Devon, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Devon
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Town
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Town of Devon | ||
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Country | Canada | |
Province | Alberta | |
Region | Edmonton Metropolitan Region | |
Census division | 11 | |
Municipal district | Leduc County | |
Adjacent municipal district | Parkland County | |
Incorporated | ||
• Village | December 31, 1949 | |
• Town | February 24, 1950 | |
Named for | Devonian Period | |
Area
(2021)
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• Land | 14.26 km2 (5.51 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 709 m (2,326 ft) | |
Population
(2021)
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• Total | 6,545 | |
• Density | 459.1/km2 (1,189/sq mi) | |
Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) | |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) | |
Forward sortation area |
T9G
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Area code(s) | 780 | |
Highways | 19, 60 | |
Waterways | North Saskatchewan River |
Devon is a town in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. It is approximately 26 km (16 mi) southwest of Edmonton, the provincial capital, along the southern bank of the North Saskatchewan River.
Contents
History
Devon owes its existence to one of the largest oil discoveries in the world. On 1947 February 13, the Imperial Leduc #1 well struck oil, and the new town of Devon was constructed shortly thereafter by Imperial Oil to accommodate its workers. The company was determined that the town would be well-planned, and Devon holds the distinction of being the first Canadian community to be approved by a regional planning commission. The oil industry remains a major player in the town's business sector, though the economy has diversified to include tourism, manufacturing, and research.
Devon is named after the Devonian formation (the strata tapped in the Leduc #1 oil well), which in turn is named for Devon county, England.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Devon recorded a population of
6,545 living in 2,496 of its 2,588 total private dwellings, a change of -0.5% from its 2016 population of 6,578. With a land area of 14.26 km2 (5.51 sq mi), it had a population density of 459.0/km2 (1,189/sq mi) in 2021.In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Devon recorded a population of 6,578 living in 2,415 of its 2,493 total private dwellings, a 1% change from its 2011 population of 6,515. With a land area of 14.3 km2 (5.5 sq mi), it had a population density of 460.0/km2 (1,191/sq mi) in 2016.
The population of the Town of Devon according to its 2014 municipal census is 6,650, a 1.8% change from its 2009 municipal census population of 6,534.
Amenities
Devon is amply served by schools, community services such as the Devon General Hospital, and recreational facilities. It is only ten minutes away from the Edmonton International Airport, and is close to major rail routes and highways. It is located close to a motor sports park, a bird sanctuary, a botanical garden (the Devonian Gardens), and a number of other attractions to residents and visitors. Devon and area is popular with cyclists, as it has a good network of paved country roads, as well as unpaved mountain bike trails, and has hosted high level cycling events such as Canada's 2010 National Road Championships.
Economy
The Town of Devon was a member of the Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Association, an economic development partnership that markets Alberta's International Region in proximity to the Edmonton International Airport.