Fitzgerald, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fitzgerald Fort Fitzgerald Smith's Landing
unincorporated community
Fitzgerald Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Northern Alberta
Census division	16
Specialized municipality	RM of Wood Buffalo
Elevation	200 m (700 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	8
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code	T0V 1A0
Area code(s)	+1-867

Fitzgerald, also called Fort Fitzgerald, is a small community in northern Alberta, Canada. It's part of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. This community is located about 15.4 kilometers (9.6 miles) south of the Northwest Territories border. It's also about 23 kilometers (14 miles) southeast of Fort Smith.

History of Fitzgerald

Early Days: Smith's Landing

Before railways reached Hay River, Northwest Territories on Great Slave Lake, Fitzgerald was a very important place. All goods shipped to or from the north had to be moved here. This was because of four fast-moving rapids that boats could not pass.

The Portage Route

People would move cargo from Fitzgerald to Fort Smith by land. This process is called a "portage." It meant carrying or transporting goods over land between two bodies of water.

Renaming the Community

The community was first known as Smith's Landing. In 1915, its name was changed to Fort Fitzgerald. It was renamed in honor of Francis Joseph Fitzgerald.

Community Services

Most of the services for Fitzgerald come from nearby Fort Smith. These services include things like fire protection and health care. Law enforcement is handled by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Phone and Internet

Even though Fitzgerald is in Alberta, its phone and internet services come from Fort Smith in the Northwest Territories. This means the area uses the 867 phone code. Most of Alberta uses the 780 area code.

Road Access

An all-weather road connects Fort Smith and Hay Camp. This road, called Hay Camp Road, passes right through Fitzgerald.

Population Facts

In 2018, a census by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo counted 8 people living in Fitzgerald. A census is like a big count of how many people live in an area.

There is also a nearby area called Thebathi 196 Indian Reserve. In the 2016 federal census, 20 people lived there. This was a decrease from 30 people counted in 2011.

Climate in Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald has a subarctic climate. This type of climate means it has short, warm summers. The winters are very long and very cold.

Images for kids

• 

  The Radium Queen and other tugboats helped move barges at Fort Fitzgerald.

• 

  Smith's Landing around 1910.