Jasper, Alberta

For other uses, see Jasper (disambiguation).
Jasper
Specialized municipality
Municipality of Jasper

View of Jasper from the summit of The Whistlers
Jasper

Location of Jasper in Alberta

Coordinates: 52°52′23″N 118°04′56″W / 52.87306°N 118.08222°WCoordinates: 52°52′23″N 118°04′56″W / 52.87306°N 118.08222°W
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Alberta's Rockies
Census division 15
Founded 1813
Incorporated [1]
 - Improvement district 
August 31, 1995
 - Specialized municipality July 20, 2001
Government[2]
 • Mayor Richard Ireland
 • Governing bodies Jasper Municipal Council & Parks Canada
 • CAO Mark Fercho
 • MP Jim Eglinski
 • MLA Robin Campbell
Area (2011)[3]
 • Total 925.52 km2 (357.35 sq mi)
Elevation[4] 1,060 m (3,480 ft)
Population (2011)[3]
 • Total 4,051
 • Density 4.4/km2 (11/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC−7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC−6)
Postal code span T0E
Area code(s) +1-780
Highways Yellowhead Highway
Icefield Parkway
Waterways Athabasca River
Miette River
Website Official website

Jasper is a specialized municipality in western Alberta, Canada. It is the commercial centre of Jasper National Park, located in the Canadian Rockies in the Athabasca River valley. Jasper is approximately 362 kilometres (225 mi) west of Edmonton and 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Banff, Alberta at the intersection of the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) and the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93).

The Municipality of Jasper, comprising the Jasper townsite known as the Town of Jasper[5] and a surrounding rural service area,[6] was established as a specialized municipality on July 20, 2001.[5] Governance is shared between the municipality and the federal Parks Canada agency.[7]

History

Established in 1813, Jasper House was first a North West Company, and later Hudson's Bay Company, fur trade outpost on the York Factory Express trade route to what was then called "New Caledonia" (now British Columbia), and Fort Vancouver in Columbia District on the lower Columbia River.[8]

Jasper National Park was established in 1907. The railway siding at the location of the future townsite was established by Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1911 and originally named Fitzhugh after a Grand Trunk vice president[9] (along the Grand Trunk's "alphabet" line). The Canadian Northern Railway also began service to Fitzhugh in 1912.[10] The townsite was surveyed in 1913 by H. Matheson,[10] and subsequently renamed Jasper after the former fur trade post. An internment camp was set up at Dominion Park in Jasper from February 1916 to August 1916.[11]

By 1931, Jasper was accessible by road from Edmonton, and in 1940 the scenic Icefields Parkway opened, connecting Lake Louise and Jasper.

Geography

Downtown Jasper

Jasper is located in the Athabasca River valley, at the confluence with Miette River. It lies between the Victoria Cross Ranges (northwest), Pyramid Mountain (north), Maligne Range (southeast) and Indian Ridge (southwest). Jasper is connected to the west via the Yellowhead Highway and the Yellowhead Pass to Prince George and to the east to Edmonton. Toward the south, the Icefield Parkway leads to Banff and Banff National Park.

Located near Jasper are Pyramid Lake and Patricia Lake, as well as Lake Annette, Lake Edith, Lac Beauvert, Maligne Lake, Medicine Lake and numerous other smaller lakes. The Jasper Skytram, which takes visitors to The Whistlers' summit, and the Marmot Basin ski resort are also located near the town, as is the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. The Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives is located in the Jasper town site, as is the Jasper Visitor Centre.

Climate

Jasper experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc) that borders on a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb).

Demographics

The Jasper Information Centre

In the 2011 Census, the Municipality of Jasper had a population of 4,051 living in 1,399 of its 1,615 total dwellings, a -5% change from its 2006 population of 4,265.[3] Statistics Canada subsequently amended the 2011 census results to a population of 4,432 living in 1,606 of its 1,819 total dwellings, a 3.9% change from 2006.[13] With a land area of 925.52 km2 (357.35 sq mi), it had a population density of 4.8/km2 (12.4/sq mi) in 2011.[3][13]

Municipality of Jasper population breakdown – 2011 municipal census[14][15]
Component Permanent
population		 Shadow
population		 Total
population
Town of Jasper unpublished 4,152
Rural service area unpublished 1,084
Total Municipality of Jasper 4,584 652 5,236

The population of the Municipality of Jasper according to its 2011 municipal census is 5,236,[14] a 10.3% increase over its 2008 municipal census population of 4,745.[16] Jasper's 2011 population of 5,236 comprises 4,584 permanent and 652 non-permanent residents,[14] while its 2007 census counted 4,235 permanent and 510 non-permanent residents.[16]

In 2006, Jasper had a population of 4,265 living in 1,817 dwellings, a 2.0% increase from 2001. The specialized municipality has a land area of 925.52 km2 (357.35 sq mi) and a population density of 4.6/km2 (12/sq mi).[17]

According to the 2001 census, Jasper had a population of 4,180 (down from 4,301 in 1996) on a land area of 925.43 km2 (357.31 sq mi).[18] The population density was 4.5/km2 (11.65/sq mi), and the median household income was $53,485. An average value of private dwelling of $247,658 was registered in 2001.

Transportation

Jasper railway station, seen from Connaught Drive

Jasper railway station is served by Via Rail with two passenger services. The Canadian and the Jasper – Prince Rupert train both operate three times per week.[19]

Jasper Airport is located 7.2 nautical miles (13.3 km; 8.3 mi) north of Jasper.

Education

Grande Yellowhead Public School Division No. 77

Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No. 2

Media

Notable residents

Sister city relations

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jasper, Alberta.
  1. ↑ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2010-09-17). "Municipal Profile – Municipality of Jasper". Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  2. ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. March 20, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  4. ↑ "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Order in Council 279/2001" (PDF). Government of Alberta. 2001-07-24. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  6. ↑ "Jasper Sustainable Community Plan" (PDF). Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada. September 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  7. ↑ Municipality of Jasper - Governance
  8. ↑ Parks Canada - Jasper House National Historic Site
  9. ↑ http://albertajasper.com/Jasper-Alberta-Information-Centre-History.htmlz
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lothian, W.F. (1987). A Brief History of Canada's National Parks. Environment Canada.
  11. ↑ "Internment Camps in Canada during the First and Second World Wars, Library and Archives Canada".
  12. ↑ "Jasper, Alberta". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Corrections and updates". Statistics Canada. August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "2011 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2010-10-05. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  15. ↑ "Municipality of Jasper Regular Meeting Agenda, Tuesday, September 6, 2011 (Agenda Item 7.1)" (PDF). Municipality of Jasper. 2011-09-06. p. 4. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "2010 Official Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  17. ↑ Statistics Canada. "Canada 2006 Census: Jasper - Community Profile". Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  18. ↑ Jasper Community Profile - Statistics Canada. 2002. 2001 Community Profiles. Released June 27, 2002. Last modified: 2005-11-30. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 93F0053XIE
  19. ↑ Via Rail. "Jasper station". Retrieved 2007-06-22.
  20. ↑ NHL Players from Jasper, Alberta | QuantHockey.com Retrieved on March 19, 2011
  21. ↑ "Sister City". Retrieved 3 December 2014.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Jasper.
 McBride Grande Cache Hinton
Valemount Cadomin
   Jasper  
Jasper National Park Lake Louise Nordegg