Stony Plain, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Stony Plain is a large town in rural
Alberta
, Canada
, just west of Edmonton.
Stony Plain is a rapidly growing town with strong historical roots. It is located west of Spruce Grove and surrounded by Parkland County
. The town is governed by one mayor and six councillors. The region is dominated by agricultural and other resource-based industry. The proximity of Stony Plain to Edmonton
makes it attractive for commuters—servicing a surrounding population of over 60,000 people. Around the town, there are many colourful mural
s that depict important figures and events of local history. These murals have earned it the nickname "The Town with the Painted Past." The town was originally known as Dog Rump Creek.
, a geologist
on the Palliser Expedition
noticed boulders scattered across the area. The official name for the settlement was adopted in 1892.
The population of the Town of Stony Plain according to its 2010 municipal census is 14,177.
In 2006, Stony Plain had a population of 12,363 living in 4,808 dwellings
, a 28.5% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 35.61 km² (13.7 sq mi) and a population density
of 347.2 /km2.
, the Multicultural Heritage Centre, and the Pioneer Museum. The town has three major parks (Shikaoi, Whispering Waters, and Rotary), a skate park, a BMX park, and a green path system running through the middle of the town. There are eight churches in Stony Plain and seven more in the surrounding area.
The town has a vibrant civic life. It is home to the Multicultural Heritage Centre, the Parkland Potters Guild & Crooked Pot Gallery, and active service organizations such as the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, and the Royal Canadian Legion.
recycling program to the services it currently offers to residents. The Town also recently announced the 2006 Mural Project, which is a plan to add two murals in the summer of 2006. The mural artists will be selected through open competition.
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, just west of Edmonton.
Stony Plain is a rapidly growing town with strong historical roots. It is located west of Spruce Grove and surrounded by Parkland County
Parkland County, Alberta
Parkland County is a municipal district in central Alberta, Canada.It is located west of Edmonton in Census Division No. 11, along the Parkland Highway...
. The town is governed by one mayor and six councillors. The region is dominated by agricultural and other resource-based industry. The proximity of Stony Plain to Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
makes it attractive for commuters—servicing a surrounding population of over 60,000 people. Around the town, there are many colourful mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s that depict important figures and events of local history. These murals have earned it the nickname "The Town with the Painted Past." The town was originally known as Dog Rump Creek.
History
The name of the town is known to come from two possible origins. The first is that the Stoney people camped in the area historically. The seconded possibility is Dr. James HectorJames Hector
Sir James Hector was a Scottish geologist, naturalist, and surgeon who accompanied the Palliser Expedition as a surgeon and geologist...
, a geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
on the Palliser Expedition
Palliser Expedition
The British North American Exploring Expedition, commonly called the Palliser Expedition, explored and surveyed the open prairies and rugged wilderness of western Canada from 1857 to 1860. The purpose was to explore possible routes for the Canadian Pacific Railway and discover new species of plants...
noticed boulders scattered across the area. The official name for the settlement was adopted in 1892.
Demographics
| Census History |
|
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1911 | 505 |
| 1941 | 566 |
| 1951 | 878 |
| 1961 | 1,311 |
| 1971 | 1,770 |
| 1981 | 4,839 |
| 1991 | 7,226 |
| 2001 | 9,589 |
| 2006 | 12,363 |
| 2010 | 14,177 |
The population of the Town of Stony Plain according to its 2010 municipal census is 14,177.
In 2006, Stony Plain had a population of 12,363 living in 4,808 dwellings
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
, a 28.5% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 35.61 km² (13.7 sq mi) and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 347.2 /km2.
Services and attractions
Stony Plain is a full-service town. Parkland School Division operates one K-6 school, three K-9 schools, one high school, and an outreach centre within the town. Evergreen Catholic School division operates one K-8 school, and there are a variety of small private schools and home schooling organizations. NorQuest College also operates a small satellite campus, offering a variety of adult academic upgrading programs. Stony Plain is host to the newly constructed WestView Health Centre (a 68-bed public hospital), an RCMP detachment, and a Provincial Court. The Town of Stony Plain jointly owns and operates the new TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre sports complex. The town is home to several important civic and cultural institutions such as the Stony Plain Public LibraryStony Plain Public Library
The Stony Plain Public Library is a publicly funded library in the city of Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada.-History:The Stony Plain Public Library started as a project of the United Church Young People's Club. It first opened in January 1945 on 50th Street with 500 books on the shelves...
, the Multicultural Heritage Centre, and the Pioneer Museum. The town has three major parks (Shikaoi, Whispering Waters, and Rotary), a skate park, a BMX park, and a green path system running through the middle of the town. There are eight churches in Stony Plain and seven more in the surrounding area.
The town has a vibrant civic life. It is home to the Multicultural Heritage Centre, the Parkland Potters Guild & Crooked Pot Gallery, and active service organizations such as the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, and the Royal Canadian Legion.
Festivals and events
Stony Plain celebrates Farmers' Days in the first week of June each year, complete with the Farmers' Days Parade, the Kinsmen rodeo, a pancake breakfast, and fair grounds. The town also plays host to the Great White North Triathlon in the first week of July. In the summer, Stony Plain hosts two major festivals. The first is the Blueberry Bluegrass and Country Music Festival, which is held in early August and is the largest bluegrass event in western Canada. The second is the Cowboy Poetry and Country Music Gathering held in late August. In December, the town sets up a large Christmas tree on Main Street. The tree remains lit throughout the Christmas season. To celebrate New Year’s Eve, the town holds its Family Fest event at the Rotary Park. Family Fest offers skating on the frozen pond, hot chocolate, and fireworks.Recent developments
As of April 15, 2006, the Town of Stony Plain added an Organicart compost collection program and a blue bagBlue bag
A blue bag is a blue coloured, semi-transparent bag for waste, mandated for use in some localities for refuse or for certain specific types of refuse: the distinguishing color serves to assist in recycling programs. Typically, it would be used for glass, plastic or polyethylene content.-Chicago,...
recycling program to the services it currently offers to residents. The Town also recently announced the 2006 Mural Project, which is a plan to add two murals in the summer of 2006. The mural artists will be selected through open competition.