North Battleford is a small city in west central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located directly across the North Saskatchewan River from the town of Battleford. Together, the two communities are known as The Battlefords. In 2001 a problem with the city's water system led to the infection of approximately 6280 people with cryptosporidiosis; a lawsuit for several million dollars went through in 2003. Famous people from North Battleford include politicians Lloyd Axworthy, Eiling Kramer and Lillian Dyck, Herbert Sparrow author Alistair MacLeod, painter Allen Sapp, actress Natalie Krill, hockey coaches Dave King and Bob Francis and American football player Rueben Mayes. The latest 2006 census reported a decline in the population of North Battleford of 3.67% from the 2001 census, resulting in a population of 13,190 residents.