Drayton Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Drayton Valley
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Town
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| Town of Drayton Valley | |
Drayton Valley panorama
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| Motto(s):
Pulling together
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 Drayton Valley
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Census division | 11 |
| Municipal district | Brazeau County |
| Incorporated | |
| • Village | January 1, 1956 |
| • New town | June 1, 1956 |
| • Town | February 1, 1957 |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 30.9 km2 (11.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 869 m (2,851 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 7,291 |
| • Density | 236/km2 (610/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| Forward sortation area |
T7A
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| Area code(s) | +1-780, +1-587 |
| Highways | Highway 22 |
| Waterways | North Saskatchewan River |
Drayton Valley is a town located in central Alberta, Canada. It sits about 133 kilometers (83 miles) southwest of Edmonton. The town is surrounded by Brazeau County, an area famous for its large oil fields. You can find Drayton Valley between the North Saskatchewan River and the Pembina River. The town got its name from Drayton, Hampshire, which was the hometown of a postmaster's wife.
Contents
Discovering Drayton Valley's Past
Before 1953, Drayton Valley was a quiet place with few people. The main jobs were farming and logging. Everything changed with a big oil discovery in 1953. This event led to a rapid growth in the community.
Drayton Valley became a village in 1956. It officially became a town in 1957. In 1955, a ferry was built to help people cross the North Saskatchewan River. A bridge later replaced this ferry. A new, improved bridge was built in 2014.
People and Population
In 2021, Drayton Valley had a population of 7,291 people. This means about 236 people lived in each square kilometer of land. The town has grown a little bit since 2016.
What Drives Drayton Valley's Economy?
The main industry in Drayton Valley is oil and gas. This means many jobs are related to finding and processing oil. Agriculture (farming) and forestry (working with trees) are also important. There is even a sawmill in town.
Fun Things to Do in Drayton Valley
Drayton Valley has many places for sports and fun activities.
Omniplex Sports Centre
The Omniplex is a large community sports center. Here, you can enjoy ice hockey, ringette, and curling. It also hosts soccer, baseball, and rodeo events.
Other Attractions
The town also has a public swimming pool where you can cool off. If you like winter sports, there's a ski hill. You can also go bowling or play a round of golf at the Drayton Valley Golf and Country Club.
Sports Teams and Events
Drayton Valley is home to the Drayton Valley Thunder. This is a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The town also hosts the annual DV100 bicycle race, which is a popular event for cyclists.
Learning in Drayton Valley
Drayton Valley has several schools for students. There are six public schools and two Catholic schools. There is also an outreach school. The public schools are part of the Wild Rose School Division. The Catholic schools are part of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School Division.
Wild Rose School Division Schools
- Aurora Elementary School
- Drayton Christian School
- Evergreen Elementary School
- Frank Maddock High School
- Frank Maddock Outreach School
- H.W. Pickup Junior High School
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School Division Schools
- St. Anthony School
- Holy Trinity Academy
Local Media
Drayton Valley has two weekly newspapers. These are the Drayton Valley Western Review and the Drayton Valley and District Free Press. There are also two radio stations. CIBW-FM mainly plays country music. CIDV-FM is a Christian radio station that started in 2009.
Famous People from Drayton Valley
- Diana Janet McQueen: A Canadian politician who served as an MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) for Alberta from 2008 to 2015.
- Dave Hakstol: An NHL Head Coach for the Seattle Kraken ice hockey team.
