Morden, Man, Town, pop 6142 (2001c), 5689 (1996c), 5273 (1991c), area 12.86 km2, inc 1903, is located 104 km southwest of Winnipeg and 20 km north of the international boundary. The area contains fossils of marine reptiles and the ancient sites of Mound Builders. The fossils are the focus of the town's museum. European and Métis explorers, fur traders and bison hunters exploited the area's natural resources. Ontarians homesteaded here in 1874; Jewish and Mennonite settlers followed. The Morden townsite - named for Alvey Morden, an early settler - was established by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1881-82, and by 1885 it had a thriving business community.
The region is well suited to agriculture. A federal RESEARCH STATION at Morden is the main prairie centre for horticultural and special crops research. Morden is the major service centre for the region and there is a mixture of light industry. Morden is the birth place of Loreena MCKENNITT.