Esterhazy is reputed to be named for Count Paul Otto d'Esterhazy, an immigrant agent who was christened Johannes Packh, but at age 35 claimed he had "incontrovertible proof" that he was a Hungarian aristocrat of the Esterházy family. This claim was never recognized by the Esterházy family, one of the wealthiest families in Hungary.
A year after making his claim, he immigrated to Saskatchewan, south of the current location of the town of Esterhazy, and in 1886 helped settle 35 Hungarian families, founding the colony of Kaposvar, named after the Hungarian city Kaposvár.
The colony flourished, and many more immigrants settled the area as the years went by. In 1905 the town of Esterhazy was officially founded.
The area that is now the township of Esterhazy was first settled by English settlers in 1882, who founded Sumner Parish in the north. Later colonies included the Swedes to the west, Czechs to the southwest, northeast a German colony, northwest a Welsh one, and a Jewish settlement in the southeast, near Wapella, Saskatchewan.
In 1962, IMC Global (now Mosaic), a mining company, completed the shaft for a potash mine, and today the two joint mines, K1 and K2, combined produce more potash than any other mine in the world, granting Esterhazy the title of "Potash capital of the world."[4]
Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church, also known as Kaposvar Church, was built in 1906-1907 by Brothers of Father Jules Pirot with Hungarian farmers hauling stones from the surrounding area. A large stone church, today it is the home of the Kaposvar Historic Site and Museum. This church is on a very well kept site, where tours of the church can be taken.[7][8]
Demographics
In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Esterhazy had a population of 2,345 living in 1,068 of its 1,358 total private dwellings, a change of -6.3% from its 2016 population of 2,502. With a land area of 5.56 km2 (2.15 sq mi), it had a population density of 421.8/km2 (1,092.4/sq mi) in 2021.[9]
Esterhazy Regional Park
Esterhazy Golf and Country Club
Esterhazy Regional Park (50°39′30″N102°03′32″W / 50.6583°N 102.0588°W / 50.6583; -102.0588) is located on the eastern side of Esterhazy along the banks of the Kaposvar Creek.[10] Founded in 1984, it was the 100th regional park established in Saskatchewan. The park has a campground, 9-hole golf course, ball diamonds, cross-country ski trails, and hiking trails.[11]
The campground has 32 electric campsites, potable water, showers, and washrooms. The golf course has grass greens, is a par 34, and has a total of 2,834 yards.[12][13]
Education
Esterhazy High School and P. J. Gillen School are in the Good Spirit School Division.[14]
Students from the nearby communities of Tantallon, Atwater, Yarbo, and Gerald also attend school in Esterhazy.
^"Kaposvar Historic Site"(PDF). Heritage Property Directory. Saskatchewan Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
