Alberta Beach

Alberta Beach
Village
Alberta Beach
Coordinates: 53°40′36″N 114°21′00″W / 53.67667°N 114.35000°W / 53.67667; -114.35000Coordinates: 53°40′36″N 114°21′00″W / 53.67667°N 114.35000°W / 53.67667; -114.35000
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Central Alberta
Census division 13
Municipal district Lac Ste. Anne County
Incorporated[1]  
 • Summer village August 23, 1920
 • Village January 1, 1999
Government[2]
 • Mayor Jim Benedict
 • Governing body Alberta Beach Village Council
Area (2016)[3]
 • Land 2.01 km2 (0.78 sq mi)
Elevation 740 m (2,430 ft)
Population (2016)[3]
 • Total 1,018
 • Density 507.1/km2 (1,313/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Highways Highway 33
Highway 43
Waterway Lac Ste. Anne
Website Official website

Alberta Beach is a village in central Alberta, Canada, west of Edmonton. It is located on the southeast shore of Lac Ste. Anne, approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) west of Highway 43 and 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Highway 633.

Alberta Beach's economy it is centred on tourism and recreation. The village is the site of the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage, an event having key significance to Aboriginal people, including Cree, Dene, Blackfoot and Métis Roman Catholics. It is also notable as being one of Edmonton, Alberta's main cottage weekend retreats.

Alberta Beach and Consort hold the distinction of being the only two urban municipalities (cities, towns, villages, and summer villages) in Alberta that do not include its municipal status in its official legal name.[4] Its official name is simply Alberta Beach instead of Village of Alberta Beach like the convention used by other urban municipalities.[4] Alberta Beach changed from this convention at the time it changed its municipal status from summer village to village on January 1, 1999.[5]

History

In 1912 the Canadian Northern Railway built its Edmonton–Vancouver line through what is now Alberta Beach. It brought its employees out for company picnics and holidays. By 1920 the area had incorporated as a summer village,[6] built a dance pavilion, a large wooden pier, and several cabins. Other companies such as Marshall Wells and Woodward's then began to bring their employees out for the same relaxing and beautiful atmosphere.

There was such a demand for this atmosphere that the Moonlight Express was started. The railway picked people up in Edmonton on Saturday mornings, took them to Alberta Beach, then picked them up Sunday night to take them back to Edmonton.

Soon people began purchasing and building their own cabins and small businesses. On January 1, 1999, the summer village of Alberta Beach became a village.[5] It now has 884 year-round residents and can swell to over 3,000 people during long weekends.[7] A hotel and many small businesses operate within the village.

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Alberta Beach recorded a population of 1,018 living in 479 of its 743 total private dwellings, a 17.7% change from its 2011 population of 865. With a land area of 2.01 km2 (0.78 sq mi), it had a population density of 506.5/km2 (1,311.7/sq mi) in 2016.[3]

In the 2011 Census, Alberta Beach had a population of 865 living in 425 of its 747 total dwellings, a -2.1% change from its 2006 population of 884. With a land area of 1.98 km2 (0.76 sq mi), it had a population density of 436.9/km2 (1,131.5/sq mi) in 2011.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Location and History Profile: Alberta Beach" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 14, 2016. p. 8. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "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.
  4. 1 2 "2011 Municipal Codes". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
  5. 1 2 "Order in Council (O.C.) 490/98" (PDF). Province of Alberta. 1998-11-25. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
  6. ↑ "The History of Summer Villages". The Association of Summer Villages of Alberta. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  7. ↑ "Welcome to Alberta Beach". Alberta Beach. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
  8. ↑ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
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