Country Canada Census division 2 Time zone MST (UTC-7) Elevation 960 m Area code Area code 403 Province Alberta | Region Southern Alberta Municipal district County of Warner No. 5 Postal code span T0K 2S0 Population 3,708 (2016) Local time Saturday 5:39 AM | |
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Weather 4°C, Wind W at 26 km/h, 56% Humidity Waterway Milk River Ridge Reservoir | ||
Raymond is a town in the County of Warner No. 5, Alberta, Canada. It is located in southern Alberta south of Lethbridge on Highway 52. Raymond is known for its annual rodeo and its large Mormon population. The sole high school in the town, Raymond High School, is known for its sports achievements in basketball, Canadian football, and women's rugby union.
Contents
- Map of Raymond AB Canada
- History
- Demographics
- Visible minorities
- Aboriginals
- Religion
- Charitable giving
- Attractions
- Notable people
- References
Map of Raymond, AB, Canada
History
Raymond was founded in 1901 by mining magnate and industrialist Jesse Knight, who named the town after his son, Raymond. Knight's plans to build a sugar factory based on locally grown sugar beets attracted 1,500 settlers in a few years.
Raymond was incorporated as a village in the Northwest Territories (NWT) on May 30, 1902. It incorporated as a town in the NWT 13 months later on July 1, 1903.
Demographics
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Raymond recorded a population of 3,708 living in 1,134 of its 1,259 total private dwellings, a 3000099999999999999♠−0.9% change from its 2011 population of 3,743. With a land area of 6.66 km2 (2.57 sq mi), it had a population density of 556.8/km2 (1,442.0/sq mi) in 2016.
The Town of Raymond's 2016 municipal census counted a population of 4,202, a 7000150000000000000♠1.5% change from its 2015 municipal census population of 4,139.
In the 2011 Census, the Town of Raymond had a population of 3,743 living in 1,165 of its 1,235 total dwellings, a 16.1% change from its 2006 adjusted population of 3,225. With a land area of 6.85 km2 (2.64 sq mi), it had a population density of 546.4/km2 (1,415.2/sq mi) in 2011.
Visible minorities
As of 2006, approximately 3.0% of the town's population were visible minorities. Of those minorities, 50 people identified themselves as Japanese, 40 as Black, and 10 as South Asian.
Aboriginals
In 2006, there were 110 Aboriginal Canadians resident in the town.
Religion
A majority of Raymondites are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In the town, there are three LDS Church meetinghouses and ten separate congregations, composing one stake. (The closest LDS Church temple, the Cardston Alberta Temple, is located 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest in Cardston.) Raymond also has Baptist, Mennonite, and United Church of Canada congregations. Until its temple was relocated to Lethbridge in 2006, the Raymond Buddhist Church was the oldest continually used Buddhist sanctuary in Canada.
Charitable giving
Statistics Canada has reported that Raymond ranks among the top five communities in Canada for the highest level of charitable donations per capita, which is partially due to the town population's high rate of tithes given to the LDS Church.
Attractions
In 1902, one year after it was founded, Raymond held an outdoor rodeo and called it a stampede; this was Canada's first organized rodeo event. Since the inaugural event, the Raymond Stampede has been held on June 30 or July 1 every summer.
Raymond Heritage Days is held annually during the first week of July to celebrate the founding of Raymond. Events and activities include family softball, fireworks, midnight golfing, downtown games with bounce houses, a pancake breakfast, and a Canada Day parade, in addition to the Raymond Stampede.
Raymond is home to the Raymond Judo Club, the first Judo club in Alberta. The club was formed by Yoshio Katsuta in 1943.
The Raymond Aquatic Centre opened in 2010. It features two small waterslides, a junior Olympic-sized pool for lane swimming, diving boards, a climbing wall, a baby pool, and an eating area. The aquatic centre holds 1,000,000 litres of water during the summer and attracts up to 500 visitors a day.
The Raymond Buddhist Church is the oldest building in Raymond and the only remaining structure from the town's pioneer days.
The Raymond Community Centre contains the town hall, the Raymond Public Library, and the Broadway Theatre.