Meadow Lake, Sask, Town, pop 4582 (2001c), 4819 (1996c), 4318 (1991c), 3976 (1986c), area 7.64 km2, inc 1936, is located 160 km N of North Battleford and 100 km E of the Alberta border. It is one of the more recently incorporated communities in the province but its history dates from the FUR TRADE rivalry between the Hudson's Bay Co, which first exploited the area, and the North West Co. The fur trade remained the dominant activity into the 1930s and provided a market for the ranchers who brought horses and cattle into the area in the early 20th century.
During the 1930s many farmers deserted land in the "dust bowl" and moved N to start again. Meadow Lake was a popular destination, and the arrival of a CPR line in 1936 provided an opportunity for further development. The area also has a strong forestry sector and is the home of the world's first zero effluent pulp mill. Residents and vacationers appreciate the blend of agriculture and wilderness, past and present, in the area.