In May of 1881, General Thomas Rosser chose a location for a major divisional point of the Canadian Pacific Railway and named this new townsite "Brandon". The name "Brandon" is derived from the Blue Hills of Brandon who had received its name from a Hudson's Bay trading post known as Brandon House. Brandon House was named after a hill on an island in James Bay where Capt. James had moored his ship in the winter of 1631. Hundreds flocked to Brandon to gain a foothold in the new development and reap the benefits of the rich and abundant farmland. They came quickly and before they could put up permanent structures, new habitants arrived and pitched their tents, sure to be charter participants in the new West. Brandon grew so rapidly that it never attained the status of village nor a town, but became a city overnight. Brandon was officially incorporated as a city on May 30th, 1882.
On July 3rd, 1882 the first council of the City of Brandon held its historic meeting. The first mayor of Brandon was the Honourable Thomas Mayne Daly.
Brandon has been nicknamed the "Wheat City" in honor of its rich agricultural heritage and reputation as a prosperous farming community. It is situated in the southwest corner of the province of Manitoba and is the second largest city in Manitoba. Brandon covers an area of 43 square kilometers (26 square miles) and its official population according to the most recent information the population is 43,725. However, its trading area population is estimated at 180,000. 
Brandon is the little city with the big heart and has three times been voted one of the top ten cities in Canada in which to live. Brandon is a progressive community with a quality of life that must be experienced to be appreciated.
Historical Links
BJ Hales Museum of Natural History
Brandon Mental Health Center Museum
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum
Brandon University Archives
Manitoba Historical Society
