Plenty incorporated as a village on March 25, 1911. The Canadian Pacific Railway chose the name Plenty. As the railroad was being laid, the future town site and surrounding areas were the first fields on the line that had good crops, thus appearing to be "the Land of Plenty", and the town received its name from this inspiration. Approximately north of Plenty is the Moore's Ravine Municipal Heritage Site made up of approximately designated on which are located several Aboriginal heritage sites including two turtle effigies, the Plenty Medicine Wheel, and test pits where archaeological digs have revealed hundreds of scattered buffalo bones. This site is on private land. east of Plenty is Lake Opuntia. It is a stopping place for birds and wildlife and covers approximately 1395 hectares. In the 1950s, the area surrounding the lake was made a game preserve to regulate hunting. Opuntia Lake is strategically situated in the major goose fall staging area of Western Canada, is a very important staging area for waterfowl. Estimated maximum fall concentrations include 15,000 to 20,000 geese, up to 30,000 ducks, 2,000 Sandhill Cranes and 500 Tundra Swans. The lake supports only a small number of breeding and moulting dabblers and divers. During the 1950s, a program of tree planting occurred at the lake along with the construction of baseball diamonds and a boat house. For several years the Plenty Sports Day was held at the lake. Several attempts were made to stock the lake with fish but the lakes salinity and fluctuating levels brought an end to this project and the use of the site for the sports day. In the mid 1970s, a dirt and stock car track was built near the gravel pits at the lake. Although the track was completed, races were never held.
Demographics
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Plenty recorded a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016. In the 2011 Census of Population, the Village of Plenty recorded a population of, a change from its 2006 population of. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2011.
Economy
The economy of Plenty and area is primarily driven by agriculture with some oil and gas activity to the west and south of the town.
