Alliance, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alliance
Village
Village of Alliance
Alliance Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Central Alberta
Census division	7
Municipal district	Flagstaff County
Incorporated
• Village	August 26, 1918
Area  (2021)
• Land	0.62 km2 (0.24 sq mi)
Elevation	715 m (2,346 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	166
• Density	268.4/km2 (695/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Highways	Highway 36 Highway 602
Waterway	Battle River

Alliance is a small village located in central Alberta, Canada. It started as a train station in 1916 and officially became a village in 1918. You can find Alliance on Highway 602. It is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) east of Red Deer. The village is also close to Veterans Memorial Highway and the Battle River.

Discovering Alliance's Past

Early History and First Peoples

Before Europeans arrived, different First Nations tribes lived in the area around Alliance. They moved across the plains. Sometimes, there were fights between the Cree and Blackfoot tribes. This is why the nearby river is called the Battle River.

How Alliance Began

In 1867, when Canada became a country, Alberta was still owned by the Hudson's Bay Company. European missionaries shared Christianity with the native tribes. Around 1904, before Alberta became a province, people called homesteaders came to settle. They started farms and ranches. By 1910, many Europeans lived in the area.

The Arrival of the Railway

In January 1916, the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) reached the growing community. A resident named Tom Edwards chose the name 'Alliance'. He named it after his hometown, Alliance, Ohio, in the United States. Soon after, church services began, with the first one held in a pool hall. People sat on the pool tables!

Changes and Challenges in Alliance

In 1930, the Canadian National Railway (CN) planned to build a new rail line in Alliance. The Canadian Pacific Railway also started building in the area. However, all railway construction stopped in 1932. People thought this was because cars became more popular, taking away business from trains.

For the next 40 years, Alliance was mainly a farming center. Farmers in the area sold their crops and goods here.

Modernizing the Village

Even though farmers did well in the 1940s and early 1950s, new machines meant fewer workers were needed. This caused Alliance's population to shrink. Seven businesses closed between 1942 and 1954.

In the 1950s, there were many good harvests. But there wasn't much demand for grain at first. Things got better when more grain was sold to other countries. This decade also brought modern changes to Alliance. About one mile of road was paved in 1954. The local movie theater got new, comfy seats. A plant to clean seeds was also built.

Who Lives in Alliance?

Understanding Population Numbers

The number of people living in a place is called its population. Statistics Canada counts everyone in Canada every few years. This helps us understand how communities are growing or changing.

Alliance's Population Today

In the 2021 Census, the Village of Alliance had 166 people living there. They lived in 90 homes. This was a small increase from 2016, when 159 people lived in Alliance.

How Many People Per Square Kilometer?

Alliance covers a land area of 0.62 square kilometers (about 0.24 square miles). In 2021, there were about 268 people for every square kilometer. This is called population density.

In the 2016 Census, Alliance had 154 people. The village's land area was 0.51 square kilometers (0.20 square miles) then.

Alliance's Weather