Cardston | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Town of Cardston | |
 | |
 Location in Cardston County | |
  Cardston Location of Cardston inAlberta | |
| Coordinates:49°12′09″N113°18′07″W / 49.20250°N 113.30194°W /49.20250; -113.30194 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Southern Alberta |
| Planning region | South Saskatchewan |
| Municipal district | Cardston County |
| Incorporated[1] | |
| • Village | December 29, 1898 |
| • Town | June 2, 1901 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Maggie Kronen |
| • Governing body | Cardston Town Council |
| • MP | Glen Motz |
| • MLA | Joseph Schow |
| Area (2021)[3] | |
| • Land | 8.58 km2 (3.31 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,130 m (3,710 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,724 |
| • Density | 434.1/km2 (1,124/sq mi) |
| • Municipal census (2018) | 3,909[5] |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Area codes | 403,587,825 |
| Highways |  Highway 2 Highway 5 Highway 501 |
| Waterway | Lee Creek St. Mary River St Mary Reservoir |
| Website | www |
Cardston is a town inAlberta, Canada. It was first settled in 1887 by members ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who travelled fromUtah, via theMacleod-Benton Trail, to present-day Alberta in one of the century's last wagon migrations.[7] The founder of the town wasCharles Ora Card. The combined church and school was completed by January 29 the year following their arrival.[8]
Cardston was "dry" (alcohol free) for more than a century after the1915 Alberta liquor plebiscite. In 2023, following a municipal plebiscite in which residents voted narrowly in favour of the measure, the town council voted 5-2 to allow alcohol to be served in restaurants and recreation facilities such as the local golf course. Liquor stores, lounges, nightclubs and other alcohol-primary businesses remain prohibited, and there are no licensed premises in which to usevideo lottery terminals.[9]
In 1951, 75% of Cardston's 3,500 residents were members of the LDS Church.[10] It remains at about 80%, as of 2014.[9]
On August 15, 2019, the town was granted acoat of arms by theCanadian Heraldic Authority.[11]
Cardston is situated in the foothills of southwest Alberta, approximately 25 km (16 mi) north from theAmerican state ofMontana. On its north side, it borders theKainai Nation (Blood Tribe)Reserve, one of the largest reserves in North America. Forty kilometres (25 mi) to the west of Cardston are theRocky Mountains ofWaterton Lakes National Park. Cardston is 77 km (48 mi) southwest ofLethbridge and 234 km (145 mi) south ofCalgary.
Cardston experiences ahumid continental climate (Köppen climate classificationDfb). Along with the rest ofsouthern Alberta, Cardston is subject tochinooks, which often bring temperatures in mid-winter well above 10 °C (50 °F). This same pattern results in more than 200 days of wind a year.
Weather records:[12]
| Climate data for Cardston, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1918–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 19.0 (66.2) | 21.0 (69.8) | 24.5 (76.1) | 30.5 (86.9) | 33.0 (91.4) | 35.6 (96.1) | 39.0 (102.2) | 36.7 (98.1) | 34.5 (94.1) | 29.5 (85.1) | 23.9 (75.0) | 19.4 (66.9) | 39.0 (102.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) | 2.5 (36.5) | 5.9 (42.6) | 11.5 (52.7) | 16.5 (61.7) | 20.5 (68.9) | 24.5 (76.1) | 24.8 (76.6) | 19.0 (66.2) | 12.8 (55.0) | 4.5 (40.1) | 1.1 (34.0) | 12.1 (53.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.5 (23.9) | −3.5 (25.7) | −0.1 (31.8) | 5.1 (41.2) | 9.9 (49.8) | 13.8 (56.8) | 16.9 (62.4) | 16.9 (62.4) | 11.8 (53.2) | 6.3 (43.3) | −1.1 (30.0) | −4.6 (23.7) | 5.6 (42.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −10.4 (13.3) | −9.5 (14.9) | −6.1 (21.0) | −1.3 (29.7) | 3.3 (37.9) | 7.0 (44.6) | 9.3 (48.7) | 8.9 (48.0) | 4.6 (40.3) | −0.2 (31.6) | −6.7 (19.9) | −10.3 (13.5) | −1 (30) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −41.7 (−43.1) | −38.9 (−38.0) | −36.7 (−34.1) | −25.6 (−14.1) | −12.8 (9.0) | −5.6 (21.9) | −0.5 (31.1) | −3.9 (25.0) | −15.6 (3.9) | −26.5 (−15.7) | −35.6 (−32.1) | −38.5 (−37.3) | −41.7 (−43.1) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 20.8 (0.82) | 19.1 (0.75) | 37.5 (1.48) | 40.6 (1.60) | 81.3 (3.20) | 90.7 (3.57) | 45.5 (1.79) | 43.9 (1.73) | 53.1 (2.09) | 31.6 (1.24) | 29.6 (1.17) | 21.5 (0.85) | 515.0 (20.28) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.4 (0.02) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.5 (0.06) | 10.8 (0.43) | 66.7 (2.63) | 90.7 (3.57) | 45.5 (1.79) | 43.7 (1.72) | 49.2 (1.94) | 9.9 (0.39) | 2.1 (0.08) | 0.1 (0.00) | 320.6 (12.62) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 20.4 (8.0) | 19.1 (7.5) | 36.0 (14.2) | 29.7 (11.7) | 14.6 (5.7) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.0) | 3.6 (1.4) | 21.7 (8.5) | 27.4 (10.8) | 21.4 (8.4) | 194.2 (76.5) |
