Swift Current 5.68

Swift Current is the fifth-largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is situated along the Trans Canada Highway 170km west from Moose Jaw, and 218km east from Medicine Hat, Alberta. Swift Current grew 3.7% between 2006 and 2011 ending up at 15,503 residents. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Swift Current No. 137.HistorySwift Current's history began with Swift Current Creek which originates at Cypress Hills and traverses 100mi of prairie and empties into the South Saskatchewan River. The creek was a camp for First Nations for centuries. The name of the creek comes from the Cree, who called the South Saskatchewan River Kisiskâciwan, meaning "it flows swiftly". Fur traders found the creek on their westward treks in the 1800s, and called it "rivière au Courant" (lit: "river of the current"). Henri Julien, an artist travelling with the North-West Mounted Police expedition in 1874, referred to it as "Du Courant", and Commissioner George French used "Strong Current Creek" in his diary. While it took another decade before being officially recorded, the area has always been known as "Swift Current".