Southern Alberta
Encyclopedia
Southern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province
of Alberta
. As of the year 2004, the region's population was approximately 272,017. The primary cities are Lethbridge
and Medicine Hat
. The region is known mostly for agricultural production, but other sectors, such as alternative energy, film production and tourism, are emerging.
Southern Alberta is in the northern Great Plains
region, lined to the west by the Canadian Rockies
and their foothills. The rest of region is dominated by the semi-arid prairie
s of the Palliser's Triangle
, where farms and ranches have been built, often with the help of irrigation
. Rivers generally flow from west to east and include the Oldman River
, Bow River
, Red Deer River
and South Saskatchewan River
.
The environment is protected in such areas as Waterton Lakes National Park
, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
, while sites such as Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
and Dinosaur Provincial Park
were declared UNESCO
World Heritage Site
s. The Alberta Badlands are developed in the north-east of the region, prominently along the Red Deer River. Cypress Hills, located in the east, at the border with Saskatchewan
, are the highest point between the Rocky Mountains
and Labrador
.
by MLAs elected in the ridings of Airdrie-Chestermere
, Cardston-Taber-Warner
, Cypress-Medicine Hat
, Highwood
, Lethbridge East, Lethbridge West, Little Bow, Livingstone-Macleod
, Medicine Hat
and Strathmore-Brooks
.
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. As of the year 2004, the region's population was approximately 272,017. The primary cities are Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
and Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Medicine Hat, known to locals as "The Hat", is a city of 61,097 people located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is enclaved within Cypress County along with the nearby Town of Redcliff, although neither is part of the county....
. The region is known mostly for agricultural production, but other sectors, such as alternative energy, film production and tourism, are emerging.
Geography
The region has a total area of approximately 75,500 km² (29,151 sq mi).Southern Alberta is in the northern Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
region, lined to the west by the Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
and their foothills. The rest of region is dominated by the semi-arid prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
s of the Palliser's Triangle
Palliser's Triangle
Palliser's Triangle, or the Palliser Triangle, is a largely semi-arid steppe region in the Prairie Provinces of Western Canada that was determined to be unsuitable for agriculture because of its unfavourable climate. The soil in this area is dark brown or black in color and is very nutrient-rich....
, where farms and ranches have been built, often with the help of irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
. Rivers generally flow from west to east and include the Oldman River
Oldman River
The Oldman River is a river in southern Alberta, Canada. It flows roughly west to east from the Rocky Mountains, through the communities of Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Taber, and on to Grassy Lake, where it joins with the Bow River to form the South Saskatchewan River, which eventually drains into...
, Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
, Red Deer River
Red Deer River
The Red Deer River is a river in Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the South Saskatchewan River.Red Deer River has a total length of and a drainage area of...
and South Saskatchewan River
South Saskatchewan River
The South Saskatchewan River is a major river in Canada that flows through the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan....
.
The environment is protected in such areas as Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park is a national park located in the southwest corner of Alberta, Canada, and borders Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Waterton was Canada's fourth national park, formed in 1895 and named after Waterton Lake, in turn after the Victorian naturalist and conservationist...
, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is an interprovincial park straddling the southern Alberta-Saskatchewan border, located southeast of Medicine Hat...
and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is located about 100 kilometres southeast of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada or 44 kilometres east of the community of Milk River, and straddles the Milk River itself. It is one of the largest areas of protected prairie in the Alberta park system, and serves as both a...
, while sites such as Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a buffalo jump located where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains begin to rise from the prairie 18 km northwest of Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada on highway 785...
and Dinosaur Provincial Park
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about two and a half hours drive southeast of Calgary, Alberta, Canada or , about a half hour drive, northeast of Brooks....
were declared UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s. The Alberta Badlands are developed in the north-east of the region, prominently along the Red Deer River. Cypress Hills, located in the east, at the border with Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, are the highest point between the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
and Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
.
Major highways
- Highway 1
- Highway 2
- Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway)Crowsnest HighwayThe Crowsnest Highway, also known as the Interprovincial or, in British Columbia, the Southern Trans-Provincial, is an east-west highway, in length, through the southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection between British Columbia's Lower Mainland and...
