The community once had a peak population of over 250 citizens and was incorporated under the status of a village until it was dissolved to become under the jurisdiction of Improvement District No.

[4] Retlaw was expected to be a large community in its area, with features of similarly sized communities of its time including four grain elevators, a pool hall, hotel, CPR railway station, churches, blacksmith, and a number of other businesses.

[5] Due to the Province of Alberta bringing an irrigation canal that passed the nearby Town of Vauxhall in the 1920s, Retlaw was left in a dry land state causing the community to die off.

By 1925 most of the Retlaw's inhabitants moved out into neighbouring communities, searching for a better way of life, some even bringing their homes and business with them.

Only the restored Retlaw Union/United Church, a community centre, two houses, the blacksmith shop and a few foundations remain.