Magrath

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Magrath
Town
Town of Magrath
Wind farm west of Magrath.
Wind farm west of Magrath.
Official logo of Magrath
Logo
Nickname(s): Garden City[1]
Magrath is located in Alberta
Magrath
Magrath
Coordinates: 49°25′26″N 112°52′06″W / 49.42389°N 112.86833°W / 49.42389; -112.86833Coordinates: 49°25′26″N 112°52′06″W / 49.42389°N 112.86833°W / 49.42389; -112.86833
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Southern Alberta
Census division 3
Municipal district Cardston County
Founded 1899
Government[2]
 • Mayor Russ Barnett
 • Governing body Magrath Town Council
 • CAO Wade Alston
 • MP Jim Hillyer
 • MLA Gary Bikman
Area (2011)[3]
 • Total 4.97 km2 (1.92 sq mi)
Elevation[4] 983 m (3,225 ft)
Population (2011)[3]
 • Total 2,217
 • Density 446.2/km2 (1,156/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
Postal code span T0K 1J0
Area code(s) +1-403
Website Official website

Magrath is a town in Cardston County, Alberta, Canada. Its population was 2,217 in 2011. Magrath is located near the Canadian Rockies and is 32 km (20 mi) south of Lethbridge and 242 km (150 mi) south of Calgary.

History[edit]

Magrath was established in 1899 by settlers sent by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Utah and Idaho. These Mormon settlers were recruited by the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company to construct irrigation works in the area. The settlers were paid in cash and land in the town. This was the first major irrigation work in Canada and was made possible by the settlers' experience with the extensive irrigation projects undertaken by their church in Utah and Idaho. The area's irrigation canal system supplies water to local farmers.

Old grain elevator in Magrath.

Magrath is named after Charles Alexander Magrath.[5] Magrath post office was established 1 March 1900, with Ammon Mercer as first postmaster.[6]

Demographics[edit]

The population of the Town of Magrath according to its 2013 municipal census is 2,376,[7] a 3.2% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 2,302.[8]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Magrath had a population of 2,217 living in 684 of its 748 total dwellings, a 6.5% change from its 2006 population of 2,081. With a land area of 4.97 km2 (1.92 sq mi), it had a population density of 446.1/km2 (1,155.3/sq mi) in 2011.[3]

In 2006, Magrath had a population of 2,081 living in 679 dwellings, a 4.4% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 4.97 km2 (1.92 sq mi) and a population density of 418.8/km2 (1,085/sq mi).[9]

Religious affiliation[edit]

The following is a breakdown of Magrath’s population by religious affiliation from the 2001 federal census.[10]

  • Protestant: 84%
  • Catholic: 4%
  • No religious affiliation: 11%
  • Christian Orthodox: <1%
  • Christian (unspecified denomination): <1%

Statistics Canada includes 44 churches in its 2001 Protestant definition, including the Mormon denominations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ (formerly Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).[11]

There are seven wards and two branches (Latter-day Saint congregations) within the Magrath area.[citation needed]

Attractions[edit]

  • Buffalo Bin Elevator - Magrath,[12] the first of five ever built in the Province. The "Buffalo Bin" style grain elevator was built as an experiential elevator for Alberta Wheat Pool in the 1970-1980s, today only three of the original buffalo bins remain. The others still standing are Foremost and Fort Saskatchewan.
  • Galt Irrigation Canal, first major irrigation project in Canada, a National Historic Site of Canada.[13]
  • Galt Canal Nature Trail[14]
  • Magrath Golf club
  • Magrath Skateboard Park
  • Magrath Wind farm

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Garden City Movement
  2. ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs: Municipal Officials Search
  3. ^ a b c "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. ^ Holmgren, Eric J. and Patricia M. Holmgren (1973) Over 2,000 Place-Names of Alberta, p. 112, Saskatoon, Sask: Western Producer Book Service, ISBN 0-919306-37-3
  6. ^ Post Office Archives page for Magrath
  7. ^ "Statistics: 2013 Census Results". Town of Magrath. Retrieved July 15, 2013. 
  8. ^ "2011 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 5, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2011. 
  9. ^ Statistics Canada (2006). "Magrath - Community Profile". Retrieved 2007-06-12. 
  10. ^ "2001 Community Profiles – Magrath, Alberta (Town)". Statistics Canada. 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2011-04-29. 
  11. ^ "2001 Census Dictionary – Appendix L. Comparison of Religious Code Values, 2001, 1991 and 1981" (PDF). Statistics Canada. 2003-12-04. Retrieved 2011-04-29. 
  12. ^ Buffalo Bin Elevator
  13. ^ "Historic Galt Canal head-gates to receive face lift". August 6, 2015 By Karlene Skretting, Westwind Weekly News.
  14. ^ Galt Canal Nature Trail - Magrath
  15. ^ https://www.lds.org/church/leader/randall-k-bennett?lang=eng
  16. ^ http://paralympic.ca/athletes/37560
  17. ^ http://www.countryweekly.com/news/nash-street-takes-showdown-crown
  18. ^ http://www.trevortown.com/content-detail.asp?ID=60&CatID=1

External links[edit]