New Norway, Alberta

New Norway
—  Village  —
Village of New Norway
New Norway circa 1915
Logo
Location of New Norway in Alberta
Coordinates: 52°52′09.9″N 112°57′18.1″W / 52.869417°N 112.955028°W / 52.869417; -112.955028
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Central Alberta
Census division	10
Founded	1895
Incorporated	1909
Government
– Mayor	Tonya Ratushniak
– Governing body	New Norway Village Council
– MP	Kevin Sorenson
– MLA	Verlyn Olson
Area
– Total	1.12 km2 (0.4 sq mi)
Elevation	745 m (2,444 ft)
Population (2006)
– Total	323
– Density	290/km2 (751.1/sq mi)
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
Postal code span	T0B
Area code(s)	+1-780
Website	Village of New Norway

New Norway is a small rural village located in the central prairies of Alberta, Canada. Named in 1895 and properly established in 1909, it is located on Hwy 21, approximately 100 kilometres (60 mi) SSE of Edmonton and 22 kilometres (14 mi) SW of Camrose, the closest major trading center.

With a population of over 300, New Norway is home to a number of small businesses, and provides its inhabitants with an elementary and secondary school, local fire protection, and municipal services.

Early history

In 1892, travelling first on the newly constructed Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) line, the Ole M. Olstad family disembarked in Wetaskiwin and made their way to the Duhamel settlement, which had been established for some years. The family quickly filed homesteads a few miles south for themselves and several relatives and friends in the United States. In addition they purchased available CPR land for $3.00 per acre ($7.41/ha).

For a time the area was known as the "Olstead District". However, as other Norwegian families (along with those of other nationalities) settled in the area, the name changed to New Norway around 1895. By 1903 the fledgling community had a school, general store, and a blacksmith shop to its credit.

In the fall of 1909, in anticipation of the new Grand Trunk Pacific rail line being built nearby, the town was moved (by the use of skids and seven oxen) to its present location NW-11-45-21-W4 (see Dominion Land Survey). According to the Camrose Canadian, the townsite of New Norway was put on sale October 14, 1909, with 14 businesses filing intent to establish within the first month. Commercial lots sold from $100 to $250, and residential lots were priced from $50 to $150.

The first village council was elected on May 9, 1910 with Norman M. Smith, James F. Willows and Evan O. Olstad serving.

Geography

Nearby communities include:

• Duhamel
• Ferintosh
• Edberg
• Camrose
• Wetaskiwin

Demographics

In 2006, New Norway had a population of 323 living in 121 dwellings, a 10.6% increase from 2001. The village has a land area of 1.12 km² (0.43 sq mi) and a population density of 289.7 /km² (750 /sq mi).^[1]

See also

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of villages in Alberta

References

1. ^ Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "New Norway - Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4810008&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=New%20Norway&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4810008. Retrieved 2007-06-08. 

• Memory Opens the Door - New Norway and District 1972. (Local History book, no ISBN)

External links

• The Village of New Norway website

Coordinates: 52°52′09.0″N 112°57′18.1″W / 52.86917°N 112.955028°W / 52.86917; -112.955028