Claresholm

Claresholm is a town located within southern Alberta, Canada. It is located on Highway 2, approximately 91 km (57 mi) northwest of the City of Lethbridge and 125 km (78 mi) south of the City of Calgary.

Claresholm
Town
Town of Claresholm
Motto(s): 
Now you're living ... Now you're home[1]
Claresholm
Location of Claresholm in Alberta
Coordinates: 50°01′10″N 113°34′42″W
Country Canada
Province Alberta
RegionSouthern Alberta
Census division3
Municipal districtMunicipal District of Willow Creek No. 26
Incorporated[2] 
 • VillageMay 30, 1903
 • TownAugust 31, 1905
Government
 • MayorDoug Macpherson
 • Governing bodyClaresholm Town Council
Area
 (2016)[4]
 • Land8.11 km2 (3.13 sq mi)
Elevation1,030 m (3,380 ft)
Population
 (2016)[4]
 • Total3,780
 • Density465.9/km2 (1,207/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span
T0L 0T0
Area code(s)+1-403, +1-587
HighwaysHighways 2
Highway 520
WaterwaysWillow Creek
WebsiteOfficial website

One of the Famous Five involved in the Persons Case, Louise McKinney, lived in Claresholm and was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the area in the 1917 provincial election.

History

The location was originally a watering stop for steam engines on the Canadian Pacific Railway line along the Macleod Trail when the trains first arrived in the area in 1891.[6] The first settlers arrived in 1902, and the village was established in 1903. Claresholm was incorporated as a town in 1905, the year Alberta became a province. The community was named after Clare, a pioneer citizen.[7]

In 1913, Alberta established a demonstration farm and School of Agriculture at Claresholm. The first hospital in Claresholm opened in 1921 and was replaced by the current hospital in 1939.[8]

Royal Canadian Air Force Station Claresholm was established near the town in 1941 to train pilots for service in World War II. It first opened June 9, 1941 as a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan base. No. 15 Service Flying Training School operated at the base from its opening until March 1945. In 1951, the base was used to train pilots for the Korean War and operated as No. 3 Flying Training School. It also trained NATO pilots. The base closed in 1958 and the hangars were converted to industrial use. A portion of the former base operates as Claresholm Industrial Airport. Among the artifacts in the Claresholm Museum from the air base is a Link Trainer.

The Claresholm highway massacre took place just north of Claresholm on Alberta Highway 2 on December 15, 2011. The suspect killed three people then turned the gun on himself in a murder–suicide.

Geography

Climate

Claresholm experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). During winter, Chinook winds have been known to move temperatures from well below freezing to well above in a matter of hours.

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Claresholm recorded a population of 3,780 living in 1,644 of its 1,742 total private dwellings, a 0.6% change from its 2011 population of 3,758. With a land area of 8.11 km2 (3.13 sq mi), it had a population density of 466.1/km2 (1,207.2/sq mi) in 2016.[4]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Claresholm had a population of 3,758 living in 1,635 of its 1,756 total dwellings, a 1.6% change from its 2006 population of 3,700. With a land area of 9.08 km2 (3.51 sq mi), it had a population density of 413.9/km2 (1,071.9/sq mi) in 2011.[10]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1986 3,382—    
1991 3,297−2.5%
1996 3,427+3.9%
2001 3,622+5.7%
2006 3,700+2.2%
2011 3,378−8.7%
2016 3,424+1.4%
2011 count revised from original tabulation. Sources:
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See also

References
  1. "Claresholm reveals community "brand"" (PDF). Town of Claresholm. 2007-06-20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  2. "Location and History Profile: Town of Claresholm" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 141. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  3. Alberta Municipal Affairs: Municipal Officials Search
  4. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  5. "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  6. Patterson, E.R. (1969). The Early History of the town of Claresholm. Lethbridge, Alberta: University of Lethbridge. p. 7. Archived from the original on 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  7. Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 34.
  8. Douglas, Helen (1965). Echoes of Willow Creek. Granum, Alberta: Willow Creek Historical Society. p. 94. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  9. "Claresholm, Alberta". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 (in English and French). Environment Canada. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  10. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
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