The city of Saskatoon has a land area of 136.8 sq km (52.8 sq mi), and a metropolitan land area of 5,322 sq km (2,055 sq mi). The South Saskatchewan River divides the city of Saskatoon in two, and the two sides are connected by seven bridges, which have become important features of the city's image. The original settlement was on the east side of the river and later became known as Nutana. The east side has remained mainly residential, with higher-quality housing than other parts of the city. It is also home to the campus of the University of Saskatchewan. The west side became the business district after a rail station was built there in 1890. Downtown Saskatoon is also located on the west side of the river. A third section of the city, known as Riverdale, is located to the west of the downtown core. Riverdale was home to European immigrants in the early 20th century and, more recently, to indigenous peoples coming from northern Saskatchewan.
For many years downtown Saskatoon was split into two sections by extensive railroad tracks and yards. The city removed these in 1964 and replaced them with the Midtown Plaza, a shopping complex designed to integrate the two commercial cores. In a joint effort, the province, the city, and the university developed much of the extensive river valley within the city as a park with a system of trails. Unlike most cities, Saskatoon owns much of its suburban land so it controls and directs the city's growth into the outlying areas. As a result, the city has remained relatively compact.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Saskatoon Information info
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