Sexsmith, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sexsmith
Town
Town of Sexsmith
Train station and two of seven elevators that stood in Sexsmith
Nickname(s):  Grain capital of the British Empire
Location in the County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Sexsmith Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Northern Alberta
Planning region	Upper Peace
Municipal district	County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Incorporated
• Village	April 12, 1929
• Town	October 15, 1979
Area  (2021)
• Land	13.01 km2 (5.02 sq mi)
Elevation	724 m (2,375 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	2,427
• Density	186.5/km2 (483/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span	T0H 3C0
Area code(s)	+1-780
Highways	Highway 2 Highway 59

Sexsmith is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located on Highway 2, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Grande Prairie.

The town is in the Peace River Country region of Alberta. This area is known for its very fertile land, which is great for farming. Sexsmith was once called the "grain capital of the British Empire". This is because, between 1939 and 1949, it shipped more grain than any other port in the entire British Empire!

History of Sexsmith

The land where Sexsmith now stands was first settled by Benny Foster in 1911. The town was first going to be named "Bennville" or "Benville" after him. However, that name was already being used by another town. So, it was renamed Sexsmith after a local trapper who arrived in the area in 1898.

How the Railway Helped Sexsmith Grow

The railway reached Sexsmith in 1916. Soon after, in 1917, companies started building large grain elevators. These are tall buildings used to store grain. Because the soil was so fertile, the area became one of the biggest grain-producing regions in the world. By 1949, Sexsmith earned its nickname as the "Grain Capital of the British Empire" because of how much grain it shipped.

People and Population

Sexsmith has grown quite a bit over the years. Every few years, a census counts how many people live in the town.

Population Changes Over Time

In the 2021 Canadian census, 2,427 people lived in Sexsmith. This was a small decrease from 2,620 people in 2016. The town has a land area of about 13 square kilometers (5 square miles). This means there were about 186 people living in each square kilometer in 2021.

The population has changed over the years:

• 1931: 304 people
• 1951: 331 people
• 1971: 593 people
• 1991: 1,260 people
• 2011: 2,418 people
• 2016: 2,620 people
• 2021: 2,427 people

What Sexsmith Does for Work

The economy of Sexsmith is connected to the natural resources in the area.

Oil and Gas Industry

Ovintiv owns a large plant near Sexsmith. This plant processes oil and natural gas liquids. It can handle a lot of these resources each day, which come from wells drilled into the Montney Formation.

Sports and Recreation

Sexsmith has different sports clubs for its residents.

Local Sports Teams

• Sexsmith Vipers: This team plays Ice Hockey in the NWJHL. They play their games at the Sexsmith Arena.
• Sexsmith Skating Club: This club focuses on Figure skating. They also use the Sexsmith Arena.
• Sexsmith Shamrocks: This team plays Canadian Football in the Mighty Peace Bantam Football League. Their games are held at the Shamrock Football Field.

Learning and Education

Sexsmith has schools for younger students and places for higher education.

Schools in Sexsmith

There are three schools in Sexsmith for children and teens:

• Robert W. Zahara Public School
• Sexsmith Secondary School
• St. Mary's Catholic School

Colleges and Institutes

Sexsmith is also home to two places where people can continue their education after high school:

• Peace River Bible Institute
• Stan Wallman College

Famous People from Sexsmith

Some notable people have come from Sexsmith:

• Colin Carter
• Jason Duda
• Garry Edmundson
• Walter Paszkowski
• Carter Rowney