Bezanson, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bezanson
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 Bezanson
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Planning region | Upper Peace |
| Municipal district | Grande Prairie |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 1.11 km2 (0.43 sq mi) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 133 |
| • Density | 120.2/km2 (311/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Area codes | 780, 587, 825 |
Bezanson is a small community known as a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada. It is part of the County of Grande Prairie No. 1. You can find it about 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Grande Prairie on Highway 43. It is located west of the Smoky River.
History of Bezanson
A. M. Bezanson (Ancel Maynard) was born near Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 1, 1878. He came to the Peace River Country in 1906. After returning to Edmonton, he wrote a pamphlet called 'The Peace River Trail' in May 1907. This pamphlet aimed to make more people interested in the area.
In 1908, he settled near where the Wapiti, Smoky, and Simonette rivers meet. He started a community there. Bezanson was officially established in 1910. At that time, people thought a railway from Grande Prairie to Grande Cache would go through the area.
The community grew until 1914. That's when it was discovered the railway would actually pass further north, through Rycroft. Because of this, the townsite was moved closer to the main highway. Today, you can find a campsite and historical markers at the original townsite. It is about 6 miles (9.7 km) to the southeast.
A ferry began operating across the Smoky River in 1915. The first bridge over the river was built in 1949. This bridge was near where the highway from Grande Prairie to Edmonton passed through Bezanson. In 2001, the highway was changed. Highway 43 was made into a wider, divided road, and a new Smoky River bridge was opened.
Geography Around Bezanson
Near Bezanson are the Kleskun Hills. These hills are the northernmost "badlands" in Canada. Badlands are dry areas with soft rocks that have been shaped by wind and water. The Kleskun Hills also have one of the few remaining areas of original prairie grassland that has not been disturbed.
Population of Bezanson
In the 2021 Census of Population, Statistics Canada counted the people living in Bezanson. The population was 133 people. These people lived in 58 of the 63 homes in the area. This was an increase of 24.3% from its population of 107 in 2016.
Bezanson covers a land area of 1.11 km2 (0.43 sq mi). In 2021, this meant there were 119.8/km2 (310/sq mi) people per square kilometer.
In the 2016 Census of Population, Bezanson had a population of 107 people. They lived in 50 of the 55 homes. This was a decrease of -11.6% from its 2011 population of 121. With a land area of 1.11 km2 (0.43 sq mi), the population density in 2016 was 96.4/km2 (250/sq mi).
