Jasper Place facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jasper Place West Jasper Place (1910–1950)
Area (former town)
Jasper Place Location in Edmonton Show map of Edmonton Jasper Place Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
City	Edmonton
Quadrant	NW
Ward	Nakota Isga, Anirniq, sipiwiyiniwak
Sector	Mature area
Founded	1910
Village Name change Town	December 31, 1949 March 15, 1950 November 6, 1950
Annexation	August 17, 1964
Elevation	674 m (2,211 ft)
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)

Jasper Place, originally known as West Jasper Place, was once a separate town in Alberta, Canada. Today, it is part of the large city of Edmonton. Before it joined Edmonton, Jasper Place was bordered by 149 Street to the east, 118 Avenue to the north, 170 Street to the west, and the North Saskatchewan River to the south. Its main center, with the town hall and fire station, was located at Stony Plain Road and 157 Street.

How Jasper Place Grew

Early Beginnings: 1910 to 1930s

West Jasper Place started around 1910. In its first years, only a few hundred families lived there. These early settlers, called homesteaders, lived a simple life. They raised animals and grew their own food in gardens. Their homes did not have modern things like electricity or running water. Water had to be brought in by trucks. It cost $1.25 for 500 gallons of water.

During the 1930s, more people moved to Jasper Place. Many people from Edmonton moved there to avoid the city's higher taxes. A lot of residents worked in Edmonton. By the 1940s, the trolley line reached 149 Street. This was close enough for workers to walk home to Jasper Place.

Becoming a Town: 1940s and 1950s

After World War II and the discovery of oil near Leduc in 1947, Edmonton's population grew quickly. West Jasper Place also grew as new people moved in. By 1948, it was the biggest hamlet (a small community) in Alberta. It had about 4,000 people.

On December 31, 1949, West Jasper Place officially became the Village of West Jasper Place. Just a few months later, on March 15, 1950, its name was shortened to Jasper Place. The population had more than doubled in just two years, reaching 8,900 people. This made it the largest village in Alberta. Jasper Place was a village for only a short time. On November 6, 1950, it became the Town of Jasper Place.

Joining Edmonton: 1960s

In the early 1960s, Jasper Place continued to grow. To handle this growth, the town made many improvements. They expanded several schools, including Jasper Place Composite High School. They also started building a large sports center. This center included a football field, an indoor swimming pool, and an indoor ice hockey arena. Plans also began for the original Meadowlark Park Shopping Centre.

These big projects cost a lot of money. The town went deeply into debt. Jasper Place did not have many industries to bring in money. Also, the growing population needed more services. The province would not give the town extra funds. The large City of Edmonton was already right next to Jasper Place. Because of these reasons, Jasper Place's future as an independent town was uncertain.

In 1962, the Jasper Place Town Council decided to join Edmonton. A special vote, called a plebiscite, was held on October 17, 1962. Most residents voted to join Edmonton. The joining, or amalgamation, happened on August 17, 1964. When Jasper Place joined Edmonton, the city took over its debt of $8.177 million. Edmonton also became responsible for all public services. These included sewers, water, and transportation. At the time of amalgamation, Jasper Place was the largest town in Canada. Its population was 37,429 people. This was a huge increase from its 1948 population.

Population Changes Over Time

The table below shows the population of the different neighborhoods that make up the area of the former Town of Jasper Place.