La Crete facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Crete
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 La Crete
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Census division | No. 17 |
| Specialized municipality | Mackenzie County |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 17.61 km2 (6.80 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 315 m (1,033 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 3,856 |
| • Density | 218.9/km2 (567/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Forward sortation areas |
T0H 2H0, T0H 4H0
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| Area code(s) | 780, 587, 825 |
| Highways | 697 |
La Crete (pronounced luh-KREET), also spelled La Crête, is a small community in northern Alberta, Canada. It is a type of settlement called a hamlet. La Crete is part of Mackenzie County.
You can find La Crete on Highway 697. It is about 57 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of High Level. It is also about 701 kilometers (436 miles) north of Edmonton.
The name "La Crête" comes from French. It means "the ridge." This is how the first people who settled there described the land.
Contents
History of La Crete
La Crete was first settled in 1914. It was originally known as La Crête Landing.
In the 1930s, the first Mennonite families arrived. They settled a short distance southwest of the original spot. This is where La Crete is located today.
In the 1960s, new highways were built in the area. This made it easier for people to move there. The population of La Crete began to grow. In 1979, La Crete was officially named a hamlet.
Geography
The Hamlet of La Crete is located west of Highway 697. It sits mainly between Township Road 1060 and Township Road 1062. A lake called Lake Tourangeau is next to the hamlet on its northwest side.
Population Information
A census is like a big count of all the people living in an area. It helps us understand how communities are growing.
In the 2021 Census, La Crete had a population of 3,856 people. These people lived in 1,329 homes. This was an increase from its population of 3,396 in 2016.
La Crete covers a land area of about 17.61 square kilometers (6.80 sq mi). This means there were about 218.9 people per square kilometer in 2021.
Most residents in La Crete speak English or German.
Fun Things to Do
La Crete has walking trails that are paved. Local residents helped pay for these trails.
There is also a Mennonite Heritage Village. It is built on land that was first settled by Henry H. Peters in 1950. It helps people learn about the history of the Mennonite community.
Getting Around
During the summer, the La Crete Ferry helps people cross the Peace River. This ferry is also called the Tompkins Landing Ferry. It is one of only six ferries still running in Alberta. It is located on Highway 697, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) southwest of La Crete.
In the winter, an ice bridge is built in the same spot. Both the ferry and the ice bridge connect La Crete to the Mackenzie Highway. This saves a lot of travel time.
Sometimes, in spring and fall, the river is not safe for the ferry. The ice might also be too thin for vehicles. During these times, travelers must drive north to High Level. Then they go east on Highway 58 before heading south to reach La Crete.
In 2006, a sandbar formed in the middle of the river. This made it harder for the ferry to cross. If the water level is too low, the ferry might not be able to run.
Famous People
- High Valley is a country music band from La Crete.
