Redcliff, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Redcliff
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Town
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| Town of Redcliff | ||
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| Motto(s):
Greenhouse Capital of the Prairies
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 Redcliff
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada | |
| Province | Alberta | |
| Region | Southern Alberta | |
| Census division | 1 | |
| Municipal district | Cypress County | |
| Incorporated | ||
| • Village | October 29, 1910 | |
| • Town | August 5, 1912 | |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 16.15 km2 (6.24 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 745 m (2,444 ft) | |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 5,581 | |
| • Density | 345.5/km2 (895/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
| Postal code span |
T0J
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| Area code(s) | +1-403 | |
Redcliff is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located right next to the City of Medicine Hat on its east side. To the west and north, it borders Cypress County. The town is split by Highway 1, also known as the Trans-Canada Highway. You can find Redcliff on the north bank of the South Saskatchewan River.
The town of Redcliff sits high up compared to the land around it. This gives amazing views of the South Saskatchewan River valley, the City of Medicine Hat, and Cypress Hills. The cliffs overlooking the river look a lot like badland formations.
Contents
Discovering Redcliff's Past
Redcliff's story began in the 1880s. People found lots of coal and natural gas there. These cheap resources made Redcliff known as the "Smokeless manufacturing centre of the West." This attracted many factories that made things like shoes, gloves, cigars, trucks, bricks, glass, and flour.
On June 25, 1915, a very strong tornado, called an F4 tornado, hit the town. It damaged many businesses, which started a tough time for Redcliff's economy. World War I and a flu sickness also caused the good times to end. However, after World War II, the community started to grow again.
How Redcliff Got Its Name
The town's name comes from the tall, red shale banks along the South Saskatchewan River. Today, it's spelled Redcliff as one word. But in the past, it was sometimes spelled Redcliffe, Red Cliff, or Red-Cliff.
Originally, the town was going to be called Stonerville. This name was chosen after the town's doctor.
Redcliff's Growing Population
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In 2021, a group called Statistics Canada counted the people in Redcliff. They found that 5,581 people lived there. These people lived in 2,186 homes. This number was a little bit less than the 5,600 people who lived there in 2016.
Redcliff covers an area of 16.15 square kilometers. This means that in 2021, there were about 345.5 people living in each square kilometer. In 2022, Redcliff's population grew to 6,104 people. This was an increase of 3.83% from the year before.
Redcliff's Economy and Jobs
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The main jobs and businesses in Redcliff are connected to oil and gas and the sunny weather of southern Alberta. Many companies in Redcliff help the oil and gas industry by providing drilling and pipeline services.
The area's sunny climate and lots of cheap natural gas have also helped a big greenhouse industry grow. Greenhouses are like giant glass buildings where plants are grown. These greenhouses produce vegetables like sweet bell peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers. They also grow many kinds of flowering plants and even some trees.
In the past, Redcliff was famous for making glass, bricks, and pottery. Some of these factories, like the IXL brick plant, have moved to Medicine Hat. Others are no longer in business. Redcliff is also part of the Economic Development Alliance of Southeast Alberta. This group works to help the economy grow in the region.
Fun Things to Do in Redcliff
Redcliff has many cool places and activities for everyone to enjoy:
- A swimming center with a heated 25-meter outdoor pool. It has different depths and a heated kids' pool with a water play area.
- The Redcliff Rectangle, which is a building used for ice hockey and other sports.
- A curling rink with three sheets of ice for playing.
- Six parks, including the 3-acre River Valley Park. This park is next to the South Saskatchewan River and has a kitchen, washrooms, a firepit, and walking trails.
- The 18-hole Riverview Golf Course, located near the Riverview neighborhood and the cliffs of the South Saskatchewan River valley.
- The Redcliff Campground, which can hold up to 48 camping units.
- Four softball and baseball fields of different sizes.
- A BMX track for bike tricks.
- A skate park for skateboarding.
- A free outdoor splash park at Lions Park.
- A Seniors drop-in center for older adults.
- Redcliff Days, a special event that usually happens every June.
- Redcliff also has many paths for biking and walking.
Learning in Redcliff
The Prairie Rose School Division No. 8 runs four schools in Redcliff. These schools offer classes for children from kindergarten all the way to grade 12.
- Isabel F. Cox Elementary School (Kindergarten to Grade 3)
- Margaret Wooding Elementary School (Grades 4 to 6)
- Parkside Junior High School (Grades 7 to 9)
- Redcliff Mennonite Alternative Program Outreach School (Kindergarten to Grade 12). This school used to be in Redcliff but is now in the City of Medicine Hat.
Older students who are in grades 10 through 12 can go to Eagle Butte High School in Dunmore. They can also choose to attend schools in the Medicine Hat School District No. 76 or the Medicine Hat Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 20.
