Pincher Creek

For the municipal district, see Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9. For the electoral district, see Pincher Creek (provincial electoral district).
Pincher Creek
Town
Town of Pincher Creek

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Pincher Creek

Location of Pincher Creek in Alberta

Coordinates: 49°29′08.3″N 113°56′53.6″W / 49.485639°N 113.948222°W / 49.485639; -113.948222Coordinates: 49°29′08.3″N 113°56′53.6″W / 49.485639°N 113.948222°W / 49.485639; -113.948222
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Southern Alberta
Census division 3
Municipal district Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9
Incorporated 1906
Government[1]
 • Mayor Don Anderberg
 • Governing body Pincher Creek Town Council
Area (2011)[2]
 • Total 10.19 km2 (3.93 sq mi)
Elevation[3] 1,130 m (3,710 ft)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 3,685
 • Density 361.6/km2 (937/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC−7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC−6)
Postal code T0K 1W0
Area code(s) 403 / 587
Highways Hwy 3 Crowsnest Highway
Hwy 6
Hwy 507
Waterways Oldman River Reservoir
Website Official website

Pincher Creek is a town in the southwest of Alberta, Canada. It is located immediately east of the Canadian Rockies, 101 km (63 mi) west of Lethbridge and 210 km (130 mi) south of Calgary.

History

For centuries before this area was settled, the Blackfoot, Peigan and Kootenai Nations lived in or frequented the region.

The town received its name in 1868 when a group of prospectors lost a pincer in the small creek at this location. These pincers would have been used as a mechanism for trimming the feet of the horses and thus had some value to the group. In 1874, the North-West Mounted Police came to southern Alberta. One of them discovered the rusting tools in the creek, and they named the area Pincher Creek.

In 1876, the NWMP established a horse farm in the area. It closed in 1881, but many of the troops stayed to help the town. James Schofield opened Pincher Creek's first store in 1884. By 1885 Pincher Creek had a store known as Schofield & Hyde General Store. Harry Hyde succeeded Schofield as Pincher Creek's first postmaster.

In 1898, Pincher Creek was incorporated a village. In 1906, the community was officially incorporated as a town and named Pincher Creek. Many residents are descendants of the pioneer families who settled there over 100 years ago.

Geography

Climate

Strong Chinook winds often blow off the mountains and Pincher Creek can be very windy. The strongest recorded wind was 177 kilometres per hour. The strong winds have given rise to a significant amount of wind farm development in the area, with the towers and blades of wind turbines being a characteristic of the scenery.

The town was severely affected by a flood that hit the area in 1995 as the peak stream flow discharge was 271 cubic meters per second

Demographics

The population of the Town of Pincher Creek according to its 2013 municipal census is 3,619,[4] a 2.5% decrease from its 2008 municipal census population of 3,712.[5]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Pincher Creek had a population of 3,685 living in 1,500 of its 1,581 total dwellings, a 1.7% change from its 2006 population of 3,625. With a land area of 10.19 km2 (3.93 sq mi), it had a population density of 361.6/km2 (936.6/sq mi) in 2011.[2]

In 2006, Pincher Creek had a population of 3,625 living in 1,504 dwellings, a 1.1% decrease from 2001. The town then had a land area of 8.84 km2 (3.41 sq mi) and a population density of 410.2/km2 (1,062/sq mi).[6]

Attractions

The Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village is a popular tourist stop open year round. It was named after Kootenay Brown, who was the founder of Waterton Park. The six acre site is home to over twenty-three historical buildings, all on open exhibit. Each July, the village has a large Canada Day celebration, as well as hosting other community based events through the year. Among over 18,000 artifacts, historical archives are also located on site and accessible to the public. [7]

Pincher Creek is located 57 km (35 mi) north of Waterton Lakes National Park. The Castle Mountain Ski Resort is located 49 km (30 mi) to the southwest.

Government

The town's mayor is Don Anderberg.

Media

Pincher Creek is served by one newspaper, the Sun Media owned Pincher Creek Echo,[8] which publishes on Wednesdays and has been in operation since 1900.. It is also served by an online news website, the Pincher Creek Voice, established in 2011.

Pincher Creek is served by Mountain Radio, a country music station based in nearby Blairmore. Mountain Radio's Pincher Creek transmitter can be heard on 92.7 FM.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. ↑ "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 9, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Agenda: Town of Pincher Creek, Committee of the Whole" (PDF). Town of Pincher Creek. August 1, 2013. pp. 80–82. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  5. ↑ "2011 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 5, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ Statistics Canada. "Canada 2006 Census: Pincher Creek - Community Profile". Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  7. ↑ http://www.kootenaibrown.ca/p/village.html
  8. ↑ "Pincher Creek Echo". Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved May 9, 2013.

External links

Cowley Cowley Fort Macleod
Crowsnest Pass Glenwood
   Pincher Creek  
Beaver Mines Waterton Lakes National Park Hill Spring
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