Davidson is a town in south central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located 104 kilometres (65 mi) south-east of Saskatoon beside provincial highway 11 as well as Highway 44, in the rural municipality of Arm River. Located approximately halfway between Saskatoon and Regina, it is a popular stopping point with many restaurants and gas stations located adjacent to the highway.

History

In 1902 Colonel Andrew Duncan Davidson, an enthusiastic entrepreneur from Glencoe, Ontario, came to Saskatchewan in hopes of creating a 'midway' settlement between the cities of Regina and Saskatoon. With agriculture as one of his driving passions, Davidson, through the Saskatchewan Valley Land Company, purchased 700,000 acres (2,800 km) from the railway and the federal government in an area where the soil was particularly suitable for grain farming. Davidson organized a train route that travelled from Chicago to Saskatoon; making one stop in Davidson on the way. This train route brought American bankers, entrepreneurs and newspapermen in hopes of starting up new businesses in the area. With the expansion of the community underway, Davidson also managed to sell more than 180,000 acres (730 km) of land in the area.

Within a short period of time, Davidson, which was declared the name of the community, was nicknamed the 'Midway Town' because of its central location. On 15 November 1906, Davidson was officially declared a town.

During World War II the Royal Canadian Air Force built and operated RCAF Station Davidson as a component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The station was constructed on a site 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) east of the town. This site should not be confused with Davidson Municipal Airport which is adjacent to the town, on the south end.

Geography

Climate

Climate data for Davidson Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 9.4 (48.9) 14.4 (57.9) 20 (68) 32.2 (90.0) 38 (100) 42.2 (108.0) 38.9 (102.0) 40.6 (105.1) 37.2 (99.0) 31.7 (89.1) 22.2 (72.0) 15.6 (60.1) 42.2 (108.0) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −11.5 (11.3) −7.5 (18.5) −1.2 (29.8) 10 (50) 18.1 (64.6) 22.4 (72.3) 25.3 (77.5) 24.9 (76.8) 18 (64) 10.6 (51.1) −1.2 (29.8) −9.1 (15.6) 8.2 (46.8) Daily mean °C (°F) −16.8 (1.8) −12.9 (8.8) −6.5 (20.3) 3.7 (38.7) 11 (52) 15.5 (59.9) 18 (64) 17.3 (63.1) 11.1 (52.0) 4.3 (39.7) −6.2 (20.8) −14.2 (6.4) 2 (36) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −22 (−8) −18.2 (−0.8) −11.7 (10.9) −2.5 (27.5) 3.8 (38.8) 8.5 (47.3) 10.7 (51.3) 9.6 (49.3) 4.1 (39.4) −2 (28) −11.1 (12.0) −19.3 (−2.7) −4.2 (24.4) Record low °C (°F) −46.7 (−52.1) −43.9 (−47.0) −40 (−40) −28.9 (−20.0) −10 (14) −5.5 (22.1) 1.7 (35.1) −2.2 (28.0) −15 (5) −27 (−17) −35 (−31) −43 (−45) −46.7 (−52.1) Average precipitation mm (inches) 17.2 (0.68) 12.1 (0.48) 16.9 (0.67) 17.9 (0.70) 46.9 (1.85) 67 (2.6) 58.8 (2.31) 40.5 (1.59) 37.9 (1.49) 18.4 (0.72) 12.2 (0.48) 19.8 (0.78) 365.6 (14.39) Source: Environment Canada

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Davidson had a population of 1,044 living in 466 of its 524 total private dwellings, a change of -0.4% from its 2016 population of 1,048. With a land area of 4.05 km (1.56 sq mi), it had a population density of 257.8/km (667.6/sq mi) in 2021.

Sports and recreation

Hockey, baseball, fitness, curling, figure skating, dance, gymnastics, and riding are some of the activities offered to members of the community. The Davidson Cyclones of the Long Lake Hockey League play at the Davidson AGT Centre.

Davidson is home to the 9-hole grass green, Davidson Golf and Country Club.

The swimming pool beside the local campground offers swimming lessons.

Gallery

• 
  Train station
• 
  Grain elevators
• 
  Coffee pot monument in Davidson, Saskatchewan. Approximately 24 feet tall, and would hold 150,000 cups of coffee - claimed to be the world's largest.Erected in 1996, and featured on a Canadian postage stamp in 2010, the town is now considering renovation of the monument.

Education

Davidson Elementary School and Davidson High School were formerly part of the Davidson School Division, which also included schools in the communities of Kenaston, Craik and Eyebrow. As of January 1, 2006, DES and DHS are part of the Sun West School Division. In a small community, the school is at its core. This allows many opportunities for the community to get actively involved in the school and vice versa. Some of the partnerships between the school and the community include working for "Communities in Bloom," contributing to the recycling program at SARCAN, and planting trees around the newly established walking trail. Davidson School's mission statement is "Developing, Encouraging, Succeeding; Creating the Future"

Media

The community newspaper is The Davidson Leader, publishing since 1904.

See also

• List of communities in Saskatchewan
• List of towns in Saskatchewan