Evansburg | |
|---|---|
Hamlet | |
 | |
| Motto: Home of the Grouch | |
  Evansburg Location of Evansburg inAlberta | |
| Coordinates:53°36′08″N115°01′10″W / 53.60222°N 115.01944°W /53.60222; -115.01944 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Municipal district | Yellowhead County |
| Dissolved | June 30, 1998 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| • Mayor | Jim Eglinski |
| • Governing body | Yellowhead County Council
|
| Area (2021)[2] | |
| • Land | 2.84 km2 (1.10 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Total | 717 |
| • Density | 252.8/km2 (655/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Postal code span | |
| Highways | Highway 16A |
| Waterways | Pembina River |
| Website | Yellowhead County |
Evansburg is ahamlet in west-central Alberta, Canada, withinYellowhead County.[3] It is located onHighway 16A, approximately 88 kilometres (55 mi) west ofEdmonton and 96 kilometres (60 mi) east ofEdson. The hamlet is adjacent to thePembina River and thePembina River Provincial Park.
Evansburg was previously incorporated as a village until June 30, 1998, when it dissolved to become a hamlet within Yellowhead County.[4]Statistics Canada recognizes Evansburg as adesignated place.[5]
Evansburg is named afterHarry Marshall Erskine Evans, formerEdmonton mayor and advisor to theGovernment of Alberta.[6] The post office dates back to 1914.[7]
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Evansburg had a population of 717 living in 334 of its 371 total private dwellings, a change of-9.8% from its 2016 population of 795. With a land area of 2.84 km2 (1.10 sq mi), it had a population density of252.5/km2 (653.9/sq mi) in 2021.[2]
As a designated place in the2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Evansburg had a population of 795 living in 370 of its 419 total private dwellings, a change of-9.7% from its 2011 population of 880. With a land area of 2.75 km2 (1.06 sq mi), it had a population density of289.1/km2 (748.7/sq mi) in 2016.[5]
The Tipple Park Museum preserves and showcases Evansburg's railway, agricultural and coal mining history.[8] The museum's symbol is atipple, or a structure at a mine used to load ore or coal.
Evansburg has gained a degree of fame across Canada for being the "Home of the Grouch." Every August, as part of the community's Pembina Valley Daze festival, the community chooses the "Town Grouch".
The tradition began in 1974, when local artist John Lauer was commissioned to create a newwelcome sign for the community. To add some humour to the sign, he listed Evansburg's population as "603 people, 29 dogs, 41 cats, and one grouch." Speculation began as to who the grouch was. In 1979, the EvansburgChamber of Commerce decided to settle the question by holding an election, in which the community's grouch was elected by the people. The election has been held annually ever since. Lauer himself was elected the grouch in 1995.[9]
In the 1990s, Evansburg decided to capitalize on this tradition by adopting the slogan "Home of the Grouch" and using a scowlingcoal miner (to also honour its coal mining heritage) as its logo.
Far from being an honorary title, the Town Grouch has become a real position with real responsibilities. The chosen citizen becomes Evansburg'sambassador, and represents the community attrade shows and conferences across Canada. Town Grouch is given a uniform consisting ofoveralls, apick-axe, and a miner's helmet, all designed to mimic the community's logo. The Town Grouch's home also gets the honorary address of "10 Frowning Street."[9]
In recent years, the election has been replaced with a competition to see who can raise the most money for Pembina Valley Daze.[9]
As a flag stopVia Rail'sThe Canadian calls at theEvansburg railway station three times per week in each direction.
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