| Source:Environment and Climate Change Canada[12][13][14] | |||||||||||||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, the Town of Cardston had a population of 3,724 living in 1,261 of its 1,335 total private dwellings, a change of3.9% from its 2016 population of 3,585. With a land area of 8.58 km2 (3.31 sq mi), it had a population density of434.0/km2 (1,124.1/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
In the2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Cardston recorded a population of 3,585 living in 1,175 of its 1,270 total private dwellings, a0.1% change from its 2011 population of 3,580. With a land area of 8.59 km2 (3.32 sq mi), it had a population density of417.3/km2 (1,080.9/sq mi) in 2016.[15]
| Age | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 115 | 140 | 255 |
| 5–14 | 335 | 310 | 645 |
| 15–19 | 175 | 180 | 355 |
| 20–24 | 105 | 100 | 205 |
| 25–34 | 125 | 160 | 285 |
| 35–44 | 175 | 210 | 385 |
| 45–54 | 165 | 200 | 365 |
| 55–64 | 125 | 155 | 280 |
| 65–74 | 135 | 170 | 305 |
| 75+ | 150 | 260 | 410 |
| Totals | 1600 | 1870 | 3470 |
Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)
| 1996 | 2001 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of families | 730 | 760 |
| Average family income | $53,750 | $52,939 |
| Median family income | $46,503 | $48,004 |
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census
Cardston's primary industries are education, health care, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and tourism.[16] Alcohol became legally available in Cardston for purchase in 2023, after over 100 years of ban.[17] The Cardston Airport is located to the south-east of the town.[18]
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Cardston has a soccer park, ball parks, a golf course, an ice skating rink, a swimming pool, tennis courts, hiking trails, a skateboard park, a hockey stadium, several recreation parks, picnic areas and playgrounds. St. Mary's Dam reservoir northeast of Cardston supports water sports in the summer months.
TheCardston Alberta Temple was constructed byLatter-day Saint pioneers from 1913-1923, and was the first temple constructed by the Church outside of the United States.[19] It remained the only temple in Canada until theToronto Ontario Temple was built in 1990.
TheRemington Carriage Museum is the largest collection ofhorse-drawn vehicles in North America, with more than 250 carriages, wagons and sleighs. The 63,000 sq ft (5,900 m2) facility features video displays, a fire hall, carriage factory, restoration shop, working stable, carriage rides, carriage rentals, a restaurant, guided tours, and a gift shop.
The Carriage House Theatre was constructed in 1912, and underwent renovations in 1937 and 1992. It seats 350 and hosts films, community theatre and professional summer theatre.[citation needed]
The Card Pioneer Home was built by Cardston's founder Charles Ora Card in 1887, and served as a community centre and stopping place for travellers until the first hotel was built in 1894. The log structure stands in its original location and is open for public visits. It is a registered provincial historic site.[20]
The Courthouse Museum is a sandstone structure built in 1907 from stone quarried near Cardston. It was used longer than any other courthouse in Alberta. The building displays the judge's bench, witness box, and jail cells. It is a registered provincial historic site.[21]
Schools include the Cardston High School, the Cardston Jr. High School (formerly Eastridge Elementary School), and Cardston Elementary School which are all under theWestwind School Division.
Former schools include Leeside (grades 1 and 2 - torn down in the late 1980s to make way for the Remington-Alberta Carriage Centre) and Westside. The building that housed many of the junior high facilities, E.J. Wood School (including the gymnasium near the current high school), Parkland School, and John S. Smith Schools were torn down in 1993 as the junior high moved to the former Eastridge building. The Cardston High School underwent extensive renovations in the early 2000s, including an expansion to its gymnasium, much-improved fitness and weight room facilities, wider hallways, and a new cafeteria.[citation needed]
TheCardston News was first published in 1924, and was a weekly until 1925. During 1924–1925, the newspaper was edited and published by Fred Burton. It was later taken over by D.O. Wight, editor and managing director from September 17, 1925 until June 9, 1936. Fred Burton took over as publisher on June 16, 1936. TheCardston News was taken over by Gordon F. West On May 7, 1964.[22][23] TheCardston Record began publication on August 6, 1898, and was published weekly until September 1901.[22][23]
Places adjacent to Cardston | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
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