Raymond, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raymond
Town
Town of Raymond
Former sugar beet processing factory, converted into a grain elevator when acquired by Parrish & Heimbecker
Nickname(s):  Sugar City
Motto(s):  Home of the First Stampede
Raymond Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Southern Alberta
Census division	2
Municipal district	County of Warner No. 5
Incorporated
• Village	May 30, 1902
• Town	July 1, 1903
Area  (2021)
• Land	7.63 km2 (2.95 sq mi)
Elevation	960 m (3,150 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	4,199
• Density	550.2/km2 (1,425/sq mi)
• Municipal census (2019)	4,241
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code	T0K 2S0
Area code	403, 587, 825
Highways	Highway 52 Highway 845
Waterways	Milk River Ridge Reservoir

Raymond is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. It is surrounded by the County of Warner No. 5. You can find it south of Lethbridge, where Highway 52 and Highway 845 meet.

Raymond is famous for its yearly rodeo, which happens in the first week of July. Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) live here. The town also has an important history related to the Japanese community in Alberta. Raymond is known for its strong high school sports teams, especially in basketball, Canadian football, Judo, and women's rugby. Recently, Raymond became one of the first communities in Alberta to use mostly solar power for its town buildings.

Raymond's History

Raymond's last historic grain elevator, which was taken down in 2009.

Raymond was started in 1901 by a rich businessman named Jesse Knight. He named the town after his son, Raymond. Jesse Knight wanted to build a factory to make sugar from sugar beets grown nearby. This idea attracted about 1,500 new settlers to the area in just a few years.

Raymond officially became a village in the North-West Territories on May 30, 1902. Just over a year later, on July 1, 1903, it became a town.

People Living in Raymond

In 2021, the town of Raymond had a population of 4,199 people. These people lived in 1,330 homes. This was an increase from its population of 3,713 in 2016. The town covers an area of 7.63 square kilometers.

A local count in 2019 showed that Raymond had 4,241 residents. This was also an increase from the 4,037 people counted in 2017.

Different Backgrounds and Cultures

As of 2006, about 3% of the people in Raymond were from different visible minority groups. Among these, 50 people identified as Japanese, 40 as Black, and 10 as South Asian.

Religions in Raymond

Most people in Raymond are members of the LDS Church. The church has built four large buildings in town. These buildings are home to eleven different groups of church members. The closest temple for the church is in Cardston, about 60 kilometers away.

Raymond also has other churches, including Baptist, Mennonite, and United Church of Canada groups. The Raymond Buddhist Church was once the oldest Buddhist place of worship in Canada that was always in use. It moved its temple to Lethbridge in 2006.

Helping Others Through Giving

Statistics Canada has reported that Raymond is one of the top five communities in Canada for how much money people donate to charity. This is partly because many residents give a portion of their income to the LDS Church.

Fun Things to Do in Raymond

In 1902, just one year after it was founded, Raymond hosted an outdoor rodeo. They called it a stampede, and it was the first organized rodeo event in Canada! The Raymond Stampede has been held every year since then. Today, it happens during Raymond's Heritage Days celebration, around June 30 and July 1 each summer.

Raymond Heritage Days are a yearly event in early July. They celebrate the town's founding. You can enjoy family softball games, fireworks, midnight golfing, a fun fair, a pancake breakfast, a parade, and of course, the Raymond Stampede!

Raymond is also home to the Raymond Judo Club. This was the very first judo club in Alberta, started by Yoshio Katsuta in 1943.

The Raymond Aquatic Centre opened in 2010. It has two small waterslides, a large pool for swimming laps, diving boards, and a climbing wall. There's also a shallow pool for babies and a place to eat. The aquatic center holds a million liters of water and can welcome up to 500 visitors every day in the summer!

The Raymond Buddhist Church building is one of the oldest in Raymond. It is the only public building left from the town's early days. This building is a special Provincial Historic Resource. It is important because it connects to both the LDS Church and the Japanese Buddhist communities in Raymond. It also marks the site of the Japanese Experience in Alberta National Historic Event.

The Raymond Community Centre is another Provincial Historic Resource. Inside, you'll find the Raymond Public Library and the Broadway Theatre.

Raymond's Weather

Raymond has a semi-arid climate. This means it's quite dry, like a desert, but not as extreme. It's part of an area called Palliser's Triangle. Raymond is also very windy because it's close to the Rocky Mountains to the west.

Famous People from Raymond

Many talented people have come from Raymond, including:

• Earl W. Bascom – A rodeo inventor, artist, and sculptor.
• Ted E. Brewerton – A leader in the LDS Church.
• Lloyd Fairbanks – A professional football player.
• Skouson Harker – A professional basketball player.
• Jim Hillyer – A politician and Member of Parliament.
• Jennie B. Knight – A religious leader in the LDS Church.
• Raymond Knight – The person who started the Raymond Stampede.
• Brett Ralph – A professional Canadian football player.
• Brock Ralph – A professional Canadian football player.
• W. Cleon Skousen – An author and political speaker.
• Phil Tollestrup – An Olympics basketball player and member of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame.
• William R. Walker – A leader in the LDS Church.
• Wendy Watson Nelson – A therapist, professor, and author.