Arthur-Virden
Encyclopedia : A : AR : ART : Arthur-Virden
Arthur-Virden is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1989, combining the former constituencies of Arthur and Virden.
Arthur-Virden is located in the southwestern corner of the province. It is bordered to the north by Russell and Minnedosa, to the east by Turtle Mountain, to the west by the province of Saskatchewan and to the south by the American state of North Dakota.
Communities in the riding include Virden, Elkhorn, Oak Lake, Hartney, Deloraine, Melita, Reston and Boissevain.
The riding's population in 1996 was 19,479. As of 1999, the average family income was $41,338, and the unemployment rate was 4.80%. The riding is primarily agrarian, with agriculture accounting for 32% of its industry.
Ten per cent of the Arthur-Virden's residents list German as their ethnic background. The riding has one of the highest rates of senior citizens in the province, at 19.7% of the total.
Arthur-Virden, and the two ridings from which it was formed, have been Progressive Conservative seats since 1953. The New Democratic Party has increased its presence in recent years, however.
List of provincial representatives
| Name | Party | Took Office | Left Office
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Downey | PC | 1990 | 1999 |
| Larry Maguire | PC | 1999 | present
|