Cardston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cardston
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Town
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| Town of Cardston | |
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| Nickname(s):
c town
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Location in Cardston County
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 Cardston
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Southern Alberta |
| Planning region | South Saskatchewan |
| Municipal district | Cardston County |
| Incorporated | |
| • Village | December 29, 1898 |
| • Town | June 2, 1901 |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 8.58 km2 (3.31 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,130 m (3,710 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 3,724 |
| • Density | 434.1/km2 (1,124/sq mi) |
| • Municipal census (2018) | 3,909 |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 403, 587, 825 |
| Highways |  Hwy 2 Hwy 5 Hwy 501 |
| Waterway | Lee Creek St. Mary River St Mary Reservoir |
Cardston is a town in Alberta, Canada. It was first settled in 1887 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who travelled from Utah, via the Macleod-Benton Trail, to present-day Alberta in one of the century's last wagon migrations. The founder of the town was Charles Ora Card. The combined church and school was completed by January 29 the year following their arrival.
Contents
Geography
Cardston is situated in the low foothills of southwest Alberta, approximately 25 km (15.53 mi) north from the American state of Montana. On its north side, it borders the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) Indian Reservation, one of the largest reserves in North America. 40 km (24.85 mi) to the west of Cardston are the Rocky Mountains of Waterton Lakes National Park. Cardston is 77 km (47.85 mi) southwest of Lethbridge and 234 km (145.40 mi) south of Calgary.
- Coordinates: 49°12′N 113°18′W / 49.200°N 113.300°W
- Elevation: 1,121 m (3,677.82 ft)
- Land Area (square kilometers): 8.64 km2 (3.34 sq mi)
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Cardston recorded a population of 3,724 living in 1,261 of its 1,335 total private dwellings, a change of 3.9% from its 2016 population of 3,585. With a land area of 8.58 km2 (3.31 sq mi), it had a population density of 434.0/km2 (1,124/sq mi) in 2021.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Cardston recorded a population of 3,585 living in 1,175 of its 1,270 total private dwellings, a 0.1% change from its 2011 population of 3,580. With a land area of 8.59 km2 (3.32 sq mi), it had a population density of 417.3/km2 (1,081/sq mi) in 2016.
| Age | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 115 | 140 | 255 |
| 5–14 | 335 | 310 | 645 |
| 15–19 | 175 | 180 | 355 |
| 20–24 | 105 | 100 | 205 |
| 25–34 | 125 | 160 | 285 |
| 35–44 | 175 | 210 | 385 |
| 45–54 | 165 | 200 | 365 |
| 55–64 | 125 | 155 | 280 |
| 65–74 | 135 | 170 | 305 |
| 75+ | 150 | 260 | 410 |
| Totals | 1600 | 1870 | 3470 |
Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)
| 1996 | 2001 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of families | 730 | 760 |
| Average family income | $53,750 | $52,939 |
| Median family income | $46,503 | $48,004 |
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census
Climate
Cardston experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). Along with the rest of southern Alberta, Cardston is subject to chinooks, which often bring temperatures in mid-winter well above 10 °C (50 °F). This same pattern results in more than 200 days of wind a year.
Weather records:
- Hottest Temperature: 39.0 °C (102.2 °F) on 23 July 2007
- Coldest Temperature: −41.7 °C (−43 °F) on 28 January 1929
- Most Rain In One Day: 106.0 mm (4.17 in) on 6 June 1995
- Most Snow In One Day: 63.5 cm (25.0 in) on 4 May 1919
- Deepest Snow Cover: 84 cm (33.1 in) on 29 April 1967
| Climate data for Cardston, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1918–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 19.0 (66.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
24.5 (76.1) |
30.5 (86.9) |
33.0 (91.4) |
35.6 (96.1) |
39.0 (102.2) |
36.7 (98.1) |
34.5 (94.1) |
29.5 (85.1) |
23.9 (75.0) |
19.4 (66.9) |
39.0 (102.2) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) |
2.5 (36.5) |
5.9 (42.6) |
11.5 (52.7) |
16.5 (61.7) |
20.5 (68.9) |
24.5 (76.1) |
24.8 (76.6) |
19.0 (66.2) |
12.8 (55.0) |
4.5 (40.1) |
1.1 (34.0) |
12.1 (53.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.5 (23.9) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
5.1 (41.2) |
9.9 (49.8) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.9 (62.4) |
16.9 (62.4) |
11.8 (53.2) |
6.3 (43.3) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
5.6 (42.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −10.4 (13.3) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
3.3 (37.9) |
7.0 (44.6) |
9.3 (48.7) |
8.9 (48.0) |
4.6 (40.3) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−10.3 (13.5) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −41.7 (−43.1) |
−38.9 (−38.0) |
−36.7 (−34.1) |
−25.6 (−14.1) |
−12.8 (9.0) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−15.6 (3.9) |
−26.5 (−15.7) |
−35.6 (−32.1) |
−38.5 (−37.3) |
−41.7 (−43.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 20.8 (0.82) |
19.1 (0.75) |
37.5 (1.48) |
40.6 (1.60) |
81.3 (3.20) |
90.7 (3.57) |
45.5 (1.79) |
43.9 (1.73) |
53.1 (2.09) |
31.6 (1.24) |
29.6 (1.17) |
21.5 (0.85) |
515.0 (20.28) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.4 (0.02) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.5 (0.06) |
10.8 (0.43) |
66.7 (2.63) |
90.7 (3.57) |
45.5 (1.79) |
43.7 (1.72) |
49.2 (1.94) |
9.9 (0.39) |
2.1 (0.08) |
0.1 (0.00) |
320.6 (12.62) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 20.4 (8.0) |
19.1 (7.5) |
36.0 (14.2) |
29.7 (11.7) |
14.6 (5.7) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.0) |
3.6 (1.4) |
21.7 (8.5) |
27.4 (10.8) |
21.4 (8.4) |
194.2 (76.5) |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Attractions
Cardston has a soccer park, ball parks, a golf course, an ice skating rink, a swimming pool, tennis courts, hiking trails, a skateboard park, several recreation parks, picnic areas and playgrounds. The local schools and LDS Church buildings have gymnasiums. St. Mary's Dam reservoir northeast of Cardston supports water sports in the summer months.
