A rural municipality, often abbreviated RM, is a type of municipal status in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan,[1] and Prince Edward Island.
[3][4] Unlike Eastern Canada or the United States, the Prairies have never had counties.
The Municipal Ordinance of 1883 was enacted by the then North-West Territories to incorporate and empower municipalities in areas of four or more townships, establishing the offices of Treasurer, Assessor, Collector, and Auditor; departments for roads, animal control, and police; and a judiciary depending on the size of the municipality.
In Saskatchewan, discontinuance of local improvement districts in favour of smaller rural municipalities began on December 13, 1909.
Settled areas of denser populations could form urban municipalities such as villages, towns and cities.