Gem, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gem
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 Gem
Location in Alberta
Gem
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Southern Alberta |
| Census division | 2 |
| Municipal district | County of Newell |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 29 |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 403, 587, 825 |
Gem is a very small community known as a hamlet in southern Alberta, Canada. It's located within the County of Newell. Think of a hamlet as a tiny village, smaller than a town.
Gem is about 29 kilometers (that's about 18 miles) north of Highway 1. It's also about 47 kilometers (around 29 miles) northwest of a larger town called Brooks.
Contents
What is a Hamlet?
A hamlet is a type of community that is usually smaller than a village or town. In Alberta, hamlets are often managed by a larger local government, like a county or municipal district. This means Gem doesn't have its own mayor or town council. Instead, the County of Newell council helps manage things for Gem.
Where is Gem Located?
Gem is found in the southern part of Alberta, which is one of Canada's ten provinces. Alberta is known for its wide-open spaces and beautiful landscapes. Being in the County of Newell, Gem is part of a larger area that includes farms and other small communities. Its location means it experiences the unique weather of this region.
Climate in Gem
The weather in Gem, Alberta, changes a lot throughout the year. It has cold winters and warm summers. Understanding the climate helps us know what life is like for the people living there.
Temperature Extremes
Gem can get very cold in winter. The lowest temperature ever recorded was a freezing -43.5 degrees Celsius (-46.3 degrees Fahrenheit) in January. On the other hand, summers can be quite hot. The highest temperature ever recorded was a scorching 37.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.
Average Temperatures
In January, the average temperature is around -11.2 degrees Celsius (11.8 degrees Fahrenheit). In July, which is the warmest month, the average temperature goes up to about 18.5 degrees Celsius (65.3 degrees Fahrenheit). These averages show the big difference between summer and winter.
Precipitation and Snowfall
Gem doesn't get a lot of rain or snow compared to some other places. The average yearly precipitation (rain and snow combined) is about 303.9 millimeters (12 inches). Most of the rain falls in May and June. Snowfall is common in winter, with December and January usually seeing the most snow.
| Climate data for Gem, Alberta | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.5 (59.9) |
21.0 (69.8) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.5 (81.5) |
31.5 (88.7) |
36.6 (97.9) |
37.5 (99.5) |
37.0 (98.6) |
34.5 (94.1) |
29.0 (84.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
15.5 (59.9) |
37.5 (99.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −5.5 (22.1) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
4.7 (40.5) |
13.1 (55.6) |
18.6 (65.5) |
22.1 (71.8) |
26.2 (79.2) |
25.6 (78.1) |
20.1 (68.2) |
12.6 (54.7) |
2.6 (36.7) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
11.3 (52.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.2 (11.8) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
5.8 (42.4) |
11.1 (52.0) |
15.3 (59.5) |
18.5 (65.3) |
17.6 (63.7) |
12.3 (54.1) |
5.5 (41.9) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−8.7 (16.3) |
4.5 (40.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −16.9 (1.6) |
−13.3 (8.1) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
3.6 (38.5) |
8.4 (47.1) |
10.7 (51.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
4.5 (40.1) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−9 (16) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −43.5 (−46.3) |
−41.5 (−42.7) |
−34.5 (−30.1) |
−17.0 (1.4) |
−10 (14) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
2.5 (36.5) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−25.5 (−13.9) |
−34.0 (−29.2) |
−43.0 (−45.4) |
−43.5 (−46.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 11.4 (0.45) |
8.9 (0.35) |
13.8 (0.54) |
22.1 (0.87) |
42.8 (1.69) |
68.0 (2.68) |
34.4 (1.35) |
41.8 (1.65) |
25.3 (1.00) |
13.0 (0.51) |
13.0 (0.51) |
9.5 (0.37) |
303.9 (11.96) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.7 (0.03) |
0.1 (0.00) |
2.6 (0.10) |
18.6 (0.73) |
39.9 (1.57) |
68.0 (2.68) |
34.4 (1.35) |
41.8 (1.65) |
24.7 (0.97) |
10.8 (0.43) |
1.6 (0.06) |
0.3 (0.01) |
243.6 (9.59) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 10.6 (4.2) |
8.8 (3.5) |
11.2 (4.4) |
3.5 (1.4) |
2.8 (1.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (0.2) |
2.2 (0.9) |
11.4 (4.5) |
9.2 (3.6) |
60.3 (23.7) |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Demographics of Gem
Demographics is a fancy word for studying populations. It helps us understand how many people live in a place and what they are like.
Population Count
According to a special count called the 2020 municipal census, only 29 people live in Gem. This makes it a very small and quiet community. A census is like a big survey that counts everyone living in an area.
Community Life
With such a small population, everyone in Gem likely knows each other well. Life in a hamlet like Gem is often peaceful. It's a place where people might enjoy the quiet countryside and a close-knit community feeling.