- Highway 4
- Highway 5
- Highway 36 (Veteran Memorial Highway)
- Highway 41 (Buffalo Trail)
Economy
In 2007, Alberta Human Resources and Employment reported the fields of finance, insurance, real estate, professions, technicians and senior managers will lead the Lethbridge–Medicine Hat region's growth with an average 2.8% real GDP growth each year until 2011. The industries of manufacturing, energy, mining and forestry would account for 2.6% each. All ten of these fields would account for more than half of the region's domestic product.| Sector | Labour force | % of total | Agriculture | 13% | Mining | 5% | Manufacturing | 9% | Construction | 7% | Transportation and utilities | 5% | Retail and wholesale | 15% | Finance | 3% | Business and community services | 38% | Public administration | 4% |
|---|
Politics
On a provincial level, southern Alberta is represented in the Legislative Assembly of AlbertaLegislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
by MLAs elected in the ridings of Airdrie-Chestermere
Airdrie-Chestermere
Airdrie-Chestermere is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting....
, Cardston-Taber-Warner
Cardston-Taber-Warner
Cardston-Taber-Warner is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is mandated to return a single member to the for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, Cypress-Medicine Hat
Cypress-Medicine Hat
Cypress-Medicine Hat is an Albertan provincial electoral district, located in the southeastern corner of the province.Under the Alberta electoral boundary re-distribution of 2004, the constituency covers the portion of Medicine Hat south of the South Saskatchewan River, the Trans-Canada Highway and...
, Highwood
Highwood (electoral district)
Highwood is a provincial electoral district in southern Alberta, Canada. The district is one of 83 in the province mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting....
, Lethbridge East, Lethbridge West, Little Bow, Livingstone-Macleod
Livingstone-Macleod
Livingstone-Macleod is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is one of 83 current districts in the province mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting....
, Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat (provincial electoral district)
Medicine Hat is an Albertan provincial electoral district, covering most of the city of Medicine Hat.Under the Alberta electoral boundary re-distribution of 2004, the constituency covers the portion of the city north of the South Saskatchewan River, the Trans-Canada Highway and Carry Drive...
and Strathmore-Brooks
Strathmore-Brooks
Strathmore-Brooks is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:-Members of the Legislative Assembly:-2004 general election:-2004 Senate nominee election district results:...
.
Towns
- BassanoBassano, AlbertaBassano is a town in Alberta, Canada. It is located on the Trans-Canada Highway approximately east of Calgary and northwest of Medicine Hat. It is also on the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway...
- Bow Island
- CardstonCardston, Alberta-Demographics:The population of the Town of Cardston according to its 2007 municipal census is 3,578.In 2006, it had a population of 3,452 living in 1,234 dwellings, a 0.7% decrease from 2001...
- ClaresholmClaresholm, AlbertaClaresholm is a town located within southern Alberta, Canada. It is located on Highway 2, approximately northwest of the City of Lethbridge and south of the City of Calgary. The town is the seat of the Municipal District of Willow Creek No...
- CoaldaleCoaldale, AlbertaCoaldale is a town in southern Alberta, Canada, located east of Lethbridge, along the Crowsnest Highway.- Attractions :The main attractions are the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre, the Land o' Lakes Golf Course, and the Gem of the West Museum....
- Coalhurst
- Fort MacleodFort Macleod, AlbertaFort Macleod is a town in the southwest corner of the province of Alberta, Canada. It was founded as a North-West Mounted Police barracks, and is named in honour of the North-West Mounted Police Colonel James Macleod. The town's current mayor is Shawn Patience.- History and heritage preservation...
- Granum
- HannaHanna, AlbertaHanna is a town in east-central Alberta, Canada.The town's main industries are agriculture, oil production, tourism, and coal mining. It is the centre of a large trading area called Short Grass County and is the home of approximately 200 businesses...
- MagrathMagrath, AlbertaMagrath is a town in Cardston County, Alberta, Canada. Its 2006 population was 2,081. Magrath is located near the Canadian Rockies and is south of Lethbridge and south of Calgary.- History :...
- Milk RiverMilk River, AlbertaMilk River is a town in the province of Alberta, Canada, located on and named after the Milk River, which flows immediately to its south. It is south of Lethbridge, and from the Canada-U.S. border. It is primarily a service centre for the many farms and cattle ranches which surround...
