Redwater, Alberta

Redwater is a town in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada within Sturgeon County. It is located on Highway 38, approximately 52 km (32 mi) north of Edmonton. Its population was 2,053 in the 2016 census,[2] while the town's municipal census conducted in 2012 counted a population of 2,116.[4]

Redwater
Town
Town of Redwater
Redwater
Location of Redwater in Alberta
Coordinates: 53°56′56″N 113°06′24″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionEdmonton Metropolitan Region
Census division11
Municipal districtSturgeon County
Incorporated[1] 
 • VillageDecember 31, 1949
 • TownDecember 31, 1950
Government
 • MayorMel Smith
 • Governing bodyRedwater Town Council
 • ManagerDeb Hamilton
 • MPDane Lloyd (Cons - Sturgeon River—Parkland)
 • MLADale Nally (UCP - Morinville-St. Albert)
Area
 (2016)[2]
 • Land20.03 km2 (7.73 sq mi)
Elevation625 m (2,051 ft)
Population
 (2016)[2]
 • Total2,053
 • Density102.5/km2 (265/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Postal code span
T0A 2W0
Area code(s)780, 587, 825
HighwaysHighway 28, Highway 38, Highway 829
WaterwaysRedwater River
WebsiteOfficial website

History

In the early 1900s, the area where Redwater stands was settled first by Ukrainian settlers, and followed by English and French settlers.[5] The name Redwater is a reference to the nearby Redwater River,[5] an ochre-coloured tributary that drains into the North Saskatchewan River.

The survey of the Redwater area was registered on September 7, 1906.[5] The original post office, established in 1907 at a location to the east of present-day Redwater, was moved in 1919 to the current town site when Redwater was established as a hamlet.[5] On December 31, 1949 it was incorporated as a village, becoming a town a year later on December 31, 1950.[6][7]

Originally, Redwater was primarily a farming community.[5] The 1948 discovery of oil in the area transformed the hamlet of about 160 people[5] into a town of 1,306 by 1951.[8]

Geography

Redwater is surrounded by wide, flat expanses of some of the best farming soil in Alberta. Some of the major geographical features in the area are the Sturgeon River which travels roughly east-south-east about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of the town and flows into the North Saskatchewan River. To the east and south-east, there are vast areas of sandy soil known locally as sand hills, some of which support a thriving silica sand and gravel industry. These differing zones support two major types of forest; coniferous, including Jack Pine, Scots Pine, White Spruce, Black Spruce, and some Balsam Fir; broadleaf trees including Birch, Poplar and Aspen.

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Redwater recorded a population of 2,053 living in 862 of its 946 total private dwellings, a 7.2% change from its 2011 population of 1,915. With a land area of 20.03 km2 (7.73 sq mi), it had a population density of 102.5/km2 (265.5/sq mi) in 2016.[2]

The Town of Redwater's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 2,116.[4] The census also counted 921 total dwellings within the town, 77 more than the 844 counted by Statistics Canada in 2011.[4]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Redwater had a population of 1,915 living in 776 of its 844 total dwellings, a -13% change from its 2006 adjusted population of 2,202. With a land area of 20.12 km2 (7.77 sq mi), it had a population density of 95.2/km2 (246.5/sq mi) in 2011.[9] At 844, the total amount of dwellings counted by Statistics Canada in 2011 was reportedly 54 less than the 898 it counted in 2006.[9][10]

Economy

In addition to the farming industry that surrounds the town, numerous large industrial operations are located in the nearby Alberta's Industrial Heartland to the south. The largest industrial operation is the North West Redwater Partnership's (NWRP) Sturgeon Refinery, an 80,000 bbl/d (13,000 m3/d) crude oil upgrader located near Redwater. The Sturgeon Refinery, also known as the NWR Sturgeon Refinery, built, owned and operated by NWRP, under a multi-year agreement with the Alberta provincial government, which has provided multi-billion dollar loans for the operation as well as a 30-year commitment to supplying the refinery with bitumen feed.[11][12] On their website, NWRP estimated that the economic value of the Sturgeon Refinery to Alberta is about $CDN90 billion over 30 years".[13]

Other notable operations include a fertilizer plant Agrium Inc, a chemical production plant Evonik Industries, a petrochemical plant Pembina,[14] a pipeline storage and shipping facility Access Pipeline INC[15] and the Shell Scotford upgrader and refinery. These industries have spawned an array of offshoot businesses such as shipping, oilfield services, heavy equipment and other support services.

Attractions

Redwater boasts many attractions for a community of its size such as: A nine-hole golf course with grass greens is located within Redwater,[16] a multi use recreational facility Pembina place,[17] an outdoor swimming pool,[16] the sand hills natural area which is home to some of the best ATV trails in central Alberta,[18] a public library,[16] and the world's largest oil derrick.[16]

Infrastructure

Health care

The town is home to the Redwater Health Centre.

Emergency services

Redwater has a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, ambulance services and a volunteer fire department.

Education

Schools in Redwater include Ochre Park School and Redwater School; providing instruction for kindergarten through grade 4, and for grades 5 through 12 respectively.

Media

The Review is a local weekly newspaper that serves Redwater.[19]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Location and History Profile: Town of Redwater" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 527. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  2. "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.
  3. "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). Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  4. "Redwater occupied by 2,116 residents" (PDF). The Review. Cowley Newspapers. 2012-08-28. p. A14. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  5. "History of Redwater". Town of Redwater. Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  6. "Location and History Profile". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  7. "Proclamation" (PDF). Province of Alberta. 1950-12-15. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  8. "Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1871–1951". Ninth Census of Canada, 1951. Volume I: Population, General Characteristics. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1953. pp. 6–81.
  9. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  10. "Canada 2006 Census: Redwater - Community Profile". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  11. Leach, Andrew (September 14, 2020). "This 'Bitumen Boondoggle' is costing Alberta taxpayers billions". CBC News. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  12. APMC Management of Agreement to Process Bitumen at the Sturgeon Refinery. Office of the Auditor General of Alberta (Report). February 2018. p. 30. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  13. "Communities". North West Redwater Partnership.
  14. http://www.pembina.com/about-us/our-operations/
  15. http://www.accesspipeline.com/
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. http://www.redwater.ca/visiting/pembina-place/100-living/activities-recreation/pembina-place
  18. http://www.albertaparks.ca/redwater.aspx
  19. "The Review". Cowley Newspapers. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
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