of available attractions.

From a community and cultural perspective, Morris offers a wide range of enriching events and activities. The Morris and District Centennial Museum offers a collection of historic artifacts that relates to local lifestyles of area pioneers including a display home depicting the room-by-room antiques and furnishings of a turn of the century home.

Winter recreation revolves around the Morris Arena that hosts both hockey and figure skating activities and the curling ice at the Big "M" Entertainment Centre. In addition, Morris provides groomed cross-country ski trails along the Red River where the treed banks offer an excellent setting for duck, goose, and deer hunting.

Summer activities include supervised swimming at the Davidson Memorial Pool, a heated outdoor Junior Olympic pool with two diving boards, organized baseball, a par 35 nine hole golf course and a number of picturesque camping and picnic facilities. A boat dock and launch is also located on the banks of the Red River.

View the Morris Photo Gallery.