The definitive history of Cherry Point as a named locality began during the Great Depression. In the 1930s, severe drought and economic hardship across the Canadian prairies drove families north in search of arable land. The government offered homestead grants to those willing to brave the northern frontier. Local historical accounts (such as those of early settlers like the Lyste and Johnson families) recount stories of individuals walking days through uncharted bush, crossing the Peace River on improvised rafts or logs, and scouting out fertile tracts of land. Families arrived to establish homesteads starting with canvas tents or crude log cabins chinked with mud. They cleared dense brush by hand or with early equipment, planting massive root gardens and raising livestock to survive. The Post Office opened Dec 14, 1931.

More families trickled into Cherry Point and neighboring areas like Bear Canyon and Clear Prairie through the late 1930s and post-WWII years: Roads were initially little more than overgrown trails or winter sled paths. Heavy machinery and proper grading did not substantially improve regional access until the late 1940s and 1950s.

Local children were served by small regional entities like the Cherry Point School District (later incorporated into larger school divisions). Social life centered around local schoolhouses, community gatherings, and shared agricultural efforts.