Redwater, Alberta

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Town of Redwater
Location of Redwater within census division number 11 in Alberta, Canada
Area	7.7 km²
Population	2,172 (2001)
Pop'n density	282 /km²
Location	53°56′56″N, 113°06′24″W
Altitude	632 metres
Incorporation	September 7, 1906 (Founded) December 31, 1949 (Village) November 25, 1950 (Town)
Province	Alberta
Census Division	11
MP	Dave Chatters (Cons - Westlock—St. Paul)
MLA	Mike Cardinal (PC - Athabasca-Redwater)
Mayor	Connie Tchir
City Manager	Earla Wagar
Governing Body	Redwater Town Council
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
Postal code	T0A 2W0
Area Code	+1-780
Town of Redwater website

Redwater is a town in northern Alberta located approximately 60 km north of Edmonton on Highway 38, in Sturgeon County. Its population, as of 2001, was 2,172. Redwater is in the federal riding of Westlock—St. Paul and the provincial riding of Athabasca-Redwater.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Summary of amenities & services 4 Industry 5 References 6 External links

[edit] 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.^[1]

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 1950's. The population has declined since to around 2000.

It is the birthplace of hockey player Todd Fedoruk of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

[edit] 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 15 km 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.

[edit] Summary of amenities & services

Redwater is home to an RCMP 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.

[edit] Industry

In addition to the expected thriving farming industry in the area, many large industrial sites are nearby[1]. Agrium Inc, a Calgary-based fertilizer plant, has a large operation about 10 km 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 30 km 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.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Town of Redwater official website.