Mirror, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mirror
Hamlet
Mirror Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Census division	No. 8
Municipal district	Lacombe County
Incorporated
• Village	July 12, 1912
Dissolution	January 1, 2004
Area  (2021)
• Land	2.3 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Population  (2021)
• Total	481
• Density	208.7/km2 (541/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)

Mirror is a small community, known as a hamlet, in Lacombe County in central Alberta, Canada. You can find it where Highway 50 and Highway 21 meet. It's about 42 kilometers (26 miles) east of Lacombe. It is also about 52 kilometers (32 miles) northeast of Red Deer.

Mirror was first settled in 1870. It officially became a village on July 12, 1912. However, on January 1, 2004, it changed from a village back to a hamlet. This means it is now managed by Lacombe County.

How Many People Live in Mirror?

In 2021, the Canadian Census counted 481 people living in Mirror. These people lived in 253 homes. This number was a little lower than in 2016, when 502 people lived there. Mirror covers a land area of 2.3 square kilometers (0.89 square miles).

The Story of Mirror

The Start of Lamerton

Before Mirror, there was a place called Lamerton. It began in 1892 as a trading post near Buffalo Lake. A post office opened there in 1893. The N.W.M.P also had a small office there around 1895.

By 1907, Lamerton had grown quite a bit. It had a large grocery store, a hardware store, a hotel, and even a church. But things changed when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway decided to build its main railway hub in a different spot.

How Mirror Was Established

In 1911, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was building a new railway line. This line was meant to connect Edmonton and Calgary. The railway planned to go through Lamerton. However, they had trouble buying the land they needed. So, they decided to build their main railway point two miles south instead.

This new spot became the Village of Mirror. Because of this, Lamerton quickly became empty. Many of its buildings and people moved to the new town of Mirror.

The Railway Arrives

By 1912, many buildings had moved to Mirror. These included the post office, a hardware store, and a drug store. There were also two banks, the Bank of Commerce and the Bank of Toronto. Doctors came to Mirror to help the community. A local newspaper, The Mirror Journal, was also printed for a while.

Mirror became known as "the railway town." Many people worked for the railway here. In 1920, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway became part of the Canadian National Railway (CN). CN has run the railway line through Mirror ever since.

Churches also played an important role. The Anglican, United, and Catholic churches served the people of Mirror for many years. Some of these churches had even moved from Lamerton.

Why Mirror Changed

Over time, trains started using diesel engines instead of steam. This meant that big railway hubs like the one in Mirror were no longer needed. The railway's roundhouse in Mirror, where trains were maintained, was eventually closed.

As the railway workers moved away or retired, Mirror became quieter. The local businesses struggled. Because of this decline, the Village of Mirror officially became a hamlet again in 2004.

Things to Do Nearby

• Buffalo Lake is about 22 kilometers (14 miles) east of Mirror. It's a great place for outdoor activities.
• The Narrows Provincial Recreation Area is only 10.2 kilometers (6.3 miles) from Mirror. It offers beautiful natural spaces.

Where Did the Name "Mirror" Come From?

Mirror got its name from a famous British newspaper. It was named after the Daily Mirror from London, England.

See also

In Spanish: Mirror (Alberta) para niños