Duhamel, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Duhamel
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 Duhamel
Location in Alberta
Duhamel
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Census division | 10 |
| Municipal district | Camrose County |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 1.25 km2 (0.48 sq mi) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 46 |
| • Density | 36.7/km2 (95/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 780, 587, 825 |
Duhamel is a small community called a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada. It's located in Camrose County. You can find it on Highway 21. Duhamel is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Edmonton. It's also about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Camrose, which is the closest big town for shopping and services.
Contents
A Look Back: Duhamel's History
Early Trading Post
Long ago, there was an important trading post near where Duhamel is today. It was about 2 to 3 miles northwest of the current hamlet. This post was right on a well-used crossing point of the Battle River.
This trading post was a busy place. It was where First Nations people, fur traders, and the Hudson's Bay Company would meet to trade goods.
How Duhamel Got Its Name
The settlement that grew around the trading post had a few different names. People called it Battle River Crossing. It was also known as Salois's settlement or Abraham's settlement. These names came from Abraham Salois, who was a well-known Métis farmer and freighter.
Another name for the area was Laboucane. This was after the Laboucane brothers and their families. They were some of the first people to live there.
In 1883, a church was built for Father Bellevaire. A special visitor, Bishop Grandin, came to the church. He decided to name the settlement Duhamel. This name honored Joseph-Thomas Duhamel.
Moving to a New Spot
Around 1886, the trading post moved. It went to the spot where Highway 21 now crosses the Battle River. This new location was important for travel and trade.
In 1910, Duhamel moved again to its current spot. This move happened because a new railway line was being built. The Grand Trunk Pacific railway went from Tofield to Calgary.
The Duhamel/Battle River rail bridge was very impressive. It was one of the largest wooden rail bridges ever built. It stretched for 1,210 meters (3,972 feet) and was 32 meters (120 feet) high!
Where is Duhamel?
Nearby Communities
Duhamel is surrounded by other small towns and communities. These include:
Who Lives in Duhamel?
Population Numbers
In 2021, the Statistics Canada census counted the people living in Duhamel. There were 46 people living in 17 homes. This was a small change from 2016, when 47 people lived there.
Duhamel covers a land area of 1.25 square kilometers (0.48 square miles). This means that in 2021, there were about 36.7 people living in each square kilometer.
In 2016, the population was 47 people. This was an increase from 30 people in 2011.
Mysterious Crop Circles
What Happened in 1967?
Something very unusual happened in Duhamel in 1967. Strange shapes, known as crop circles, appeared in a farmer's field. At that time, most people had never heard of crop circles. Before the circles were found, some people in the town reported seeing UFOs.
A farmer named Mr. Schielke found the circles on Saturday, August 5, 1967. It had rained a lot the night before. He hadn't been to his fields for a few weeks. So, the circles could have appeared at any time during that period.
Describing the Circles
The circles were actually four circular marks. Each mark was about 30 feet (9 meters) across. Mr. Schielke was sure his farm equipment could not have made these marks. He also said he didn't believe in UFOs.
The marks themselves were about 5 to 7 inches wide. The smallest circle was 31 feet, 9 inches across. Three of the rings were perfectly round. The largest mark was slightly oval-shaped. It varied from 34 feet, 5 inches to 36 feet, 3 inches wide.
There were no signs of blasts or burns on the ground. The soil was not disturbed. It looked like whatever made the marks had removed the plants inside the circles. The official report about the case suggested that the marks were likely made by a very heavy aircraft or spacecraft. It was estimated to weigh 135 tons.
Canada's Department of National Defence still calls this case "unsolved."
