High River

Introduction

Town in Alberta, Canada For other uses, see High River (disambiguation). Town in Alberta, CanadaHigh RiverTownTown of High RiverAerial view photo taken of downtown High River Alberta in July 2017 High RiverLocation of High River in AlbertaCoordinates: 50°34′50.7″N 113°52′28.0″W / 50.580750°N 113.874444°W / 50.580750; -113.874444CountryCanadaProvinceAlbertaRegionCalgaryCensus division6Municipal districtFoothills CountyIncorporated  • VillageDecember 6, 1901 • TownFebruary 12, 1906Government • MayorCraig Snodgrass • Governing body High River Town Council Cathy CoueyJamie KinghornCarol MacMillanMichael NychykBruce MastermanDon Moore  • ManagerTom Maier • MLAChelsae PetrovicArea (2021) • Land22.19 km2 (8.57 sq mi)Elevation1,040 m (3,410 ft)Population (2021) • Total14,324 • Density645.4/km2 (1,672/sq mi) • Municipal census (2019)14,052 • Estimate (2020)14,434Time zoneUTC−7 (MST) • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)Forward sortation areaT1VArea codes403, 587, 825, 368HighwaysHighway 2Highway 23WaterwayHighwood RiverWebsiteOfficial website[citation needed] High River is a town within the Calgary Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. It is approximately 68 kilometres (42 mi) south of Calgary, at the junction of Alberta Highways 2 and 23. High River had a population of 14,324 in 2021.

History

[edit] Hangars at the High River Air Station in 1922 The community takes its name from the Highwood River, which flows through the town. The area was originally inhabited largely by the Blackfoot First Nation, who called the site Ispitzee (or the "place of high trees along running water"). By 1870, after the arrival of the North-West Mounted Police and after Treaty Number 7 had been signed in 1877, settlers began arriving into the region. High River's development centred on a convenient location for people, horses and cattle to cross the Highwood River - a location known as "The Crossing". Development of the town was supported by the completion of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway in 1892. High River incorporated as a village on December 5, 1901, and was incorporated as a town on February 12, 1906. Future Senator and area rancher Daniel Edward Riley would serve as the Town of High River's first mayor. Although growth slowed during the First World War, it continued after the war with the building of brick structures and a number of industries. One of Canada's first air force stations was constructed to the east of the town in 1921 The establishment of a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan elementary flying training school at the same air station helped boost High River's economy during the Second World War. High River continued to grow throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1970s the downtown saw some major redevelopment, and redevelopment is continuing. Floods[edit] Main article: 2013 Alberta floods The Highwood River is subject to frequent flooding. Flood events of exceptional magnitude occurred in 1894, 1899, 1902, 1908, 1912, 1923, 1929, 1932, 1942, 1995, 2005 and 2013. Most recently during the 2013 Alberta floods, thousands of people in Alberta were ordered to evacuate their homes after the rise of the Highwood River, Bow River, Elbow River, Sheep River, and numerous others. In 2013, three people died as a result of the flooding of the Highwood River.

Geography

[edit] Climate[edit] High River experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). Summer days are mild to warm with cool nights, while winters are cold and snowy with annual snowfall averaging 69 inches (175 cm). Climate data for High River Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 20.6(69.1) 23.0(73.4) 22.2(72.0) 30.0(86.0) 33.3(91.9) 35.0(95.0) 37.2(99.0) 35.6(96.1) 33.9(93.0) 31.7(89.1) 24.4(75.9) 20.0(68.0) 37.2(99.0) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.1(31.8) 1.6(34.9) 4.8(40.6) 10.9(51.6) 15.8(60.4) 19.3(66.7) 23.0(73.4) 23.1(73.6) 17.7(63.9) 11.9(53.4) 4.4(39.9) -0(32) 11.0(51.8) Daily mean °C (°F) −6.5(20.3) −4.9(23.2) −1.7(28.9) 4.1(39.4) 8.8(47.8) 12.5(54.5) 15.3(59.5) 15.0(59.0) 10.2(50.4) 5.1(41.2) −1.6(29.1) −6.2(20.8) 4.2(39.6) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −12.9(8.8) −11.3(11.7) −8.1(17.4) −2.8(27.0) 1.7(35.1) 5.7(42.3) 7.6(45.7) 7.0(44.6) 2.7(36.9) −1.7(28.9) −7.6(18.3) −12.3(9.9) −2.7(27.1) Record low °C (°F) −45(−49) −43.3(−45.9) −40.6(−41.1) −30(−22) −19.4(−2.9) −4.4(24.1) −3.9(25.0) −16.7(1.9) −16.1(3.0) −29.4(−20.9) −37(−35) −45(−49) −45(−49) Average precipitation mm (inches) 20.4(0.80) 19.2(0.76) 33.0(1.30) 38.7(1.52) 72.8(2.87) 111.0(4.37) 60.2(2.37) 59.6(2.35) 55.0(2.17) 24.8(0.98) 26.5(1.04) 27.1(1.07) 538.6(21.20) Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.2(0.01) 0.0(0.0) 2.1(0.08) 12.1(0.48) 58.1(2.29) 110.9(4.37) 60.2(2.37) 59.6(2.35) 49.7(1.96) 9.5(0.37) 1.2(0.05) 0.1(0.00) 363.7(14.32) Average snowfall cm (inches) 20.0(7.9) 19.0(7.5) 31.0(12.2) 27.0(10.6) 15.0(5.9) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 5.0(2.0) 15.0(5.9) 25.0(9.8) 17.0(6.7) 175.0(68.9) Source: Environment Canada

