Fort Macleod, Alberta

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Town of Fort Macleod
Location of Fort Macleod within census division number 3 in Alberta, Canada
Town of Fort Macleod
Location of Fort Macleod within census division number 3 in Alberta, Canada
Area 23.34 km²
Population 2,990 (2001)
Pop'n density 128.1 /km²
Location 49°43′32.1″N, 113°23′51.1″W
Altitude 945 metres
Incorporation 1884
Province Alberta
Census Division 3
MP Ted Menzies (Macleod-Cons)
MLA David Coutts
Mayor Shawn Patience
City Manager Shawn Wells
Governing Body Fort Macleod Town Council
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
Postal code T1J
Area Code +1-403
Fort Macleod.com

Fort Macleod is a town in the southwest of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is named in honour of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Colonel James Macleod.

The fort was built as a 70 by 70 meters square on the 18 of October. The east side held the men's quarters and thewest side held those of the Mounties. Things such as Hospitals, store, and gaurdrooms were in the south end. Stables and the Blacksmith's shop was in the north end.

The town is located in the Municipal District of Willow Creek, at the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 3, on the Oldman River. It lies west of the larger community of Lethbridge, near the reserves of the Peigan and Kainah First Nations. It is also located close to the Waterton Lakes National Park.

The town is located 8 kilometres north of the largest wind farm in Canada, the McBride Lake Wind Farm. The wind farm has a capacity of 75 megawatts of electricity.

In 2001, Fort Macleod had a population of 2,990, 1.5% decrease from 1996[1].

Fort Macleod is notable as the birthplace of folk singer Joni Mitchell.

Contents

[edit] History

The fort in Fort Macleod
Enlarge
The fort in Fort Macleod

The town grew on the location of the Fort Macleod North West Mounted Police Barracks, the first outpost of the North West Mounted Police in Western Canada, established in 1874 on an island on the Oldman River, than moved in 1884 on the actual town location[2]. The Museum of the North West Mounted Police[3] is located in Fort Macleod.

Heritage Canada started a Main Street Restoration Project in 1982, aiming to preserve the sandstone and brick buildings, some dating back to 1878.[4]

[edit] Sports

The town is home to the Fort Macleod Mustangs, a provincial hockey team.

[edit] Media

  • Fort Macleod Gazette[5]

[edit] Film location

The movie Brokeback Mountain was filmed in part in Fort Macleod.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fort Macleod profile - Statistics Canada. 2002. 2001 Community Profiles. Released June 27, 2002. Last modified: 2005-11-30. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 93F0053XIE
  2. ^ Fort Macleod history
  3. ^ Museum of the North West Mounted Police
  4. ^ Fort Macleod Overview at Albertafirst
  5. ^ Fort Macleod Gazette

[edit] External links



Coordinates: 49°43′32.1″N, 113°23′51.1″W

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