Barnwell, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barnwell
Village
Village of Barnwell
Barnwell Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Southern Alberta
Census division	2
Municipal district	Municipal District of Taber
Incorporated
• Village	January 1, 1980
Area  (2021)
• Land	1.5 km2 (0.6 sq mi)
Elevation	835 m (2,740 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	978
• Density	651.4/km2 (1,687/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Highways	Highway 3

Barnwell is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Taber and 43 kilometers (27 miles) east of Lethbridge. You can find it right on Highway 3, within the Municipal District of Taber.

Discovering Barnwell's Past

In the late 1800s, the area that is now Barnwell had a boxcar (a type of train car) placed on a rail siding (a short track next to the main one). This boxcar was used as a telegraph office. It helped local settlers and the railroad communicate. Because of this, the area was first called Woodpecker.

In 1908, the community's name was changed to Bountiful. This new name matched the local school district. However, another community already had the name Bountiful. So, the name was changed again, this time to Barnwell. The village was named after William Barnwell, who worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway for a very long time.

In the early 1900s, many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints moved to southern Alberta. They helped settle Barnwell and other nearby areas. By 1911, these settlers had created many new communities. Most of them were farmers and their families.

Who Lives in Barnwell?

The number of people living in Barnwell has grown over the years. In 2021, a count called the 2021 Census of Population found that 978 people lived in the Village of Barnwell. These people lived in 257 homes. This was a small increase from 2016, when the population was 947.

Barnwell covers a land area of about 1.5 square kilometers (0.58 square miles). This means that in 2021, there were about 651 people living in each square kilometer. This is called the population density.

In the 2016 Census, Barnwell had 947 residents. They lived in 260 homes. This was a good increase from 2011, when the population was 771.

Famous Faces from Barnwell

• Lawrence Peterson (1873-1951) was an important person in Barnwell's history. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1921 to 1930. This is like being a representative in the provincial government. He was part of the United Farmers of Alberta Party. Lawrence Peterson also served as a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Barnwell from 1915 to 1925. He is known as one of the people who helped found Barnwell.