# Melita, Manitoba

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**Melita** (/məˈlɪtə/) is a [town](/source/Town) located in the [south-western corner](/source/Westman_Region) of the [Canadian province](/source/Provinces_and_territories_of_Canada) of [Manitoba](/source/Manitoba). It is surrounded by the [Municipality of Two Borders](/source/Municipality_of_Two_Borders) and occupies a bend of the [Souris River](/source/Souris_River). [Graham Creek](/source/Graham_Creek_(Manitoba)) runs along the west side of town and into the Souris River. The population at the 2016 census was 1,042.[1] It sits at the junction of Highways 3 and 83, approximately 320 km southwest of [Winnipeg](/source/Winnipeg). Melita is known as the "Grasslands Bird Capital of Manitoba"[2] and is located in Manitoba's [banana belt](/source/Banana_belt).

## History

Evidence of First Nations habitation in the area includes the Linear Mounds Archaeological Site and the Brockinton Archaeological Site, which have provided artifacts dating back to 800 AD.[3] The site has been designated a [National Historic Site of Canada](/source/National_Historic_Sites_of_Canada).[4]

Charles West was the first recorded European settler, in 1879.[5] The early inhabitants chose the name "Melita" for the town after hearing a Bible reading ([Acts 28:1](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2028-1;&version=31;)) about [St. Paul's](/source/St._Paul) shipwreck on the island of [Malta](/source/Malta) (Melita is an older name for the island).[6]

## Demographics

In the [2021 Census of Population](/source/2021_Canadian_census) conducted by [Statistics Canada](/source/Statistics_Canada), Melita had a population of 1,041 living in 465 of its 548 total private dwellings, a change of -0.1% from its 2016 population of 1,042. With a land area of 3.19 km2 (1.23 sq mi), it had a population density of in 2021.[7]

## Notable people

- [James Breakey](/source/James_Breakey), politician
- [John Cobb](/source/John_Cobb_(Manitoba_politician)), politician
- [Jim Downey](/source/Jim_Downey_(politician)), politician
- [Betty Fox](/source/Betty_Fox), cancer research activist and mother of [Terry Fox](/source/Terry_Fox); raised in Melita[8]
- [Wayne Hall](/source/Wayne_Hall_(ice_hockey)), professional hockey player
- [Kory Karlander](/source/Kory_Karlander), professional hockey player
- [J. Arthur Ross](/source/J._Arthur_Ross), politician

## See also

- [Melita Airport](/source/Melita_Airport)
- [Westhope–Coulter Border Crossing](/source/Westhope%E2%80%93Coulter_Border_Crossing)

## References

1. ["Melita, Town"](http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?B1=All&Code1=4605052&Code2=46&Data=Count&Geo1=CSD&Geo2=PR&Lang=E&SearchPR=01&SearchText=Melita&SearchType=Begins&TABID=1). *Census Profile*. Statistics Canada.

1. ["Bird Watching"](https://www.melitamb.ca/index.php?pageid=416). Town of Melita. Retrieved 15 January 2013.

1. ["Historical Interest"](https://www.melitamb.ca/index.php?pageid=413). Town of Melita. Retrieved 15 January 2013.

1. "Our First Century", Melita-Arthur History Committee, 1983

1. Ham, Penny (1980). [*Place Names of Manitoba*](https://archive.org/details/placenamesofmani0000hamp/page/83). Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: Western Producer Prairie Books. pp. [83](https://archive.org/details/placenamesofmani0000hamp/page/83). ISBN 9780888330673.

1. ["Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Manitoba"](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000246). [Statistics Canada](/source/Statistics_Canada). February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.

1. Martin, Sandra (2011-06-18). ["Betty Fox, cancer-advocacy champion and mother of Terry Fox, dies"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/betty-fox-cancer-advocacy-champion-and-mother-of-terry-fox-dies/article2065487/singlepage/#articlecontent). *[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)*. Retrieved 2011-06-27.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.melitamb.ca)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Melita, Manitoba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melita%2C_Manitoba) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melita%2C_Manitoba?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.