Meota (2016 population: 304) is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within the Rural Municipality of Meota No. 468 and Census Division No. 17. The village name is derived from the Cree phrase Meotate or Mo-Was-In-Ota, meaning "good place to camp" or "it is good here."[5][6]

Meota
Village
Village of Meota
Meota Business district
Motto:  It is good here!
Meota Show map of Meota No. 468 Meota Show map of Saskatchewan
Coordinates: 53.04°N 108.46°W / 53.04; -108.46
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
Region	Northwest
Census division	17
Rural Municipality	Meota
Established	1894
Incorporated (Village)	February 1, 1911
Government
• Mayor	John MacDonald
• Administrator	Bill Jamroziak
• Governing body	Meota Village Council
Area
• Total	1.55 km2 (0.60 sq mi)
Population  (2006)
• Total	297
• Density	191.9/km2 (497/sq mi)
Time zone	CST
Postal code	S0M 1X0
Area code	306
Highways	Highway 26
Railways	Canadian Northern Railway
[1][2][3][4]

Meota is on the south-western shore of Jackfish Lake and is accessed from Highway 26. Meota Regional Park is adjacent to the community.[7]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Meota had a population of 325 living in 156 of its 213 total private dwellings, a change of 6.9% from its 2016 population of 304. With a land area of 1.61 km² (0.62 sq mi), it had a population density of 201.9/km² (522.8/sq mi) in 2021.[10]

In the 2016 Census of Population, the Village of Meota recorded a population of 304 living in 148 of its 208 total private dwellings, a -1% change from its 2011 population of 307. With a land area of 1.55 km² (0.60 sq mi), it had a population density of 196.1/km² (508.0/sq mi) in 2016.[11]

History

A post office named Meota was established in 1894, but it was located where the present-day community of Metinota is,[12] leading to some confusion over the origins of the current village of Meota. The first post office in present-day Meota was established in 1910, although it was initially called Beachview.[12]

Joseph A. Dart, an early merchant, had previously established a store in a tent near current-day Meota, and in 1910, he moved to the Meota townsite where his store operated in a building on Main Street.[5] The Canadian Northern Railway opened its line through Meota in 1910–1911.[5][12] Meota incorporated as a village on July 6, 1911.[13] In 1912 the first grain elevator was constructed, and then a dance pavilion opened in 1921.[12] Other industries included brick manufacturing, a flour mill, and commercial fishing ("Meota Whites").[12] A series of fires has since decimated the village's business district, and the advent of the automobile caused many local residents to drive to North Battleford for shopping.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of communities in Saskatchewan
• Villages of Saskatchewan

References