WINNIPEG, a city and capital of the Province of Manitoba, Canada ; at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red rivers, and on the Canadian Pacific and other railroads; 40 miles S. of Lake Winnipeg, and 1,424 miles by rail W. of Montreal. The city covers an area of about 23 square miles.
Business Interests.—Winnipeg to a large degree is the shipping point for the whole extent of Canadian territory between Lake Superior and the Rocky Mountains. It contains lumber mills, wire plants, foundries, and rolling mills, flour mills, packing establishments, box, carriage and boiler factories, large rail way machine and engine shops, etc. The capital invested in its industrial establishments exceeds $75,000,000, and value of goods produced $100,000,000. The bank clearings in 1919 were over $2,300,000,000. There are also many daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals.
Public Interests.—The streets are laid out on the rectangular plan, and there are 31 public parks. The streets are lighted by gas and electricity; water is supplied from the Assiniboine river and numerous artesian wells; and there is an electric street car service. Here are the lieutenant-governor's residence, the legis lative buildings, armory, court house, an Anglican cathedral, other churches rep resenting the principal denominations, etc. Besides being the judicial and politi
cal metropolis of the Northwest, Winni peg is also its educational center. It con tains the St. John's Ladies' School, St. Mary's Academy, and the University of Manitoba, which comprises St. John's Col lege (Anglican), the College of St. Boni face (R. C.), the Methodist College, the Presbyterian College, and Manitoba Med ical College. Here also the Provincial Board of Education holds its sessions. The charitable institutions include the Deaf and Dumb Institute of the Provin cial government, St. Boniface Hospital, and Winnipeg General Hospital.
History.—Winnipeg was a trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company prior to 1870, and had a population of about 300. When Manitoba was opened up in 1870 and Winnipeg made its capital people from all parts of Canada were drawn hither. It was incorporated by the Provincial Legislature in 1873, and later its growth received a great im petus by the completion of the Canadian Pacific railroad. Pop. about 200,000.