Carstairs, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carstairs
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Town
|
|||
| Town of Carstairs | |||
Main Street in Carstairs
|
|||
|
|||
 Carstairs
Location in Alberta
Carstairs
Location in Canada
|
|||
| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Alberta | ||
| Region | Central Alberta | ||
| Census division | 6 | ||
| Municipal district | Mountain View County | ||
| Incorporated | |||
| • Village | May 15, 1903 | ||
| • Town | September 1, 1966 | ||
| Area
(2021)
|
|||
| • Land | 11.77 km2 (4.54 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1,060 m (3,480 ft) | ||
| Population
(2021)
|
|||
| • Total | 4,898 | ||
| • Density | 416.2/km2 (1,078/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | ||
| Postal code |
T0M 0N0
|
||
| Area code(s) | +1-403 | ||
| Highways | Highway 2A | ||
Carstairs is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located on Highway 2A, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) north of Calgary, a big city nearby. It's also about 241 kilometers (150 miles) south of Edmonton, which is the capital city of Alberta.
The towns closest to Carstairs are Didsbury and Crossfield. Carstairs is completely within a rural area called Mountain View County.
The town was named after Carstairs in Scotland. It started as a place where trains stopped to load and unload goods on the railway line connecting Calgary to Edmonton. The first post office opened in 1900, and the first school district was set up in 1901.
Contents
Discovering Carstairs: A Look at Its Past
The story of Carstairs goes back many centuries to a group of old paths known as the Ancient Trail. This important route passed right through the Carstairs area. Along rivers and creeks, there were special rock formations. These spots were known as resting places for First Nations people as they traveled along this trail.
How Early Settlers Used the Land
As the fur trade grew and more people settled in the region, newcomers started using the same paths that had been used for hundreds of years. In 1883, a man named Sam Scarlett opened a "Stopping House" at one of the famous rock formations along the Rosebud River.
This place, known as "Scarlett's," became a very important and popular stop along the Calgary and Edmonton Trail. Many different people used it, including freighters (people who transported goods), members of the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP), soldiers, and various stagecoach lines.
The Arrival of the Railway
When the Calgary and Edmonton Railway arrived in 1890, surveyors planned for a train siding, a station house, and a townsite to be built near Scarlett's Stopping House. However, to avoid crossing the Rosebud River at that exact spot, the railway line was built about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) west of Scarlett's.
The new townsite was named 'Carstairs'. It grew slowly at first, but by the early 1900s, the area began to grow steadily. This growth allowed it to be officially recognized as Carstairs, NWT, on May 15, 1903. The name changed to Carstairs, Alberta, in 1905 when Alberta became an official province.
Carstairs Today: Population and Growth
Let's look at how many people live in Carstairs and how the town has grown over the years.
Population in 2021
In the 2021 Canadian census, the Town of Carstairs had a population of 4,898 people. These people lived in 1,837 of the 1,883 homes available. This was a growth of about 20% from its 2016 population of 4,077.
The town covers a land area of about 11.77 square kilometers (4.54 square miles). This means that in 2021, there were about 416 people living in each square kilometer.
Population in 2016
In the Canada 2016 Census, the Town of Carstairs had 4,077 people. They lived in 1,544 of the 1,590 homes. This was a growth of about 18% from its 2011 population of 3,442.
In 2016, the town's land area was about 11.92 square kilometers (4.60 square miles). This meant there were about 342 people living in each square kilometer.
Getting Around: Transportation in Carstairs
First Student Canada offers a bus service for people who travel to Calgary from Didsbury and Carstairs. The bus picks up commuters at the Carstairs Curling Club.
Fun Things to Do: Amenities and Activities
Carstairs has many great places and activities for its residents and visitors.
Recreation and Events
The town has an 18-hole golf course where you can enjoy a round of golf. There's also a Memorial Complex with lots of parks and playgrounds, perfect for outdoor fun. You can also find a Tourist Information Center to learn more about the area.
Carstairs has always been an agricultural community, meaning it's been important for farming. It used to have seven large buildings called grain elevators for storing grain.
The town celebrates with several annual events:
- The CARA Rodeo in July.
- Beef & Barley Days.
- The High School Rodeo in September.
- The 4-H Calf Show and Sale.
- Bull-A-Rama.
- The Horticultural Show.
- The Pumpkin Festival.
Places of Worship
There are seven churches in Carstairs. These include the Carstairs Church of God, St. Agnes Catholic Church, and the Carstairs Bancroft United Church. One of the churches is now used as a museum, but it still sometimes holds religious services.
Notable People from Carstairs
- Tony Stiles is a former professional hockey player who was also a member of the Canadian Olympic Hockey team.
Images for kids
-
Old Dominion Hotel
