Swan Hills, Alberta

Swan Hills is a town in Alberta, Canada. It is located 80km north of Whitecourt and 62km northwest of Fort Assiniboine, at the junction of Highway 32 and Grizzly Trail. Swan Hills is located in Big Lakes County within census Division No. 17, Alberta. Although considered to be in northern Alberta, it is located near the geographic centre of the province. HistoryInitially a base camp for workers in the Swan Hills oilfield, accommodations and facilities were moved from a nearby site and jointly developed in the present location by the government of Alberta and oil companies between 1959-1961. Casually nicknamed 'Oil Hills', the town's official name was taken from the area of densely forested uplands in which it is located, although 'Chalmers' was also considered, after T. W. Chalmers, who had surveyed and cut the Klondike Trail through the area. The New Town of Swan Hills was incorporated on September 1, 1959 and R. L. Maxfield was appointed as Development Officer and Secretary Treasurer. Twenty-four parcels of industrial land were sold at the first land auction in November 1959. The first all-weather road into the area was completed in 1960, replacing the treacherous forestry road connecting Swan Hills to Fort Assiniboine; the Swan Hills Post Office was opened the same year. The New Town of Swan Hills was officially opened by Premier Ernest Manning in June 1962.

Swan Hills is a town in Alberta, Canada. It is located 80km north of Whitecourt and 62km northwest of Fort Assiniboine, at the junction of Highway 32 and Grizzly Trail. Swan Hills is located in Big Lakes County within census Division No. 17, Alberta. Although considered to be in northern Alberta, it is located near the geographic centre of the province. HistoryInitially a base camp for workers in the Swan Hills oilfield, accommodations and facilities were moved from a nearby site and jointly developed in the present location by the government of Alberta and oil companies between 1959-1961. Casually nicknamed 'Oil Hills', the town's official name was taken from the area of densely forested uplands in which it is located, although 'Chalmers' was also considered, after T. W. Chalmers, who had surveyed and cut the Klondike Trail through the area. The New Town of Swan Hills was incorporated on September 1, 1959 and R. L. Maxfield was appointed as Development Officer and Secretary Treasurer. Twenty-four parcels of industrial land were sold at the first land auction in November 1959. The first all-weather road into the area was completed in 1960, replacing the treacherous forestry road connecting Swan Hills to Fort Assiniboine; the Swan Hills Post Office was opened the same year. The New Town of Swan Hills was officially opened by Premier Ernest Manning in June 1962.