Sarah Palin and husband Todd Palin, right, in Hamilton, Ont. She told her audience that her husband's roots are in western Manitoba. (Sheryl Nadler/Canadian Press)People in a tiny Manitoba town are crossing their fingers one of the biggest political figures in the U.S. will accept an invitation to visit their community.

The town of Hartney, population 400, has extended an invitation to former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice-president nominee Sarah Palin to come and explore her family's roots in the keystone province.

The invitation was proffered after Palin noted during a speech in Hamilton, Ont., on April 15 that her in-law's family hails from Hartney, located 285 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.

Frederick William Palin, the grandfather of Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, was born in Hartney in 1905, a fact confirmed by local historian Brad Coe.

Coe said records show the farming family left the area for greener pastures in Saskatoon the following year, but later returned to Manitoba to settle near Elm Creek.

"It was a very dynamic time, and people were looking for opportunities where they could get established quickly and securely," Coe said. "That's probably what these people were doing."

According to media reports, Frederick Palin later moved to Washington state, where he had a son who is Todd Palin's father. Todd Palin was born in Alaska in 1964.

Hartney Mayor Bruce Evans told CBC News on Monday that he has sent an email to Palin inviting her to the town.

With files from The Canadian Press