Melfort is known as the "City of Northern Lights" because of the spectacular aurora borealis seen in the night skies for much of the year. The first settlers came to the area in 1892, to a settlement about 2.4 km (1.5 miles) south of the city, called Stoney Creek. The name, Melfort, was that of the first post office in the area which had been named after Mary Melfort Campbell of Melfort, Argyleshire Scotland. She was the wife of Indian Agent, Regenald Beatty.
