Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Town of Rocky Mountain House | |
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| Area | 12.76 km² |
| Population | 6,584 (2004) |
| Location | |
| Altitude | 989 m |
| Incorporation | Founded: 1799 Town: 1912 |
| Province | Alberta |
| Census division | 9 |
| MP | Blaine Calkins |
| MLA | Ty Lund |
| Mayor | Jim Bague |
| Governing body | Rocky Mountain House Town Council |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| Postal code | T4T |
| Area code | +1-403 |
| RockyMountainHouse.com | |
Rocky Mountain House is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada, at the confluence of the Clearwater and North Saskatchewan Rivers.
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[edit] History
The town has a long history dating to the 1800s with the presence of British and Canadian fur traders during the westward Canadian expansion. In 1799 the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company each established the Rocky Mountain House and Acton House fur trading posts. Trade with the local aboriginal peoples continued until 1821 when the companies merged and closed the Rocky Mountain House post. The name of the settlement however remained.
The Rocky Mountain House settlement also served as a launching point for many explorers such as David Thompson, in search for a passage west to the Pacific Ocean. Many travellers used this location as a stop on their way further west or northwest just as it does into the 21st century.
Not until the beginning of the 20th century did the next set of adventurers enter the region in search of the opportunities presented by the abundance of natural resources. Rocky Mountain House became a firmly established town by 1912.
[edit] Current
Rocky Mountain House is a crossroads between a significant north-south artery, Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail) and east-west on Highway 11 (David Thompson Highway) between the City of Red Deer, Alberta and Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. Spectacular natural scenery with the nearby Rocky Mountains as a backdrop draws tourists and new residents alike. Currently a hub of petroleum transportation, local employment has spiked with the bulk of jobs involving oil and gas production. The town appears to be experiencing a significant economic expansion due to the high world price of oil. This economic boom has prompted several new larger department stores, such as Canadian Tire (2005), and Extra Foods (2006), as well as speciality shops opening at one of the highest growth-rates in recent memory. It has also helped lead to the establishment of the new Confluence Campus (2005), including the former Will Sinclair High School (now West Central High School), grades nine through twelve of Saint Matthew's Catholic School (now Saint Dominic's Catholic High School), and an off-campus section of Red Deer College.
[edit] Politics
Like much of rural Alberta, Rocky Mountain House is a Progressive Conservative stronghold. From 1935 to 1971, the Social Credit Party's Alf Hooke held this seat and support for that party is still strong- the party's leader Lavern Ahlstrom has polled well in the last two elections, far above his party's average.
[edit] Town council
The town council of Rocky Mountain House consists of Mayor Jim Bague, Councillor Joan McDonald, Councillor Fred Nash, Councillor Stewart Stephanson, Councillor Ernie Murias, Councillor Bill Symko, and Councillor Ron Wesner.
[edit] External links
 Subdivisions of Alberta |
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| Census divisions | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 |
| Regions | Calgary Region · Edmonton Capital Region · Calgary-Edmonton Corridor · Central Alberta · Northern Alberta · Southern Alberta |
| Cities | Airdrie · Brooks · Calgary · Camrose · Cold Lake · Edmonton · Fort Saskatchewan · Grande Prairie · Leduc · Lethbridge · Lloydminster · Medicine Hat · Red Deer · Spruce Grove · St. Albert · Wetaskiwin |
| Communities | Counties and municipal districts · Towns · Villages · Hamlets · Indian reserves · Métis |
| Other | School districts · Regional Health Authorities |
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