Carolside, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carolside
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Hamlet
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 Carolside
Location in Special Area No. 2
Carolside
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Census division | No. 4 |
| Special Area | Special Area No. 2 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (Mountain Time Zone) |
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Carolside is a small place in Alberta, Canada. It is known as a ghost town. This means it was once a busy settlement but is now mostly empty. Carolside is located in an area called Special Area No. 2.
What Happened to Carolside?
Carolside was started in 1919. This was when the Canadian National Railway built a train line through the area. People had big plans for Carolside. They wanted it to have many shops. There would be a grocery store and a hardware store. They also planned for grain elevators and a train station. A feed mill and a factory were also part of the plan.
Why Did Carolside Become a Ghost Town?
By the 1950s, Carolside was mostly empty. The town faced big problems. These problems were caused by major economic events. One was the Wall Street Crash of 1929. This was a time when the stock market crashed. Another was the Great Depression. This was a long period of economic hardship. These events made it hard for the town to grow. People left to find work elsewhere.
The train line that helped start Carolside was closed in the 1970s. Today, there are almost no buildings left. You can still see the concrete base of the old grain elevator. You might also spot faint signs of where the streets used to be.
The Mosasaur Discovery
Even though Carolside is a ghost town, its name lives on. The Carolside Reservoir and Campground is nearby. This place is named after the old hamlet. It is located between Carolside and another small place called Sunnynook.
In the 2010s, something exciting was found here. Scientists discovered the remains of a Mosasaur. A Mosasaur was a huge, ancient sea reptile. It lived a very long time ago. To remember this amazing find, there is a sculpture of the Mosasaur at the reservoir.
