Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Town of Rocky Mountain House | |||
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| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  Alberta |
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| Region | Central Alberta | ||
| Census division | 9 | ||
| County | Clearwater | ||
| Founded | 1799 | ||
| Incorporated | 1912 (Town) | ||
| Government [1] | |||
| - Mayor | Jim Bague | ||
| - Governing body | Rocky Mountain House Town Council | ||
| - MP | Blaine Calkins | ||
| - MLA | Ty Lund | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 12.44 km² (4.8 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 989 m (3,245 ft) | ||
| Population (2007)[2] | |||
| - Total | 7,231 | ||
| - Density | 552.6/km² (1,431.2/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) | ||
| Postal code span | T4T | ||
| Area code(s) | +1-403 | ||
| Highways | David Thompson Highway Cowboy Trail |
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| Waterways | North Saskatchewan River | ||
| Website: Town of Rocky Mountain House | |||
Rocky Mountain House is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada, at the confluence of the Clearwater and North Saskatchewan Rivers.
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[edit] History
The town has a long history dating to the 18th century with the presence of British and Canadian fur traders during the westward Canadian expansion. In 1799 the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company each established the Rocky Mountain House and Acton House fur trading posts. Trade with the local aboriginal peoples continued until 1821 when the companies merged, they continued to trade until 1875 (Parks Canada) and closed the Rocky Mountain House post. The name of the settlement however remained.
The Rocky Mountain House settlement also served as a launching point for many explorers such as David Thompson, in search for a passage west to the Pacific Ocean. Many travellers used this location as a stop on their way further west or northwest just as it does into the 21st century.
The next wave of adventurers entered the region at the beginning of the 20th century in search of opportunities presented by lush farmland and the abundance of natural resources. Rocky Mountain House became a firmly established town by 1912. Settlers of Scandinavian origin made up a significant part of early 20th century settlement in the region,
[edit] Demographics
In 2006, Rocky Mountain House had a population of 6,874 living in 2,719 dwellings, a 10.7% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 12.44 km² (4.8 sq mi) and a population density of 552.6/km² (1,431.2/sq mi).[2]
[edit] Economy
Rocky Mountain House is a crossroads between a significant north-south artery, Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail) and east-west on Highway 11 (David Thompson Highway) between the City of Red Deer, Alberta and Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. Spectacular natural scenery with the nearby Rocky Mountains as a backdrop draws tourists and new residents alike. Currently a hub of petroleum transportation, local employment has spiked with the bulk of jobs involving oil and gas production. The town appears to be experiencing a significant economic expansion due to the high world price of oil. Family incomes have risen to well above the North American average. This economic boom has prompted several new larger department stores, such as Canadian Tire (2005), and Extra Foods (2006), as well as speciality shops opening at one of the highest growth-rates in recent memory.
It has also helped lead to the establishment of the new Confluence Campus (2005), including the former Will Sinclair High School (now West Central High School), grades nine through twelve of Saint Matthew's Catholic School (now Saint Dominic's Catholic High School), and an off-campus section of Red Deer College.
[edit] Politics
Like much of rural Alberta, Rocky Mountain House is a Progressive Conservative stronghold. From 1935 to 1971, the Social Credit Party's Alf Hooke held this seat and support for that party is still strong- the party's leader Lavern Ahlstrom has polled well in the last two elections, far above his party's average.
[edit] Town council
The town council of Rocky Mountain House consists of Mayor Jim Bague, Councillor Joan McDonald, Councillor Fred Nash, Councillor Stewart Stephanson, Councillor Ernie Murias, Councillor Bill Symko, and Councillor Ron Wesner.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Town of Rocky Mountain House. Town Council. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
- ^ a b Statistics Canada (Census 2006). Rocky Mountain House - Community Profile. Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
[edit] External links
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Edson | Drayton Valley | Rimbey |
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| Saskatchewan River Crossing |  |
Eckville | |||||
 Rocky Mountain House  |
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| Bighorn Highway | Caroline | Red Deer |