Demographics

[edit] Federal censuspopulation historyYearPop.±%1901153—    19061,018+565.4%19111,182+16.1%19161,182+0.0%19211,198+1.4%19261,377+14.9%19311,459+6.0%19361,359−6.9%19411,430+5.2%19461,674+17.1%19511,888+12.8%19562,102+11.3%19612,276+8.3%19662,239−1.6%19712,676+19.5%19763,598+34.5%19814,792+33.2%19865,096+6.3%19916,269+23.0%19967,359+17.4%20019,345+27.0%200610,716+14.7%201112,920+20.6%201613,584+5.1%202114,324+5.4%Source: Statistics Canada In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of High River had a population of 14,324 living in 5,787 of its 5,950 total private dwellings, a change of 5.4% from its 2016 population of 13,594. With a land area of 22.19 km2 (8.57 sq mi), it had a population density of 645.5/km2 (1,671.9/sq mi) in 2021. The population of the Town of High River according to its 2019 municipal census is 14,052, a 19.3% change from its 2010 municipal census population of 11,783. In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of High River recorded a population of 13,584 living in 5,367 of its 5,655 total private dwellings, a 5.1% change from its 2011 population of 12,930. With a land area of 21.39 km2 (8.26 sq mi), it had a population density of 635.1/km2 (1,644.8/sq mi) in 2016. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of High River recorded a population of 14,324 living in 5,790 of its 5,790 total private dwellings, a 5.4% change from its 2016 population of 14,324. With a land area of 22.19 km2 (8.57 sq mi), it had a population density of 645.5/km2 (1,671.9/sq mi) in 2021. Panethnic groups in the Town of High River (2001−2021) Panethnic group 2021 2016 2011 2006 2001 Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % European 11,165 79.13% 11,205 84.09% 11,315 88.95% 9,695 91.25% 8,640 94.02% Southeast Asian 1,580 11.2% 945 7.09% 410 3.22% 105 0.99% 85 0.92% Indigenous 470 3.33% 505 3.79% 540 4.25% 295 2.78% 200 2.18% Latin American 280 1.98% 155 1.16% 160 1.26% 85 0.8% 25 0.27% African 225 1.59% 140 1.05% 55 0.43% 80 0.75% 20 0.22% South Asian 170 1.2% 140 1.05% 120 0.94% 45 0.42% 20 0.22% Middle Eastern 115 0.82% 105 0.79% 0 0% 180 1.69% 95 1.03% East Asian 60 0.43% 75 0.56% 50 0.39% 120 1.13% 100 1.09% Other/multiracial 65 0.46% 65 0.49% 65 0.51% 50 0.47% 0 0% Total responses 14,110 98.51% 13,325 98.02% 12,720 98.38% 10,625 99.15% 9,190 97.94% Total population 14,324 100% 13,594 100% 12,930 100% 10,716 100% 9,383 100% Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Arts and culture

[edit] As part of High River's tourism and heritage endeavours, a number of murals illustrating High River's history were painted around town. The first of which were painted in the 1990s, and the most recent one being completed in 2016.

Attractions

[edit] The Museum of the Highwood (c. 1911–12), which sustained smoke, water and fire damage following a fire in the building's attic in July 2010, is on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

Education

[edit] This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) High River is part of the Foothills School Division No. 38, as well as the Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools Division. Foothills School Division: École Joe Clark School – Grades K-5 Spitzee Elementary School – Grades K-5 École Senator Riley Middle School – Grades 6–8 École Secondaire Highwood High School – Grades 9–12 Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools: Holy Spirit Academy – Grades K-6 Notre Dame Collegiate – Grades 7–12

Media

[edit] CHRB AM 1140, community radio CFXO-FM 99.7, country music CKUV-FM 100.9, classic hits High River Times

Notable people

[edit] Evan Berger, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, 2008 - 2012 George Canyon, country music singer Joe Clark, former Canadian Prime Minister John "Pie" McKenzie, former professional hockey player W. O. Mitchell, author Glen Sather, former hockey player/head coach Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

Film and television

[edit] High River has been used as a filming location for the following films and television series: Superman III (1983) Caitlin's Way (2000–2002) Heartland (2007–present) Fargo (2014–present) Tin Star (2017–2020) Black Summer (2019–2021) The Last of Us (2023–present)