Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson | |
|---|---|
| City of Thompson | |
Highland Tower, chosen for the Spirit Way wolf mural, is the most prominent building on Thompson's skyline | |
| Nicknames: | |
City boundaries | |
| Coordinates: 55°44′36″N 97°51′19″W / 55.74333°N 97.85528°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Region | Northern Region |
| Census division | 22 |
| Established | 1956 |
| Incorporated | 1967 Town |
| 1970 City | |
| Government | |
| • City Mayor | Colleen Smook |
| • Governing Body | Thompson City Council |
| • MLA (Thompson) | Eric Redhead (NDP) |
| • MP (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski) | Rebecca Chartrand (Liberal) |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.62 km2 (6.42 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 224.03 m (735.01 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 13,035 (6th) |
| • Density | 784.31/km2 (2,031.4/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Thompsonite |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area code(s) | 204, 431, 584 |
| Highways | PTH 6 |
| Website | www |
Thompson is a city in north-central Manitoba, Canada, the largest city and most populated municipality in Northern Manitoba.
Situated along the Burntwood River, Thompson is located 210 kilometres (130 mi) north of Lake Winnipeg and 761 km (473 mi) north of the City of Winnipeg. Originally founded in 1956 as a mining town, it is one of the largest fully planned communities in Canada. It now primarily serves as the "Hub of the North", providing goods and services such as health care and retail trade to the surrounding communities.
Thompson has fewer than 15,000 residents, with many of the smaller communities accessible only by air or winter road. Despite its isolated location in the heart of Canada's boreal forest, the city is served by an all-weather road and Manitoba Highway 6, Thompson station (served by the Winnipeg–Churchill train), and by the Thompson Airport.
Thompson's natural and undisturbed surroundings make it popular with outdoor enthusiasts. The largest marina in Manitoba is 38 km (24 mi) south in Paint Lake Provincial Park. The lack of light pollution and Thompson's northern latitude allows for occasional viewing of the northern lights, even within the city limits.