It was dominated by Manitoba's "old settler" population (i.e., English-speaking families who had lived in the Red River Settlement for many years before the province's creation).

Kildonan was a hotly contested riding between the Conservatives and Liberals following the establishment of party government in 1888.

From 1920 to 1927, the Kildonan and St. Andrews riding was represented by Labour Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Charles Tanner.

It was located in the northeastern part of the current City of Winnipeg, The Kildonan riding that existed from the 1958 election up to the election of 1981 was located in the East Kildonan area on the east side of the Red River.

Kildonan's last MLA was Nic Curry, a young former officer in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve.