Charleswood is a semi-rural residential community and neighborhood in the southwest corner of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Since the 1930s, Charleswood has been known as “The Suburb Beautiful.” It composes part of the city ward of Charleswood – Tuxedo – Westwood; and is part of the provincial electoral district of Roblin (replacing the former electoral district of Charleswood). The Pembina Trails School Division also serves it.
It is located in the southwestern part of the city, bordered by the Assiniboine River to the north, Wilkes Avenue to the south, the Rural Municipality of Headingley to the west, and the Assiniboine Park and Forest to the east. Until it joined with the City of Winnipeg, MB in 1972, it was a separate municipality known as the Rural Municipality of Charleswood. Its population as of the 2011 Census was 25,679.
History
Before European settlement, the region was home to an ancient ford across the Assiniboine River. Patrick H. Kelly (1847–1940) is widely regarded as the founder of what is now Charleswood. He was a farmer and municipal official who moved from Perth County, Ontario, in 1906 and settled in the then-Rural Municipality of Assiniboia, taking over 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land. He built a general store in 1907, was key in establishing the community’s first post office, and was instrumental in developing the community’s school. He also convinced the Winnipeg Electric Railway Company to extend the street railway, so the community connected with the city.
Kelly eventually came to persuade community residents to apply for the creation of Charleswood as a separate municipality. The origin of the name “Charleswood” is unclear, as it has at least two possibilities: it may have been named for Charles Kelly, who served on the first municipal council, or it is a combination of the Parish name “St. Charles” and the dense woodland that encompassed the area. Bed Bug Exterminator Winnipeg
Kelly was successful, and the Rural Municipality of Charleswood was incorporated on 15 February 1913. The municipality was formed from parts of the RM of Assiniboia and Parishes of Headingley and St. Charles while excluding territories held by the Town of Tuxedo and the City of Winnipeg. The first four meetings of the new municipal council were held in a room in his store.
During the 1910s, the area was marketed as “Rydal,” a prospective residential locale by the developers of Tuxedo. However, there needed to be more housing in Charleswood before 1920, and only limited growth between 1920 and 1946. The local economy at the time was chiefly agricultural, with dairy and poultry farms, market gardens, and mink ranchers. Following World War II, it became popular with immigrants from Europe who wanted to stay within the center of Winnipeg. Development of the area increased, and new houses were constructed in the Roblin Park, Marlton, and Varsity View neighborhoods. A ferry service was in operation in the region as late as 1958, and a trail leading to the ford was visible until fairly recently. The area experienced particularly strong growth in the 1970s, with at least 7,500 homes built during that decade.
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