Spirit River is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is approximately 78 km (48 mi) north of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 49 and Highway 731.
Spirit River | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Town of Spirit River | |
 Town boundaries | |
  Spirit River Location in the M.D. of Spirit River  Spirit River Location in Alberta | |
| Coordinates: 55°46′46″N 118°50′11″W / 55.77944°N 118.83639°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Planning region | Upper Peace |
| Municipal district | Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133 |
| Incorporated[1] | |
| • Village | June 13, 1916 |
| • Town | September 18, 1951 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Tammy Yaremko |
| • Governing body | Spirit River Town Council |
| Area (2021)[3] | |
| • Land | 3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 640 m (2,100 ft) |
| Population (2021)[5] | |
• Total | 992 |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Area code | 1-780 |
| Highways | Highway 49 Highway 731 |
| Waterways | Spirit River Dunvegan Creek |
| Website | Official website |
Demographics
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 210 | — |
| 1926 | 167 | −20.5% |
| 1931 | 232 | +38.9% |
| 1936 | 234 | +0.9% |
| 1941 | 276 | +17.9% |
| 1946 | 362 | +31.2% |
| 1951 | 553 | +52.8% |
| 1956 | 743 | +34.4% |
| 1961 | 890 | +19.8% |
| 1966 | 1,034 | +16.2% |
| 1971 | 1,121 | +8.4% |
| 1976 | 1,020 | −9.0% |
| 1981 | 1,104 | +8.2% |
| 1986 | 1,086 | −1.6% |
| 1991 | 1,016 | −6.4% |
| 1996 | 1,112 | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 1,100 | −1.1% |
| 2006 | 1,148 | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 1,025 | −10.7% |
| 2016 | 995 | −2.9% |
| 2021 | 992 | −0.3% |
| Source: Statistics Canada [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][5] | ||
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Spirit River had a population of 992 living in 445 of its 510 total private dwellings, a change of -0.3% from its 2016 population of 995. With a land area of 3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi), it had a population density of 319.0/km2 (826.1/sq mi) in 2021.[5][3]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Spirit River recorded a population of 995 living in 442 of its 487 total private dwellings, a -2.9% change from its 2011 population of 1,025. With a land area of 3.14 km2 (1.21 sq mi), it had a population density of 316.9/km2 (820.7/sq mi) in 2016.[14]
Economy
editThe community is largely agricultural, being located in the fertile Peace Country. It also features an active oil and gas industry.
History
editThe name Spirit River comes from the Cree Chepe Sepe, or Ghost River.[15]
In 1891, a trading post became the original settlement along the banks of the Spirit River. Ranching in the area started as early as the 1840s and farming in the 1880s.[15] The first school opened in 1910.[16] In 1915, to the northwest, on Section 22, the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway subdivided a townsite called Spirit River Station. The residents and storekeepers at the old settlement then moved, creating a village in 1916.[17] On February 16 of that year, the Herald Tribune reported that McRae & Co. opened a general store.[17] Spirit River was incorporated as a town in 1951.[18]
In 1923, the wheat pool was established.[15]
In October 2013, a pipeline inspection crew working in the Saddle Hills area southwest of Spirit River unearthed a 10-metre long dinosaur fossil.[19] It was later confirmed to be that of the duck-billed hadrosaur.[20]
The Town of Spirit River, along with the Municipal District of Spirit River celebrated its 100th anniversary in August 2016.[21]
Government
editThe Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133's municipal office is located in Spirit River. It is also home to the Peace-Wapiti School Board and provincial offices for Alberta Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife.
Infrastructure
edit- Transportation
A paved airport accommodates medical emergency flights and private aircraft.
- Recreation
The town features a curling rink, arena, outdoor pool, library, museum and community hall.
- Health care
Spirit River is home to a hospital and the Central Peace Health Centre, a newly constructed clinic that has physician, dentist, physiotherapist and massage therapist offices. A new 92-bed seniors care home is set to open in 2024.[22]
Education
editThe town is home to two schools – Ste. Marie Catholic School[23] (elementary) and Spirit River Regional Academy[24] (K-12).
Sports
editThe Spirit River Rangers of the North Peace Hockey League play out of the Maclean Rec Centre.[25]
Notable people
edit- Hilarion Kapral, a bishop and First Hierarch of ROCOR
- Patricia Joudry, screenwriter.
- Tim Howar, singer and dancer, known as a London-based rock vocalist with Mike + the Mechanics
- Aaron Goodvin, country singer
- Frank Grigware, who escaped from Leavenworth Prison while serving a life sentence for train robbery, and was elected mayor in 1916 using the name James Fahey [26]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Location and History Profile: Town of Spirit River" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 576. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
- ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "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). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Population and dwelling count amendments, 2021 Census". Statistics Canada. December 1, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ "Table 5: Population of urban centres, 1916-1946, with guide to locations". Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1946. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1949. pp. 397–400.
- ^ "Table 6: Population by sex, for census subdivisions, 1956 and 1951". Census of Canada, 1956. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1958.
- ^ "Table 9: Population by census subdivisions, 1966 by sex, and 1961". 1966 Census of Canada. Western Provinces. Vol. Population: Divisions and Subdivisions. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1967.
- ^ "Table 3: Population for census divisions and subdivisions, 1971 and 1976". 1976 Census of Canada. Census Divisions and Subdivisions, Western Provinces and the Territories. Vol. Population: Geographic Distributions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1977.
- ^ "Table 2: Census Subdivisions in Alphabetical Order, Showing Population Rank, Canada, 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Vol. Census subdivisions in decreasing population order. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. ISBN 0-660-51563-6.
- ^ "Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data". 91 Census. Vol. Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1992. pp. 100–108. ISBN 0-660-57115-3.
- ^ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. January 6, 2010. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b c "History – Municipal District of Spirit River". Mdspiritriver.ab.xa.
- ^ Spirit River History Book Committee (1989). Chepi sepe : Spirit River : the land, the people. Spirit River History Book Committee. p. 16. ISBN 0-88925-781-7. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
- ^ a b "Our Roots / Nos Racines". Archived from the original on 2015-11-20.
- ^ "About". Townofspiritriver.ca. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Massive dinosaur fossil unearthed by Alberta pipeline crew". Cbc.ca.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Calendar - Town of Spirit River". Townofspiritriver.ca.
- ^ Verster, Liam. "Spirit River to get lion's share of senior housing and care facility investment". Everythinggp.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Ste. Marie Catholic School (Spirit River)". Stemarie.gpcsd.ca.
- ^ "Spirit River Regional Academy". Pwsd76.ab.ca.
- ^ "Athletics find game five groove". sprucegroveexaminer. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "The Five-Decade Fugitive Chase". Fbi.gov.