Local attractions
- Cardston Alberta Temple
- The Cardston Alberta Temple is one of southern Alberta’s most recognized landmarks. It was constructed by Mormon pioneers who settled Cardston in 1887. The temple became the centerpiece of the town, and it was the first temple constructed by the church outside of the United States.
- Remington Carriage Museum
- The Remington Carriage Museum houses the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America, with more than 250 carriages, wagons and sleighs. The 63,000-square-foot (5,900 m2) facility features video displays, a fire hall, carriage factory, restoration shop, working stable, carriage rides, carriage rentals, a restaurant, and a gift shop. Guided tours are offered for free. On April 9, 2006, the museum was briefly mentioned on TV in Canada as a destination of Patty and Selma's vacation during the Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore episode of The Simpsons.
- The Carriage House Theatre
- This theatre was constructed in 1912 by Mark Spencer, and underwent renovations in 1937 and 1992. It seats 350 and hosts films, community theatre and professional summer theatre, which has produced such shows as Seussical, Oklahoma, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
- Card Pioneer Home
- A genuine "Little House on the Prairie", it was built by Cardston’s founder Charles Ora Card in 1887, and served as a community centre and stopping place for travellers until the first hotel was built in 1894. The log structure stands in its original location and is open for public visits as a Registered Provincial Historic site.
- Courthouse Museum
- The Courthouse Museum shows how a rough country changed dramatically. The unique sandstone structure was built in 1907 from stone quarried near Cardston. The building’s profile and interior stand as a monument to Cardston’s early pioneer artisans. It was used longer than any other courthouse in Alberta. The building displays the judge's bench, witness box, and other artifacts. Original jail cells, including graffiti, can be found. The Courthouse Museum is a Registered Provincial Historic site
Regional attractions
- Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park is a national park in the southwest corner of Alberta, 40 km (25 mi) west of Cardston, and borders Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Waterton Lakes was Canada's fourth national park, formed in 1895. Amid the peaks are the lakes of Waterton Lakes National Park, carved out of the rock by glaciers.
- Frank Slide Interpretive Centre
On April 29, 1903, at 4:10 a.m., the mining town of Frank, Alberta, was devastated by 82 million tonnes of limestone crashing down from Turtle Mountain. The Frank Slide Interpretative Centre in the Crowsnest Pass, 130 km (81 mi) northwest of Cardston, tells of one of the geatest natural disasters in Canadian history.
- Castle Mountain Ski Resort
Castle Mountain Resort 90 km (56 mi) west of Cardston has kilometres of groomed skiing runs, natural half pipes, deep fresh powder, short lift lines and wide open spaces.
- Writing On Stone Provincial Park
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, 125 km (78 mi) east of Cardston, is one of the largest areas of protected prairie in the Alberta park system, a nature preserve and protection for rock art created by Plains People. There are 50 rock art sites, with thousands of figures, as well as archaeological sites.
- Police Outpost Provincial Park
Police Outpost Provincial Park is 32 kilometres (20 mi) south of Cardston, on the Canada/United States border, on the shores of Outpost Lake.
Economy
Primary industries are education, health care, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and tourism. Cardston is one of the few communities in Canada where alcohol cannot be sold or purchased.
Education
Schools include the Cardston High School, the Cardston Jr. High School (formerly Eastridge Elementary School), and Cardston Elementary School which are all under the Westwind School Division.
Former schools include Leeside (grades 1 and 2 - torn down in the late 1980s to make way for the Remington-Alberta Carriage Centre) and Westside. The building that housed many of the junior high facilities, E.J. Wood School (including the gymnasium near the current high school), Parkland School, and John S. Smith Schools were torn down in 1993 as the junior high moved to the former Eastridge building. The Cardston High School underwent extensive renovations in the early 2000s, including an expansion to its gymnasium, much-improved fitness and weight room facilities, wider hallways, and a new cafeteria.
Notable people
- Victor L. Brown, world leader in the LDS Church
- Ben Cahoon, CFL slotback who won three Grey Cup championships with the Montreal Alouettes.
- Grant Hunter, UCP MLA for Taber-Warner
- Elaine L. Jack, world leader in the LDS Church
- Merlin R. Lybbert, world leader in the LDS Church
- Shawna Molcak, basketball player who played for Canada in the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Grant Strate, dancer and choreographer
- Edward J. Wood, leader in the LDS Church
- George Woolf, jockey
- Fay Wray, King Kong actress
