Country Canada Census division 2 Time zone MST (UTC-7) Elevation 1,050 m Population 827 (2016) Local time Wednesday 9:59 AM | Region Southern Alberta Municipal district County of Warner No. 5 Postal code span T0K 1M0 Area 239 ha Province Alberta | |
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Weather 6°C, Wind SW at 11 km/h, 65% Humidity | ||
Milk River is a town in the province of Alberta, Canada, named after the Milk River which flows immediately to its south. This location results in Milk River being one of the few Canadian communities within the Mississippi River drainage system. It is 70 kilometres (43 mi) south of Lethbridge, and 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the Canada-U.S. border. It is primarily a service centre for the many farms and cattle ranches which surround it.
Contents
- Map of Milk River AB Canada
- History
- Climate
- Demographics
- Attractions
- Government
- Infrastructure
- Milk River Health Centre
- Education
- Media
- References
Map of Milk River, AB, Canada
History
The Milk River area was first settled around the beginning of the 20th century. Milk River was incorporated as a village on July 31, 1916, and then a town on March 15, 1956.
The town's motto, "Under Eight Flags", refers to the area having been under the flags of seven governments as well as the Hudson's Bay Company. Including the Hudson's Bay Company's flag (1818–1869), the eight flags are France (1682–1762), the Spanish Empire (1762–1800), the French Republic (1800–1803), the United States (1803–1818), the British Empire (1869–1945), the Canadian Red Ensign (1945–1965), and the current Canadian Maple Leaf (1965–present).
Climate
The nearest weather station is in Masinasin, Alberta, which is approximately 36 km (22 mi) away.
Demographics
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Milk River recorded a population of 827 living in 375 of its 420 total private dwellings, a 7000200000000000000♠2% change from its 2011 population of 811. With a land area of 2.33 km2 (0.90 sq mi), it had a population density of 354.9/km2 (919.3/sq mi) in 2016.
In the 2011 Census, the Town of Milk River had a population of 811 living in 357 of its 418 total dwellings, a -0.6% change from its 2006 population of 816. With a land area of 2.39 km2 (0.92 sq mi), it had a population density of 339.3/km2 (878.9/sq mi) in 2011.
The population of the Town of Milk River according to its 2007 municipal census is 846.
Attractions
Recreation venues in Milk River include a nine-hole golf course, curling rink, swimming pool and skateboard park.
Attractions within the surrounding region that are proximate to Milk River include the following.
The Devil's Coulee Dinosaur Heritage Museum features a Hadrosaur (duck-billed dinosaur) nest and embryo, ancient fossils, dinosaur models.
The Galt Historic Railway Park located 1 km north of Stirling is another popular museum which displays of life and travel in the 1880s to 1920s are set up in the restored 1890 North West Territories International Train Station from Coutts, Alberta, Canada and Sweetgrass, Montana, USA. The station was moved to the current location near Stirling in 2000 and is added onto every year. Future plans to move the 1925 Oglvie grain elevator from Wrentham for display along the station in the 36-acre (150,000 m2) park is still in the planning stages.
Stirling Agricultural Village is a National Historic Site of Canada, and was listed as one of only three communities in Canada designated as a National Historic Site because of the community’s well preserved settlement pattern that follows the Plat of Zion model. Located within the village are two museums the Michelsen Farmstead a totally restored 1900s home showcasing rual life in Alberta in the 1930s. Listed as a Provincial Historic Site in 2001., and the Galt Historic Railway Park.
Waterton Lakes National Park is a National Park located in the extreme southwest corner of Alberta, Canada, 40 km west of Cardston, and borders Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Waterton Lakes was Canada's fourth National Park formed in 1895. The Rocky Mountains rise suddenly out of the rolling prairies in the park. Amid the peaks are the three Waterton Lakes, carved out of the rock by ancient glaciers.
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, is one of the largest areas of protected prairie in the Alberta park system, and serves as both a nature preserve and protection for the largest concentration of rock art, created by Plains People. There are over 50 rock art sites, with thousands of figures, as well as numerous archeological sites.
Government
The town is governed by a town council composed of a mayor and four councillors. Municipal elections are held every four years.
Infrastructure
The town is connected to two highways: Highway 4, which heads south to Interstate 15 and north to Lethbridge, and Highway 501, which heads west to Cardston and east to Saskatchewan. Air service is provided by Milk River Airport and rail service is offered through Canadian Pacific Railway.
Milk River Health Centre
Health services are provided by the Milk River and District Health Centre. The hospital offers 24/7 emergency department services with on call laboratory and diagnostic imaging services. Between 2005-2008, the emergency department averaged 1,351 visits per year. The top three reasons for emergency visits in Milk River ranked in order of presentation are respiratory, digestive and musculoskeletal complaints. The tertiary referral centre for the hospital is Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge.
Education
Milk River has two schools – Milk River Elementary School and Erle Rivers High School.
Media
The Milk River Review was a weekly newspaper that was published between November 11, 1948 and May 27, 1954. It continued as a weekly throughout its run as The Review from June 17, 1954 to August 21, 1958, and again under the title of County of Warner Review and Advertiser between September 1, 1958 and March 30, 1961. Finally, the weekly newspaper returned to its original name, running as the Milk River Review from June 1, 1961 through to November 16, 1961.