Patricia, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patricia
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 Patricia
Location in Alberta
Patricia
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Southern Alberta |
| Census division | 2 |
| Municipal district | County of Newell |
| Founded by | Canadian Pacific Railway |
| Named for | Princess Patricia of Connaught |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 0.59 km2 (0.23 sq mi) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 78 |
| • Density | 131.1/km2 (340/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 403, 587, 825 |
Patricia is a small community called a hamlet in southern Alberta, Canada. It's part of the County of Newell. This community is located about 20 kilometers north of Highway 1 and 21 kilometers northeast of Brooks.
Patricia is also very close to Dinosaur Provincial Park, which is a special place recognized by UNESCO for its amazing dinosaur fossils. The hamlet was named after a real princess, Princess Patricia of Connaught.
About Patricia
Patricia became famous for a short time in the 1970s because of a funny situation involving then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. A local rancher named Albert Ketchmark decided to give Trudeau a small piece of land in Patricia as a joke. This land was part of his mother's property.
The Prime Minister's Land
The Prime Minister's ownership of this small lot, which was about 50 by 130 feet, became national news. This happened when the County of Newell sent a bill for $3 in property tax to Trudeau. They also mentioned he might owe another $3 in back taxes.
When asked about it, the Prime Minister's Office said they didn't know about the land transfer. They also hadn't received any official papers or tax bills. Eventually, a local newspaper publisher and political party member, Jim Nesbitt, paid the taxes.
However, Trudeau refused to accept ownership of the land, even just to give it back to the County. The issue was finally settled in the Supreme Court of Alberta. Trudeau's lawyers argued that the gift was "imperfect," meaning it wasn't properly given or accepted. The Justice agreed and canceled the property title, so Trudeau never officially owned the land.
How Many People Live Here?
Every few years, Canada counts its population in what's called a census. This helps us know how many people live in different places.
In the 2021 Census, Patricia had 78 people living in 42 homes. This was a change from 2016, when 101 people lived there. The hamlet covers a small area of about 0.59 square kilometers. This means there were about 131 people per square kilometer in 2021.
A local count in 2020 by the County of Newell showed that Patricia had 88 residents.
In the 2016 Census, Patricia had 101 people living in 46 homes. This was a slight decrease from 2011, when 108 people lived there.
