Magrath facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Magrath
Town
Town of Magrath
Wind farm west of Magrath.
Nickname(s):  Garden City
Magrath Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Southern Alberta
Census division	3
Municipal district	Cardston County
Incorporated
• Village	August 20, 1901
• Town	July 24, 1907
Area  (2016)
• Land	5.99 km2 (2.31 sq mi)
Elevation	983 m (3,225 ft)
Population  (2016)
• Total	2,374
• Density	396.4/km2 (1,027/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
Postal code span	T0K 1J0
Area code(s)	+1-403

Magrath is a small town in Alberta, Canada. It's located in Cardston County, not far from the beautiful Canadian Rockies. In 2011, about 2,217 people lived here. Magrath is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of Lethbridge and 242 kilometers (150 miles) south of Calgary.

History of Magrath

Magrath was started in 1899 by settlers. These settlers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often called LDS Church members. They came from Utah and Idaho in the United States.

Building the Irrigation System

The settlers were asked by the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company to build special water systems. These systems, called irrigation works, helped bring water to farms. This was the first big irrigation project in Canada. The settlers were paid with money and land in the new town. They knew a lot about irrigation because their church had done similar projects in Utah and Idaho.

Because of these water systems, Magrath was first known as "The Irrigation Capital of Canada." Later, it was called "The Garden City." This name came from its beautiful natural setting, many trees, and green areas. The town's design was based on a special plan used by the LDS Church.

An old grain elevator in Magrath.

How Magrath Got Its Name

Magrath was named after Charles Alexander Magrath. He was related to Sir Alexander Galt, who helped fund the irrigation projects. The Magrath post office opened on March 1, 1900. Ammon Mercer was the first person in charge of the post office.

Magrath's Population

Understanding how many people live in a town helps us learn about it. This is called demographics.

Recent Population Counts

In 2016, Statistics Canada counted 2,374 people living in Magrath. These people lived in 757 homes. This was a small increase from 2,217 people in 2011. The town covers an area of 5.99 square kilometers (2.31 square miles). This means there were about 396 people per square kilometer in 2016.

A local count in 2013 showed 2,376 people. This was a 3.2% increase from 2,302 people in 2010. In 2011, Magrath had 2,217 people living in 684 homes. This was a 6.5% increase from 2,081 people in 2006.

Religious Groups

Most people in Magrath belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 2001, about 84% of the population identified as Protestant, which includes the LDS Church. About 4% were Catholic, and 11% reported no religious affiliation.

The LDS Church has a large presence here. There is a "stake" in Magrath, which is a group of local congregations. This stake includes ten congregations (eight "wards" and two "branches") in and around the town. As of June 2016, there were 2,433 members in the Magrath Alberta Stake.

Fun Places to Visit in Magrath

Magrath has several interesting places to see and things to do.

• Buffalo Bin Elevator - Magrath: This is one of the first special grain elevators built in Alberta. Only three of these "Buffalo Bin" elevators are still standing today.
• Galt Irrigation Canal: This canal was Canada's first major irrigation project. It is now a National Historic Site of Canada.
• Galt Canal Nature Trail: A great place to walk and enjoy nature along the historic canal.
• Magrath Golf Club: A place for golf enthusiasts to play.
• Magrath Skateboard Park: A fun spot for skateboarding.
• Magrath Wind Farm: You can see large wind turbines generating clean energy near the town.