Brandon, Man, City, pop 41 511 (2006c), 39 716 (2001c), inc 1882. Brandon, the province's second-largest city and economic hub of its southwestern region, is located on the ASSINIBOINE RIVER, 197 km west of WINNIPEG.

From 1793 to 1832, 3 Hudson's Bay Company posts - each called Brandon House, most probably after the duke of Brandon, an ancestor of Lord SELKIRK - were established in the Brandon area. Permanent settlement began in the late 1870s at GRAND VALLEY, 3 km east, and the Brandon Hills. Quebec and Maritime Protestants were among the first arrivals, followed by British and American immigrants. The present site of Brandon was chosen as a divisional point on the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1881, and Brandon grew rapidly into the transportation, distribution, service and trade centre for the surrounding hinterland.

Industry also had an early role in the economy as manufactured goods were produced in the 1880s and 1890s. Brandon was a judicial and regional medical centre and, by the end of the 19th century, had a federal agricultural RESEARCH STATION, provincial jail, mental hospital, school of nursing, industrial school for native people and the Baptist-sponsored Brandon College. In the early 20^th century until the beginning of World War I, Brandon's population increased nearly threefold as its economy boomed. During this time, McKenzie Seeds grew into one of the largest seed houses in the British Commonwealth.

After the war, labour unrest and unfavourable economic conditions occurred. Both the city and Brandon College faced financial crises. During World War II thousands of armed forces personnel trained in the city or at nearby SHILO and Commonwealth air schools. Following the war, economic and physical growth was steady. Brandon College became a provincial university in 1967 ; Assiniboine Community College was established; manufacturing began to diversify; a regional library, arts centre and museums were developed; and facilities such as the Keystone Centre, an arena-convention complex, were built.