Magrath, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Magrath
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Town
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| Town of Magrath | ||
Wind farm west of Magrath.
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| Nickname(s):
Garden City
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 Magrath
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada | |
| Province | Alberta | |
| Region | Southern Alberta | |
| Census division | 3 | |
| Municipal district | Cardston County | |
| Incorporated | ||
| • Village | August 20, 1901 | |
| • Town | July 24, 1907 | |
| Named for | Charles Alexander Magrath | |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 5.88 km2 (2.27 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 983 m (3,225 ft) | |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 2,481 | |
| • Density | 422/km2 (1,090/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
| Postal code span |
T0K 1J0
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| Area code(s) | +1-403 | |
Magrath is a small town in Cardston County, Alberta, Canada. In 2021, about 2,481 people lived there. Magrath is located about 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of Lethbridge. It is also about 242 kilometers (150 miles) south of Calgary.
Contents
History of Magrath
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Magrath was started in 1899 by people from Utah and Idaho. These settlers were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church). They were asked by the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company to build special water systems. These systems, called irrigation works, helped bring water to farms.
The settlers were paid with money and land in the new town. This was the first big irrigation project in Canada. The settlers knew a lot about irrigation from their church's projects in Utah and Idaho.
The irrigation system was finished in November 1899. It was ninety miles long and was the first large-scale irrigation system in Canada. This system still brings water to farms all over Southern Alberta. Because of this, Magrath was first known as "The Irrigation Capital of Canada." Later, it was called "The Garden City" because it had a beautiful natural setting and many trees.
The way Magrath was planned was based on a special design model from the LDS Church. Magrath also has links to the famous British Garden City idea, which was being tried in England around the same time.
The town of Magrath was named after Charles Alexander Magrath. He was the son-in-law of Sir Alexander Galt, who helped fund the irrigation projects. The Magrath post office opened on March 1, 1900.
Magrath's Population
In 2021, the town of Magrath had a population of 2,481 people. These people lived in 803 homes. This was a small increase from its population of 2,374 in 2016. The town covers an area of about 5.88 square kilometers (2.27 square miles). This means there were about 422 people living in each square kilometer in 2021.
Religious Groups in Magrath
Most people in Magrath are part of the LDS Church. In 2001, about 84% of the population identified as Protestant, which includes members of the LDS Church. About 4% were Catholic, and 11% said they had no religious affiliation.
The LDS Church has a large presence in Magrath. There is a "stake" (a group of congregations) based in Magrath. This stake includes ten congregations, with eight "wards" and two "branches," both in the town and nearby areas. In June 2016, there were about 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 only three "Buffalo Bin" style grain elevators left in Alberta. These unique elevators were built in the 1970s and 1980s.
- 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 lovers 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.
Famous People from Magrath
Some notable people have connections to Magrath:
- Randall K. Bennett: A leader in the LDS Church.
- Phil Tollestrup (born 1949): An Olympic basketball player and a member of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Gordon McOmber (1919–2018): He was the Lieutenant Governor for Montana from 1988 to 1989 and was born in Magrath.
- Christian Jensen (1868–1958): He was honored in the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. A reservoir is named after him.
- Joseph Schow: A current Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the area.
