Crystal City is located in South Central Manitoba, just 15 kms (~10 miles) north of the Canadian border crossing with the United States close to Sarles, North Dakota; it is about 200 kms (125 miles) south-west of Winnipeg, and 150 kms (90 miles) south-east of Brandon. The "Friendly Southern City" is located on Highway #3.
 
Founded by Thomas Greenway in 1880, it was called Crystal because of the crystal-clear water of the creek by which it was built, and City because that is what he and his fellow settlers thought it would become.