Vulcan | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Town of Vulcan | |
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  Vulcan Location of Vulcan Show map of Alberta Vulcan Vulcan (Canada) Show map of Canada | |
| Coordinates:50°24′24″N113°15′18″W / 50.40667°N 113.25500°W /50.40667; -113.25500 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Southern Alberta |
| Census division | 5 |
| Municipal district | Vulcan County |
| Incorporated[1] | |
| • Village | December 23, 1912 |
| • Town | June 15, 1921 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Tom Grant |
| • Governing body | Vulcan Town Council |
| • MP | John Barlow (Foothills-Cons) |
| • MLA | Dave Schneider (Little Bow-UCP) |
| Area (2021)[3] | |
| • Land | 6.28 km2 (2.42 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,049 m (3,442 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,769 |
| • Density | 281.8/km2 (730/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Postal code span | T0L 2B0 |
| Area codes | +1-403,+1-587 |
| Highways | Highway 23 Highway 534 |
| Railways | Canadian Pacific Kansas City |
| Website | Official website |
Vulcan is a town insouthern Alberta, Canada that is surrounded byVulcan County. It is onHighway 23, midway between the cities ofCalgary andLethbridge. The population of the town was 1,769 in 2021.[6] Now known as the "Official Star Trek Capital of Canada", Vulcan has a tourism building made to look like a landed space station, a statue of the original series'USS Enterprise, and otherStar Trek themed attractions.
Vulcan was named by a surveyor for theCanadian Pacific Railway after the Roman God of Fire –Vulcan. Originally, all the streets of Vulcan were named after gods and goddesses of the classical world such asJuno,Mars, andJupiter.[citation needed]
The community was incorporated as a village on December 23, 1912, and then as a town on June 15, 1921.[7] In July 1927, a majortornado destroyed many homes and the newcurling rink in the town. That tornado was made famous when a photograph of it approaching Vulcan was used for the "tornado" article inEncyclopædia Britannica.[8]: 302
The first newspaper to serve the area wasThe Vulcan Review, which began in 1912[9] and was published for one year.The Vulcan Review was followed by theVulcan Advocate in 1913, which is still being published today[10] as member of Sun Media Community Newspapers part ofPostmedia Network.[11]
Vulcan once had ninegrain elevators, more than any other location west ofWinnipeg, making it the largestgrain shipping point at that time.[citation needed] Due to the changing economics of the agricultural industry, the original elevators were taken down one by one. Today, Vulcan has only one of the "prairie skyscrapers" left that once could be seen miles away. Although not original, this last wooden elevator was built in the 1980s.[citation needed]
ABritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan air force base,RCAF Station Vulcan, was located 5.7nautical miles (10.6 km; 6.6 mi) southwest[12] of the town during theSecond World War. Many of the old hangars still exist and the runways can still be seen. It is now operated asVulcan/Kirkcaldy Aerodrome and some of the old runways are still in use. There is a second airport,Vulcan Airport.[citation needed]
In 2015 the town council voted to form Heritage Advisory Board Committee to manage the historical sites in Vulcan County.[13]
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, the Town of Vulcan had a population of 1,769 living in 806 of its 876 total private dwellings, a change of-7.7% from its 2016 population of 1,917. With a land area of 6.28 km2 (2.42 sq mi), it had a population density of281.7/km2 (729.6/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
In the2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Vulcan recorded a population of 1,917 living in 829 of its 879 total private dwellings, a4.4% change from its 2011 population of 1,836. With a land area of 6.34 km2 (2.45 sq mi), it had a population density of302.4/km2 (783.1/sq mi) in 2016.[6]
The town's economy is mainly tourism and agriculture-based. Wheat, peas,canola andbarley are the main crops grown in the Vulcan area.
Oil and gas is another industry that employs many residents of Vulcan.
Since 1990, Vulcan has hosted the annual Vulcan Tinman Triathlon, which takes place at the beginning of June. This sprint-distance triathlon attracts nearly 1,000 participants.[15] There are classes for adults of all ages and skill levels as well as for teams and children.
