Ralston, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralston
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Designated place
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| Crown Village of Ralston | |
 Ralston
Location in Alberta
Ralston
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Southern Alberta |
| Census division | 1 |
| Municipal district | Cypress County |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 1 km2 (0.4 sq mi) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 257 |
| • Density | 258.1/km2 (668/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 403, 587, 825 |
The Crown Village of Ralston is a small community in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located east of Alberta Highway 884 on the CFB Suffield military base. Ralston is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) north of the Hamlet of Suffield, Alberta and the main Trans-Canada Highway.
Ralston's History
In August 1947, plans were approved to build 60 homes in Ralston. These homes were for scientists, engineers, and military staff working at the Suffield Experimental Station. The village was named after the Honourable J. L. Ralston. Most of the construction was finished by 1953.
In June 1969, there was talk of closing Ralston. The Defence Research Board, which managed the area, was thinking about it due to money problems. This decision would affect about 150 families living there. It would also impact the local bowling alley, theater, store, swimming pool, and elementary school. Many homes were empty at the time. A group looked into ways to save money, like moving the houses to Medicine Hat.
Luckily, in April 1970, Ralston was saved! The Defence Research Board decided against closing it. They even supported the idea of Ralston becoming its own official community. A local group, led by Dr. James Lipp, was very happy with this news. They hoped Ralston could become an official community that same year. People living in Ralston were willing to buy their homes, which cost about $4,000 on average.
Ralston's future became even clearer in August 1971. The Canadian government made a deal with the British government. This deal allowed over 6,000 British troops to train at the Suffield military area. Because of this, Ralston was needed to support the visiting troops. On October 27, 1971, the Canadian Forces took over managing the village.
Today, the Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) looks after the homes in Ralston. They manage them for the Department of National Defence.
Population of Ralston
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In 2021, a count of the population was done by Statistics Canada. Ralston had 257 people living there. These people lived in 87 of the 171 homes in the village. This was a small decrease from its 2016 population of 282 people.
Ralston covers an area of 1 square kilometer (0.4 square miles). In 2021, this meant there were about 258 people living in each square kilometer.
Fun Things to Do in Ralston
Ralston has many places for fun and activities. These include a gymnasium, courts for racquet sports, and an ice rink. There are also bowling alleys, a restaurant/pub, and a weight/cardio room. You can find a golf driving range, fitness trails, and even some shops. All these places are for the community to enjoy.
In August 2012, the CFB Suffield base hosted the 33rd yearly Ralston Rodeo. This rodeo is part of the Border Country Rodeo Circuit. Competitors come from Southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and even British Columbia. They compete for prizes and points, just like in other rodeos. The rodeo is also a way to show British families the Canadian way of life.
Ralston School
The Ralston School was built in late 1951. It is recognized as an important federal heritage building.