- NantonNanton, AlbertaNanton is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. Nanton was named after Sir Augustus Meredith Nanton, of Winnipeg who directed firms that offered financing for farms and ranches throughout the west...
- OyenOyen, Alberta-Demographics:The population of the Town of Oyen according to its 2009 municipal census is 1,190.In 2006, Oyen had a population of 1,015 living in 404 dwellings, a 0.5% decrease from 2001. The town has a land area of and a population density of .-External links:...
- Picture ButtePicture Butte, AlbertaPicture Butte is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located north of the city of Lethbridge. It claims the title of "Livestock Feeding Capital of Canada."...
- Pincher CreekPincher Creek, AlbertaPincher Creek is a town in the southwest of Alberta, Canada. It is located immediately east of the Canadian Rockies in the centre of ranching country, north of Waterton Lakes National Park.The town's mayor is Ernie Olsen.- History :...
- RaymondRaymond, AlbertaRaymond is a town in Warner County, Alberta, Canada. It is located in southern Alberta south of Lethbridge on Highway 52. Raymond is known for its annual rodeo and its large Mormon population...
- RedcliffRedcliff, AlbertaRedcliff is a town in southern Alberta, Canada within Cypress County. Bordering the City of Medicine Hat to the south and east, the town is bisected by Highway 1 and is located on the north bank of the South Saskatchewan River....
- StavelyStavely, AlbertaStavely is a farming community in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located south of Calgary on Highway 2 and east of Willow Creek Provincial Park....
- Taber
- VauxhallVauxhall, AlbertaVauxhall is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in the Municipal District of Taber, in the prairie land between Bow River and Oldman River....
- VulcanVulcan, AlbertaVulcan is a town located midway between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge on Highway 23, in the prairies of southern Alberta, Canada. The population of the town was 1,940 in 2006, and the population of the county, which is also named Vulcan, was 3,718. The town's economy is mainly tourism and...
Villages
- Arrowwood
- BarnwellBarnwell, AlbertaBarnwell is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located west of Taber and east of Lethbridge along the Crowsnest Highway, in the Municipal District of Taber.-History:...
- BaronsBarons, AlbertaBarons is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located north of Lethbridge along Highway 23.A scene in a Superman movie was filmed at Barons.- History :...
- Carmangay
- CerealCereal, Alberta-Demographics:In 2006, Cereal had a population of 126 living in 68 dwellings, a 32.6% decrease from 2001. The Village has a land area of and a population density of .-External links:*...
- ChampionChampion, AlbertaChampion is a village in southern Alberta, Canada within Vulcan County. It is located on Highway 23, approximately north of Lethbridge and south of Calgary, Alberta.- Demographics :...
- CouttsCoutts, AlbertaCoutts is a village in Alberta and the location of one of the busiest Canada – US border crossings in western Canada. It connects Highway 4 to Interstate 15, an important trade route between Alberta, American states along I-15, and Mexico.In 2004, a joint border facility opened in Coutts-Sweet...
- CowleyCowley, AlbertaCowley is a village in the Municipal District of Pincher Creek, Alberta. It is located west of Lethbridge in Southern Alberta.It was settled in the 1880s and was named by a rancher...
- DuchessDuchess, AlbertaDuchess is a village in southern Alberta, Canada, located north of Brooks, across from Trans-Canada Highway, in the County of Newell.The village was named for Duchess Louise Marguerite. It is mainly a ranching community.- Demographics :...
- EmpressEmpress, Alberta- See also :*List of communities in Alberta*List of villages in Alberta*Monarchy in Alberta- References :...
- ForemostForemost, Alberta- See also :* List of communities in Alberta* List of villages in Alberta* Foremost Formation* Foremost Airport- External links :* * AlbertaFirst....
- GlenwoodGlenwood, AlbertaGlenwood is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located north of the town of Cardston, in Cardston County.Glenwood is located in the Cardston County. The village was named for a man named Glen Edward Wood. The founder of the village was Edward J. Wood, successor to Mormon leader Charles...
- Hill SpringHill Spring, AlbertaHill Spring is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located 32 km west of Cardston and 43 km south-east of Pincher Creek, in the Canadian Rockies foothills. It has often been misspelled Hillspring, including the Canada 2006 Census....
- Lomond
- Milo
- NoblefordNobleford, AlbertaNobleford is a village in southern Alberta, Canada and serves primarily as bedroom community of Lethbridge. It is located 32 km north of the city of Lethbridge.- History :...
