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| Geography |  Marsden is located 60 kilometres (kms) southeast of Lloydminster on Highway #40 near the Alberta border.
| | History | The Village of Marsden was established in 1923 following the Cut Knife extension of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). Originally, it was expected the Town would develop north of the railway tracks and, as a result, four businesses constructed buildings on the anticipated town site. As it turned out, the Village had to locate on the opposite side of the tracks to allow on-coming trains an unobstructed view from both directions. Three of the four businesses, Forster Brothers Garage, Marsden Trading Post (Joe Dutton), and Jones and Edward relocated to the new 'Main Street', while the fourth business, Galvin Lumber, moved to the Town of Neilburg.
The first passenger and freight train arrived in Marsden in November 1923. The railroad, transporting people, supplies and produce, was an attractive amenity to entice business development.
In 1924 the Municipal Office, which also housed the Marsden Post Office, was moved to its present location. Quaker Oats, Pioneer Grain, and the United Grain Growers (Saskatchewan Wheat Pool) built grain elevators. The Manitou Lake Rural Telephone Office moved from Artland to Marsden and the CPR station and section house were constructed. Charlie Mah Tong built a two-level cafe west of Main Street, the original site of the Bruce Confectionery. A covered staircase on the exterior of the building provided access to the upper level, which functioned as a dance hall and theatre.
In November 1926, a fire broke out on the eastside of Main Street, and destroyed Charlie Mah Tong's Rooming House and Proctor's Farm Implement shop. The Sam Kee Chinese Laundry survived. The following year, the Proctors reconstructed their shop and built the Village's first hotel, and for the next few years Marsden continued to grow. But once again, tragedy struck.
On St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1930, the Marsden Board of Trade sponsored a 'gala affair' in the dance hall. A large crowd attended with the last stragglers leaving the event at about 4:00 a.m. By 5:00 a.m. the dance hall was engulfed in flames. The last people to leave saw the flames and returned to help fight the fire. Despite their effort, the fire spread down the west side of main street and destroyed Robert's Confectionery, Smith's Pool Hall, Brown's Store, and Mahoney's Cafe. The stucco on McRae's building prevented the fire from moving northward. McRae's also housed the Bank of Commerce.
Marsden rebuilt each time following the devastating fires and it continued to grow and prosper as a community. On April 24, 1931, Marsden officially incorporated as a Village and during the Great Depression, residents built the Community Hall (1933) and the Curling Rink (1935).
| | Economic Information | Primary industries affecting the 276 residents of Marsden are agriculture, cattle ranching, and oil. Wheat, canola, barley, oats, peas, and flax are crops typically grown in the area. The region is also noted for its prize-winning purebred cattle. Several breeds are raised in the Marsden area, including Hereford, Charolais, Simmental, and Angus. Economic diversification is encouraging the development of other livestock species such as elk and bison. The oil industry, with an abundance of heavy crude in the region, also plays a significant role in the local economy.
| | Attractions | In the fall, Marsden is a popular destination for hunters. Ducks, geese, and deer are plentiful. The autumn skies are filled with many species of migratory birds, which attract numerous birdwatchers to conduct studies in the area. The Sandhills, near Marsden, are protected as a conservation area and provide a habitat for various wildlife species.
Curling bonspiels in the winter and golf tournaments in the summer provide residents with hours of pleasure. Local performers are provided the opportunity to display acting talents at the annual Dinner Theatre hosted by the Community Players Drama Club. Guests at the Manitou Wildlife Federation Annual Supper and Meeting are able to enjoy a fine selection of wild meat and local food specialties. The Marsden Community Club hosts an annual St. Patrick's Day Dance and Street Hockey Tournament and on July 1st, people from all over travel to Manitou Lake for their Canada Day celebration. The event is packed full of activities including a Slowpitch ball tournament, horseshoes, children's races, fireworks, and a barbeque supper. Many camp and bring boats and other watercraft for an enjoyable day on the water.
| | Other Info | Marsden is a member of the West Yellowhead Waste Resource Authority (WYWRA), which offers garbage disposal and recycling services. The facility, opened in October 2002, provides residents of the Village and surrounding communities with a disposal site for appliances, tires, metal, etc. and has recycling containers for paper and plastic products.
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