Spirit River, Alberta

Spirit River is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located 78km north of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 49 and Highway 731. The first school opened in 1910 and the railroad arrived in 1916. DemographicsIn the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Spirit River recorded a population of 995 living in 442 of its 487 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 1, 025. With a land area of 3. 14km2, it had a population density of in 2016. In the 2011 Census, the Town of Spirit River had a population of 1, 025 living in 425 of its 471 total dwellings, a -10. 7% change from its 2006 population of 1, 148. With a land area of 2. 81km2, it had a population density of in 2011. EconomyThe community is largely agricultural, being located in the fertile Peace Country. It also features an active oil and gas industry. Together with Rycroft, Spirit River services an area of approximately 10, 000 people. AttractionsThe town features the Richardson Pioneer Central Peace Aquatic Centre and the Spirit River and District Museum. HistoryIn 1891, a trading post became the original settlement along the banks of the Spirit River. Ranching in the area started as early as the 1840s and farming in the 1880s. In 1915, to the northwest, on Section 22, the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway subdivided a townsite called Spirit River Station. The residents and storekeepers at the old settlement then moved, creating a village in 1916. On February 16 of that year, the Herald Tribune reported that McRae & Co. opened a general store. Spirit River was incorporated as a town in 1951.

Spirit River is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located 78km north of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 49 and Highway 731. The first school opened in 1910 and the railroad arrived in 1916. DemographicsIn the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Spirit River recorded a population of 995 living in 442 of its 487 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 1, 025. With a land area of 3. 14km2, it had a population density of in 2016. In the 2011 Census, the Town of Spirit River had a population of 1, 025 living in 425 of its 471 total dwellings, a -10. 7% change from its 2006 population of 1, 148. With a land area of 2. 81km2, it had a population density of in 2011. EconomyThe community is largely agricultural, being located in the fertile Peace Country. It also features an active oil and gas industry. Together with Rycroft, Spirit River services an area of approximately 10, 000 people. AttractionsThe town features the Richardson Pioneer Central Peace Aquatic Centre and the Spirit River and District Museum. HistoryIn 1891, a trading post became the original settlement along the banks of the Spirit River. Ranching in the area started as early as the 1840s and farming in the 1880s. In 1915, to the northwest, on Section 22, the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway subdivided a townsite called Spirit River Station. The residents and storekeepers at the old settlement then moved, creating a village in 1916. On February 16 of that year, the Herald Tribune reported that McRae & Co. opened a general store. Spirit River was incorporated as a town in 1951.