Cardston

Geography

Cardston is situated in the low foothills of southwest Alberta, approximately 25 km (15.53 mi) north from the American state of Montana. On its north side, it borders the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) Indian Reservation, one of the largest reserves in North America. 40 km (24.85 mi) to the west of Cardston are the Rocky Mountains of Waterton Lakes National Park. Cardston is 77 km (47.85 mi) southwest of Lethbridge and 234 km (145.40 mi) south of Calgary.

Coordinates: 49°12′N 113°18′W

Elevation: 1,121 m (3,677.82 ft)

Land Area (square kilometers): 8.64 km² (3.34 sq mi)

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Cardston recorded a population of 3,585 living in 1,175 of its 1,270 total private dwellings, a 6999100000000000000♠0.1% change from its 2011 population of 3,580. With a land area of 8.59 km² (3.32 sq mi), it had a population density of 417.3/km² (1,080.9/sq mi) in 2016.

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Cardston had a population of 3,580 living in 1,208 of its 1,322 total dwellings, a 3.7% change from its 2006 population of 3,452. With a land area of 8.64 km² (3.34 sq mi), it had a population density of 414.4/km² (1,073.2/sq mi) in 2011.

The population of the Town of Cardston according to its 2007 municipal census is 3,578.

Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census

Climate

Cardston experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). Along with the rest of southern Alberta, Cardston is subject to chinooks, which often bring temperatures in mid-winter well above 10 °C (50 °F). This same pattern results in more than 200 days of wind a year.

Weather records:

Hottest Temperature: 39.0 °C (102.2 °F) on 23 July 2007

Coldest Temperature: −41.7 °C (−43 °F) on 28 January 1929

Most Rain In One Day: 106.0 mm (4.17 in) on 6 June 1995

Most Snow In One Day: 63.5 cm (25.0 in) on 4 May 1919

Deepest Snow Cover: 84 cm (33.1 in) on 29 April 1967

Economy

Primary industries are education, health care, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and tourism. Cardston is one of the few communities in Canada where alcohol cannot be sold or purchased.

Attractions

Cardston has a soccer park, ball parks, a golf course, an ice skating rink, a swimming pool, tennis courts, hiking trails, a skateboard park, several recreation parks, picnic areas and playgrounds. The local schools and LDS Church buildings have gymnasiums. St. Mary's Dam reservoir northeast of Cardston supports water sports in the summer months.

Local attractions

Cardston Alberta Temple

The Cardston Alberta Temple is one of southern Alberta’s most recognized landmarks. It was constructed by Mormon pioneers who settled Cardston in 1887. The temple became the centerpiece of the town, and it was the first temple constructed by the church outside of the United States.

Remington Carriage Museum

The Remington Carriage Museum houses the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America, with more than 250 carriages, wagons and sleighs. The 63,000-square-foot (5,900 m²) facility features video displays, a fire hall, carriage factory, restoration shop, working stable, carriage rides, carriage rentals, a restaurant, and a gift shop. Guided tours are offered for free. On April 9, 2006, the museum was briefly mentioned on TV in Canada as a destination of Patty and Selma's vacation during the Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore episode of The Simpsons.

The Carriage House Theatre

This theatre was constructed in 1912 by Mark Spencer, and underwent renovations in 1937 and 1992. It seats 350 and hosts films, community theatre and professional summer theatre, which has produced such shows as Seussical, Oklahoma, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Card Pioneer Home

A genuine "Little House on the Prairie", it was built by Cardston’s founder Charles Ora Card in 1887, and served as a community centre and stopping place for travellers until the first hotel was built in 1894. The log structure stands in its original location and is open for public visits as a Registered Provincial Historic site.

Courthouse Museum

The Courthouse Museum shows how a rough country changed dramatically. The unique sandstone structure was built in 1907 from stone quarried near Cardston. The building’s profile and interior stand as a monument to Cardston’s early pioneer artisans. It was used longer than any other courthouse in Alberta. The building displays the judge's bench, witness box, and other artifacts. Original jail cells, including graffiti, can be found. The Courthouse Museum is a Registered Provincial Historic site

Regional attractions

Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park is a national park in the southwest corner of Alberta, 40 km (25 mi) west of Cardston, and borders Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Waterton Lakes was Canada's fourth national park, formed in 1895. Amid the peaks are the lakes of Waterton Lakes National Park, carved out of the rock by glaciers.

Frank Slide Interpretive Centre

On April 29, 1903, at 4:10 a.m., the mining town of Frank, Alberta, was devastated by 82 million tonnes of limestone crashing down from Turtle Mountain. The Frank Slide Interpretative Centre in the Crowsnest Pass, 130 km (81 mi) northwest of Cardston, tells of one of the geatest natural disasters in Canadian history.

Castle Mountain Ski Resort

Castle Mountain Resort 90 km (56 mi) west of Cardston has kilometres of groomed skiing runs, natural half pipes, deep fresh powder, short lift lines and wide open spaces.

Writing On Stone Provincial Park

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, 125 km (78 mi) east of Cardston, is one of the largest areas of protected prairie in the Alberta park system, a nature preserve and protection for rock art created by Plains People. There are 50 rock art sites, with thousands of figures, as well as archaeological sites.

Police Outpost Provincial Park

Police Outpost Provincial Park is 32 kilometres (20 mi) south of Cardston, on the Canada/United States border, on the shores of Outpost Lake.

Education

Schools include the Cardston High School, the Cardston Jr. High School (formerly Eastridge Elementary School), and Cardston Elementary School which are all under the Westwind School Division.

Former schools include Leeside (grades 1 and 2 - torn down in the late 1980s to make way for the Remington-Alberta Carriage Centre) and Westside. The building that housed many of the junior high facilities, E.J. Wood School (including the gymnasium near the current high school), Parkland School, and John S. Smith Schools were torn down in 1993 as the junior high moved to the former Eastridge building. The Cardston High School underwent extensive renovations in the early 2000s, including an expansion to its gymnasium, much-improved fitness and weight room facilities, wider hallways, and a new cafeteria.

Media

Historical newspapers

The Cardston News was first published in 1924 and was a weekly until 1925. During 1924-1925, the newspaper was edited and published by Fred Burton. It was later taken over by D.O. Wight, editor and managing director from September 17, 1925 until June 9, 1936. Fred Burton took over as publisher on June 16, 1936. The Cardston News was taken over by Gordon F. West On May 7, 1964.

The Cardston Record began publication on August 6, 1898 and was published weekly until September 1901.

The Cardston News (1928-1958) and Cardston Record (1898-1899) have been digitized from microfilm and are available through the University of Lethbridge Library digitized collections.

Notable people

Victor L. Brown, world leader in the LDS Church

Ben Cahoon, CFL slotback who won three Grey Cup championships with the Montreal Alouettes.

Elaine L. Jack, world leader in the LDS Church

Merlin R. Lybbert, world leader in the LDS Church

Grant Strate, dancer and choreographer

Edward J. Wood, leader in the LDS Church

George Woolf, jockey

Fay Wray, actress