Saskatchewan Highway 33

Communities

Stoughton is located at the intersections of three main highways: Highway 13 (the Red Coat Trail), 33, and 47. Highway 33 begins at a junction with Highway 47 just north of the intersection with Highways 13 and 47. Although it is designated as east-west, the highway travels in a south east/north west direction for its entire length. In 1901, this community was named New Hope, North West Territories, changing name to Stoughton and moving a little to the south in 1904 when the CPR railway came through the area. Stoughton with a motto of The Heart of the South East Crossroads of Friendship became a town in 1960 and in 2006 had 653 residents.

Heward, a hamlet of fewer than 30 residents, is a part of the rural municipality of Tecumseh No. 65. The post office of Heward began operations April 1, 1904. The village of Creelman with 81 residents in 2006.

Fillmore, currently a village of 193, is located at the intersection of Route 33 and Saskatchewan Highway 606. Saskatchewan Highway 711 intersects with route 33 just south of Osage. Osage is a small area with a post office as early as 1903. Osage combines its population with Fillmore No 96. Tyvan combined its population with Wellington No. 97 as of July 1, 1936.

Francis, a town of 148 along Highway 33, is at the intersection of Saskatchewan Highway 35. Sedley is a village which had a population of 322 people in 2001, and is now a village and a part of rural municipality Francis No. 127. Lajord is too small to be enumerated on its own accord, and is a part of the administrative district of rural municipality Lajord No.  128 Oyama is now being run as a private camp ground, under the false pretense that it has been and is currently supposed to be closed to the public for upgrades to be completed, it is located between Lajord and Kronau.

Kronau now adds its population and administrative affairs to Lajord No. 128 rural municipality. Richardson first named Richardson Station on the CPR rail line, now adds its population and administrative affairs to Edenwold No. 158 rural municipality. McCallum is now a ghost town, and was located immediately south east of Regina.

With the advent of motor vehicle transportation and better highways, several small communities started to disappear. The days of trail and horse and buggy necessitated travel between centres which were established approximately 6 miles apart, which is no longer required. The amenities of larger centres have given rise to a lower rural population, and a higher urban population in the province.

Regina is the only city of 179,246 residents along Route 33, and is the ending terminus. Regina is the second largest city of the province of Saskatchewan, and is the capital city.

Rural municipalities

Local Improvement District number 6 E 2 held its first administrative meeting on June 29, 1904.

A road commissioner was appointed in each division at a rate of $2.50 per day overseeing work. Residents were permitted to pay taxes in 1904 with labor on the road at 20 cents per hour for man, 35 cents per hour for man and team. Road Commissioners were: Robert Mott, Division 1, Township 11, Range 9; Ed Kutz, Division 2, Township 12, Range 9; DJ Stewart, Division3, Township 11, Range 10; JR Sleightholm, Division 4, Township 12, Range 10.

December 13, 1909 saw the changeover from Local Improvement District number 6 E 2 to Fillmore No 96. From legislation put into place by Premier Walter Scott December 13, 1909 saw the province divided into Local Improvement Districts of about 3 townships by 3 townships in size.

a person could work for the municipality and have his earnings put toward the taxes on his land; at one time, money collected in each Division stayed in that Division....The RM has as its responsibilities for many areas: agricultural programs and concerns in general; tax collections for needs of the municipality - road construction and maintenance; protective services - pest control, fire protection, weed control, environmental development, cultural and educational services; medical and veterinary needs and so forth.

As travel continues towards Regina the agricultural landscape of the area starts to become interspersed with industrial parks. The RM of Sherwood No. 159 with a population of 1,075 rural residents in 2006 encompasses the city of Regina.

Major attractions and geophysical features

The terrain along highway 33 is mainly undulating agricultural wheat and grain fields. Grain and livestock production is the main economic industry in the area. The name Lajord translated from Norwegian meaning flat place aptly describes the scenery. The Stoughton Campground along route 33 features swimming pool, tennis court, ball diamond and golf course. The Red Barn, and Stoughton and District Museum conserve the past, while parks and a golf course provide recreation in this town.

Osage Wildlife Refuge is a conservation area just to the west of route 33.

Wascana Creek meanders along the western side of Saskatchewan Highway between Tyvan and Regina giving rise to the Wascana Valley. Route 33 crosses the creek at Tyvan, and the creek makes a hairpin curve and peters out to the north east of town.

Between Lajord and Kronau is the regional park on the east side of the highway featuring the Oyama Regional Park Golf Course which opened in 1971.

History

November 9, 1904 saw the arrival of the CPR rail line. The Souris-Arcola-Regina Section branch line was the longest piece of straight track worldwide, and still has the claim of being the longest straight track of North America. Route 33 follows along this surveyed rail line. * C.P.R – serves Stoughton, Heward, Saskatchewan, Creelman, Fillmore, Osage, Tyvan, Francis, Sedley The Hanson brothers from Lajord developed one of the first swathers in use in Saskatchewan.

Major intersections

From southeast to northwest: