Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the area of Minnedosa, the land was primarily travelled and used by the nomadic Ojibway, Cree, Assiniboine, and Sioux peoples.

[3] Tanner named the new town Minnedosa, from the Dakota word mní dúza meaning "flowing water".

[4] In 1883 Minnedosa was incorporated as a town, it had experienced a period of growth from settlement schemes put forth by the Canadian government.

[3] As Minnedosa became a town, this coincided with the actual arrival of the railway in 1883, bringing about more growth for the now quickly growing settlement.

[3] On May 4, 1948, the spillway of the dam failed due to erosion of structure, and the resulting flood damaged many homes and businesses in the town.

In the relatively short summers Minnedosa experiences warm and sometimes hot temperatures due to warmer continental air masses.