| Town of Edson | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
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| Motto: Heart of the Yellowhead | |
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| Coordinates: 53°34′54″N 116°26′04″W / 53.58167°N 116.43444°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Census division | 14 |
| County | Yellowhead |
| Incorporated | 1911 |
| Government [1] | |
| - Mayor | Greg Pasychny |
| - Governing body | Edson Town Council |
| - MP | Rob Merrifield (Cons - Yellowhead) |
| - MLA | Robin Campbell (PC - West Yellowhead) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 29.54 km2 (11.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 925 m (3,035 ft) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 8,098 |
| - Density | 274.1/km2 (709.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| Postal code span | T7E |
| Area code(s) | +1-780 |
| Website | Town of Edson |
Edson is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada. It is located in Yellowhead County, 207 kilometres (128.62 mi) west of Edmonton, at the intersection of Yellowhead Highway and Highway 47.
Contents |
History
The town was originally named Heatherwood, but the name was changed around 1911 in honour of Edson Joseph Chamberlin, vice-president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Local history maintains that Edson (Heatherwood) was built in its current location because it was the first level spot after Wolf Creek, where the land was quickly bought up after the announcement of plans to develop a town there rendering it uneconomical for the railway. When Edson was declared the local rail centre, smaller towns such as Rosevear (abandoned), Wolf Creek (current population about 12), Carrot Creek (population about 80) and Niton Junction (population about 120) fell into a decline that continues today. In the 1950s, upgrading of Highway 16 caused a dramatic increase in private, commercial and industrial traffic. Today, the Yellowhead Highway carries some of the heaviest traffic flow in Alberta and has been officially declared the second Trans-Canada Highway. In the 1970s, a revitalized coal industry saw the Cardinal River Coal and Luscar Sterco mines launched in the area. The 1980s saw the development of Pelican Spruce Mills (now Weyerhaeuser Canada) and Sundance Forest Industries - two of Edson's major employers.
Geography
Edson lies in the McLeod River valley, immediately east of the Canadian Rockies foothills. The surrounding landscape consists of primarily taiga forest with sand hills and muskeg (the Canadian term for low-lying bog). The town is located at an altitude of 925 meters (3,035 ft). Two provincial parks are located west of Edson: Sundance Provincial Park along Sundance Creek and Obed Lake Provincial Park surrounding the three Obed Lakes.
Climate
| Weather data for Edson | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 13.7 (57) |
18.1 (65) |
19.5 (67) |
28.6 (83) |
33.3 (92) |
33.3 (92) |
32.2 (90) |
32.8 (91) |
33 (91) |
27.5 (82) |
19 (66) |
15.4 (60) |
|
| Average high °C (°F) | -5.2 (23) |
-2.2 (28) |
3.6 (38) |
10.6 (51) |
16.2 (61) |
19.4 (67) |
21.6 (71) |
20.6 (69) |
15.7 (60) |
10.3 (51) |
0.1 (32) |
-5 (23) |
8.8 (48) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -18.2 (-1) |
-16.1 (3) |
-10.2 (14) |
-3.7 (25) |
1.4 (35) |
5.7 (42) |
7.6 (46) |
6.8 (44) |
1.8 (35) |
-3.5 (26) |
-12.1 (10) |
-17.5 (1) |
-4.8 (23) |
| Record low °C (°F) | -46.1 (-51) |
-47.3 (-53) |
-38.9 (-38) |
-23.3 (-10) |
-6.6 (20) |
-3.3 (26) |
0 (32) |
-3.4 (26) |
-11.4 (11) |
-34.6 (-30) |
-39.2 (-39) |
-45.1 (-49) |
|
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 26.4 (1.04) |
14.2 (0.56) |
20 (0.79) |
23.6 (0.93) |
57.9 (2.28) |
106.7 (4.2) |
106.2 (4.18) |
82.2 (3.24) |
62.6 (2.46) |
23.2 (0.91) |
18.5 (0.73) |
20.9 (0.82) |
562.4 (22.14) |
| Source: Environment Canada[3] 2009-31-08 | |||||||||||||
Demographics
According to the 2006 federal census, Edson had a population of 8,098 living in 3,230 dwellings, a 6.8% increase from the 2001 federal census. The town has a land area of 29.54 km2 (11.4 sq mi) and a population density of 274.1 /km2 (709.9/sq mi).[2]
However, the Town's own municipal census conducted in 2005 showed Edson had a population of 8,365.[4]
Economy
The main sources of income are resource based (coal, natural gas, lumber, and building products).
There have been substantial changes in Edson since the 2001 census. The increasing price of gas and oil has brought boom times to this town, with a commensurate increase in population (close to 8,500 as of early 2008), a higher median family income, and very high increases in private dwelling values.
Infrastructure
Edson is connected to the Yellowhead Highway from east to west and to Coal Valley via Highway 47 to the south.
VIA Rail's The Canadian calls at the Edson railway station three times per week in each direction as a flag stop.
Media
- Newspapers
Edson has two local papers. The weekly Edson Leader and The Weekly Anchor.[5]
- Radio Stations
- FM 94.3: CFXE "The Fox" (classic hits)
Recreation
Edson is home to Canada's largest slo-pitch tournament.[6]
Education
- Grande Yellowhead Regional Division No. 35
- A.H. Dakin Elementary School (K-5)
- Evergreen Elementary School (K-5)
- Parkland Composite High School (9-12 English, French)
- École Pine Grove Middle School (6-8 English, French)
- Westhaven Elementary School (K-5 English, French)
- Living Waters Catholic Regional Division No. 42
- Holy Redeemer Junior Senior Catholic High School (7-12)
- Vanier Community Catholic School (K-6)
- Private
- Yellowhead Koinonia Christian School (K-12)
References
- ^ Town of Edson. "Town Council". http://www.townofedson.ca/municipal/edson/edson-website.nsf/AllDoc/63D54577C92D81E987256EF2006EEE0B?OpenDocument. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
- ^ a b Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Edson - Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4814024&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Edson&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4814024. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
- ^ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 31 August 2009
- ^ Town of Edson (2005). "Edson 2005 Municipal Census". http://www.townofedson.ca/municipal/edson/edson-website.nsf/AllDoc/11D70532A84FF09387257007005CD266?OpenDocument. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
- ^ The Weekly Anchor
- ^ Kin Slo-pitch revs up this weekend
External links
- Town of Edson (Official website)
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Grande Prairie | Fox Creek | Whitecourt | |
| Hinton |  |
Evansburg | ||
 Edson  |
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| Cadomin | Nordegg | Drayton Valley |
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