Rimbey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rimbey
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Town
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| Town of Rimbey | |
Mainstreet Rimbey
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| Motto(s):
The friendly international town
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 Rimbey
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Census division | 8 |
| Municipal district | Ponoka County |
| Incorporated | |
| • Village | June 13, 1919 |
| • Town | December 13, 1948 |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 11.38 km2 (4.39 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 930 m (3,050 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 2,470 |
| • Density | 217.1/km2 (562/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Postal code span |
T0C 2J0
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| Area code(s) | +1-403 |
| Highways | Highway 20 Highway 53 |
| Waterways | Gull Lake |
Rimbey is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located where Highways 20 and 53 meet. The town is in the Blindman River valley area. It is about 62 kilometers (38 miles) northwest of Red Deer. Rimbey is also about 145 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Edmonton.
For provincial elections, Rimbey is part of the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre area. For federal elections, it is in the Wetaskiwin area.
Contents
A Look Back: Rimbey's History
Rimbey officially became a community in 1902. At first, it was called Kansas Ridge. Many early settlers came from the American state of Kansas.
Among these settlers were three brothers named Sam, Ben, and Jim Rimbey. The town was officially named after them in 1904. The Rimbey brothers moved to Canada from Scott County, Illinois. Their family had moved to Illinois in the 1830s from Maryland. The brothers were born in Pennsylvania.
In 1919, a railway line reached Rimbey. This was the Lacombe and Blindman Valley Electric Railway. It later became part of the Canadian Pacific Railway. People were very excited about the "new town" near the tracks. Today, this area is Highway 20.
The next year, two companies built grain elevators. These are tall buildings used to store grain. By 1921, Rimbey's population grew to 319 people.
The Second World War brought big changes to Rimbey. Many young men and their families left the village to help with the war effort. After the war, some people returned, but others did not. Many new people also moved to Rimbey. By 1946, the population had grown to 634.
People in Rimbey
In 2021, the Town of Rimbey had a population of 2,470 people. These people lived in 1,084 homes. This was a small decrease from its 2016 population of 2,567. Rimbey covers an area of 11.38 square kilometers (4.39 square miles).
What Rimbey Does: Economy
Rimbey is mainly a farming community. Farmers grow crops and raise animals here. The oil and gas industry is also becoming more important.
The town has many useful services. These include hotels, motels, and several stores for groceries and other items. Rimbey also has its own hospital and ambulance service. For more specialized medical care, people go to Red Deer, Calgary, or Edmonton. The town also has its own Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment.
Fun Places to Visit
- Pas-Ka-Poo Park is a large park with open grassy areas. It has a historical village site and museums. You can see many interesting displays there. It is also home to the World's Largest Collection of International Trucks. These are found in the Smithson International Truck Museum.
- The Rimbey Golf & Trailer Park used to be located south of town. The golf course is now closed because of flooding.
- Rimbey has a great outdoor swimming pool. It is open from May to September each year. The pool was rebuilt and is now a junior Olympic size. It has a beach-style entrance and two hot tubs. There is also a double loop waterslide. Younger kids can enjoy a large splash pad.
- The Beatty House is a historic house in the center of town. You can book tours to see it. It can also be used for social events.
- There are also a few smaller public parks in town. These parks are designed for children to play in.
Learning in Rimbey: Education
The Wolf Creek School Division No. 72 runs the public schools in Rimbey. These include Rimbey Elementary School and Rimbey Junior-Senior High School. The West Country Outreach School also provides education.
Rimbey is also home to the Rimbey Christian School. This is a private school for students from kindergarten to grade 9. For younger children, the Rimbey Nursery School offers play-based programs. These are for children aged 3 to 5 years old.
Rimbey News
The town's newspaper is called the Rimbey Review. It started publishing on January 27, 1997. The Review was sold to Black Press in 2005. Before the Rimbey Review, the town had a newspaper called the Rimbey Record. It had been publishing since the early 1930s.
Famous People from Rimbey
- Harry Lang, a professional wrestler known as Cowboy Lang.
- Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, an actor.