- RosemaryRosemary, AlbertaRosemary is a village in southern Alberta. It is located 30 km north-west of the city of Brooks and 14 km north of the Trans-Canada Highway. It is home to one school and several businesses.- Demographics :...
- StirlingStirling, AlbertaStirling is a village in the County of Warner No. 5, Alberta, Canada. The village is located on Highway 4, approximately southeast of Lethbridge and northwest of the United States-Canada border....
- TilleyTilley, AlbertaTilley is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located within the County of Newell approximately 22 km southeast of the City of Brooks and 78 km northwest of the City of Medicine Hat.- Demographics :...
- WarnerWarner, AlbertaWarner is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in County of Warner, approximately 65 km south of the city of Lethbridge. Warner is a farming community. Warner is situated at the intersection of Highway 4 and Highway 36, about 38 km north of the Montana border and...
- YoungstownYoungstown, AlbertaYoungstown is a village in southern Alberta, Canada with Special Area No. 3. The village refers to itself as a Sportsman's Paradise due to plenty of wild game and trout fishing in the area.- Demographics :...
Municipal districts
- Acadia No. 34, Municipal District (M.D.) ofAcadia No. 34, AlbertaThe Municipal District of Acadia No. 34 is a municipal district in southern Alberta, Canada, east of Calgary, close to the Saskatchewan border, in Census Division No. 4....
- Cardston CountyCardston County, AlbertaCardston County is a municipal district in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 3 around the Town of Cardston.The municipal district was established on January 1, 1954, through the amalgamation of the Municipal District of Sugar City No. 5 and part of the Municipal District of...
- Cypress CountyCypress County, AlbertaCypress County is a municipal district located in southeastern Alberta, Canada. The County completely surrounds the City of Medicine Hat and the Town of Redcliff.The municipality is part of Census Division 1, Alberta.- Geography :...
- Forty Mile No. 8, County ofForty Mile County No. 8, AlbertaThe County of Forty Mile No. 8 is a municipal district in south eastern Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 1, east of Medicine Hat. The municipal seat is in Foremost.-Demographics:...
- Lethbridge, County ofLethbridge County, AlbertaThe County of Lethbridge is a municipal district in southern Alberta. It is in Census Division 2 and part of the Lethbridge Census Agglomeration area.-Demographics:...
- Newell, County of
- Pincher Creek No. 9, M.D. ofPincher Creek No. 9, AlbertaThe Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 is a municipal district in south western Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 3. It was established in the current boundaries in 1944, when the name was changed from Municipal District of Crowsnest No. 39 to Municipal District of Pincher...
- Ranchland No. 66, M.D. ofRanchland No. 66, AlbertaThe Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66 is a municipal district in south western Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 15. The municipality was incorporated on 1995 from the Improvement District No. 6. The municipal seat is in the Town of Nanton, located within the boundaries of...
- Taber, M.D. ofTaber, Alberta (municipal district)The Municipal District of Taber is a municipal district in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 2.-Demographics:The population of the Municipal District of Taber according to its 2008 municipal census is 6,714....
- Vulcan CountyVulcan County, AlbertaVulcan County is a municipal district in Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 6. The current boundaries of the municipality were set in 1951...
- Warner No. 5, County ofWarner County No. 5, AlbertaThe County of Warner No. 5 is a municipal district in southern Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 2, just north of the United States border. Warner was organised as a rural municipality since 1912, and established in the actual borders since 1954. The seat of the municipality is...
- Willow Creek No. 26, M.D. ofWillow Creek No. 26, AlbertaThe Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 is a municipal district in southern Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 3. The district was incorporated on Jan 01, 1954 and has the municipal seat in the Town of Claresholm.-Demographics:...
Special areas
- Special Area No. 2Special Area No. 2, AlbertaSpecial Area No. 2 is a special area in southern Alberta, Canada. It is a rural municipality similar to a municipal district, however, the elected council is overseen by three representatives appointed by the province, the Special Areas Board....
- Special Area No. 3Special Area No. 3, AlbertaSpecial Area No. 3 is a special area in southern Alberta, Canada. It is a rural municipality similar to a municipal district, however, the elected council is overseen by three representatives appointed by the province, the Special Areas Board....