Redwater, Alberta

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Redwater
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settlement_type = Town
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dot_mapsize = 200px
dot_map_caption = Location of Redwater in Alberta
dot_x =103 |dot_y =142
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = AB
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Edmonton Capital Region
subdivision_type3 = Census division
subdivision_name3 = 11
subdivision_type4 = County
subdivision_name4 = Sturgeon
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Mel Smith
leader_title1 = Manager
leader_name1 = Earla Wagar
leader_title2 = Governing body
leader_name2 = Redwater Town Council
leader_title3 = MP
leader_name3 = Dave Chatters (Cons - Westlock—St. Paul)
leader_title4 = MLA
leader_name4 = Mike Cardinal (PC - Athabasca-Redwater)
established_title = Founded
established_date = September 7, 1906
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = December 31, 1949 (Village)
established_title3 =
established_date3 = November 25, 1950 (Town)
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area_total_km2 = 7.95
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population_as_of = 2006
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population_total = 2,192
population_density_km2 = 275.6
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
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latd=53 |latm=56 |lats=56 |latNS=N
longd=113 |longm=06 |longs=24 |longEW=W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 632
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type = Postal code span
postal_code = T0A 2W0
area_code = +1-780
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website = [http://www.town.redwater.ab.ca/default.cfm Town of Redwater]
footnotes = Redwater is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located km to mi|52|spell=Commonwealth|precision=0| north of Edmonton on Highway 38, in Sturgeon County. Its population, as of 2006, was 2,192.

Redwater is placed in the federal riding of Westlock—St. Paul and the provincial riding of Athabasca-Redwater.

History

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

The first settlement was founded on September 7, 1906. It was relocated to the present site in 1919, when Redwater registered as a hamlet. On December 31, 1949 it was incorporated as a village, and on November 25, 1950 as a town. [ [http://www.town.redwater.ab.ca/admin/contentx/default.cfm?PageId=4391&hdrmenu=0 Town of Redwater] - History]

Originally, Redwater was primarily a farming community surrounded by excellent farmland with some of the best soil in Alberta. The 1948 discovery of oil in the area transformed the sleepy hamlet of about 160 people into a booming town of over 4000 people at the peak of the oil boom in the 1950s. The population has declined since to around 2000.

It is the birthplace of hockey player Todd Fedoruk of the Minnesota Wild.

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 km to mi|15|spell=Commonwealth|precision=0| 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 2006, Redwater had a population of 2,192 living in 898 dwellings, a 0.9% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of km2 to mi2|7.95|abbr=yes|wiki=yes and a population density of Pop density km2 to mi2|275.6| spell=UK | abbr=yes.Cite web| url= http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4811065&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Redwater&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4811065 | title= Redwater - Community Profile | author= Statistics Canada| authorlink= Statistics Canada| year= Census 2006 | accessdate= 2007-06-12]

Amenities and services

Redwater is home to a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, a large health centre, several health clinics, a dentist, ambulance services, a volunteer Fire Department, an elementary school ("Ochre Park School"), a high school ("Redwater High School"), a nine-hole grass green golf course, hardware stores, a grocery store, and many thriving shops and businesses.

Industry

In addition to the expected thriving farming industry in the area, many large industrial sites are nearby [http://www.industrialheartland.com] . Agrium Inc, a Calgary-based fertilizer plant, has a large operation about km to mi|10|spell=Commonwealth|precision=0| south of Redwater. Degussa AG, a Germany-based chemicals producer has a large operation very near the Agrium plant. Williams Energy has a petrochemical plant just south of the Degussa operation. And Shell Scotford has a multi-billion dollar upgrader and refinery operation about km to mi|30|spell=Commonwealth|precision=0| from Redwater (part of the Athabasca Oil Sands development project), just on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. These industries have spawned a vast array of offshoot businesses such as shipping, oilfield services, heavy equipment, and other support services.

In 2005, there were several announcements to the media indicating further petrochemical and oilsands upgraders were planned for the area. As of March 2006, pre-construction has begun on two separate large scale industrial projects.

References

External links

* [http://www.town.redwater.ab.ca/default.cfm Town of Redwater]

Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre = Redwater
North =

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