The town's name has brought some attention that has helped it become a tourist attraction.[16][17] In theStar Trek television and feature film series it is the name of the homeworld ofMr. Spock and his fellowVulcans. Capitalizing on this coincidence, the town has built aStar Trek–themed tourist station (the Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station), which provides tourist information and displays an extensive donated collection ofStar Trek memorabilia. The Trek Station also offers unique photo opportunities and interactions with iconic Star Trek characters in their ever-evolving Cosplay Costume Collection. Nearby, a replica of the starshipEnterprise fromStar Trek V has been mounted on a pedestal which includes writing fromStar Trek alien languages,Klingon and Vulcan. In 2010,Leonard Nimoy visited the town and was honoured at the town centre with a bust and handprint. A transporter, Doctor's Mural and other Star Trek attractions can be experienced throughout the town. The Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station has hosted an annual Star Trek Convention (held the last weekend in July) "VulCON" since 1993 where celebrity guests are "beamed" in to spend the weekend with attendees. It is a unique convention in that celebrity guests & Trekkies get to know each other during the Meet & Greet, Q&As and a banquet and dance. This convention attracts hundreds ofStar Trek fans from around the world.
The town also hosts another annual event called "Spock Days". This is a family-friendly weekend with a parade, children's spaces, a ball tournament, fireworks and more.[16]
The Vulcan Community Healthcare Centre offers emergency and long-term care medical services. The hospital had 5,125 visits for emergency medical services in the 2013/2014 year. It has eight medical beds with 15 long-term care beds and hosts a medical clinic.[18]
Vulcan experiences a drycontinental climate (Köppen climate classificationDfb) with long, cold winters and short, warm summers.
| Climate data for Vulcan Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) | 23.0 (73.4) | 20.0 (68.0) | 29.0 (84.2) | 33.0 (91.4) | 33.0 (91.4) | 36.1 (97.0) | 35.5 (95.9) | 35.0 (95.0) | 30.5 (86.9) | 22.8 (73.0) | 19.0 (66.2) | 36.1 (97.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.1 (26.4) | 0.5 (32.9) | 5.3 (41.5) | 12.4 (54.3) | 17.5 (63.5) | 21.5 (70.7) | 24.5 (76.1) | 25.0 (77.0) | 19.1 (66.4) | 12.7 (54.9) | 2.8 (37.0) | −2.2 (28.0) | 11.3 (52.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −8.8 (16.2) | −5.6 (21.9) | −0.7 (30.7) | 5.3 (41.5) | 10.5 (50.9) | 14.6 (58.3) | 17.0 (62.6) | 17.1 (62.8) | 11.7 (53.1) | 5.9 (42.6) | −2.7 (27.1) | −7.8 (18.0) | 4.7 (40.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −14.4 (6.1) | −11.6 (11.1) | −6.7 (19.9) | −1.8 (28.8) | 3.4 (38.1) | 7.6 (45.7) | 9.6 (49.3) | 9.2 (48.6) | 4.2 (39.6) | −1.0 (30.2) | −8.1 (17.4) | −13.3 (8.1) | −1.9 (28.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −37.5 (−35.5) | −37.0 (−34.6) | −31.5 (−24.7) | −20.6 (−5.1) | −6.0 (21.2) | −1.5 (29.3) | 2.0 (35.6) | −2.0 (28.4) | −9.0 (15.8) | −26.0 (−14.8) | −35.0 (−31.0) | −38.3 (−36.9) | −38.3 (−36.9) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 13.1 (0.52) | 12.4 (0.49) | 21.2 (0.83) | 22.9 (0.90) | 64.4 (2.54) | 74.6 (2.94) | 59.7 (2.35) | 49.0 (1.93) | 44.6 (1.76) | 17.1 (0.67) | 17.7 (0.70) | 18.1 (0.71) | 414.8 (16.33) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.8 (0.03) | 10.4 (0.41) | 57.4 (2.26) | 74.6 (2.94) | 59.7 (2.35) | 48.4 (1.91) | 39.9 (1.57) | 6.7 (0.26) | 0.9 (0.04) | 0.3 (0.01) | 299.1 (11.78) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 13.1 (5.2) | 12.3 (4.8) | 20.4 (8.0) | 12.5 (4.9) | 7.0 (2.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.6 (0.2) | 4.7 (1.9) | 10.4 (4.1) | 16.8 (6.6) | 17.9 (7.0) | 115.6 (45.5) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 6.5 | 5.7 | 7.6 | 6.5 | 9.9 | 11.5 | 9.8 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 91.1 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 9.3 | 11.5 | 9.8 | 8.0 | 6.7 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 53.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 6.5 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 39.5 |
| Source:Environment and Climate Change Canada[19] | |||||||||||||
Places adjacent to Vulcan, Alberta | |
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50°24′N113°15′W / 50.400°N 113.250°W /50.400; -113.250 (Vulcan)
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