Shepard, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shepard
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Former hamlet
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 Shepard, Alberta
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| City | Calgary |
| Quadrant | SE |
| Ward | 12 |
| Annexed | 2007 |
| Area | |
| • Land | 0.06 km2 (0.02 sq mi) |
Shepard used to be a small community, called a hamlet, located on the eastern edge of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It's about 24 kilometers (15 miles) east of downtown Calgary. In July 2007, Calgary officially took over Shepard from Rocky View County.
Shepard is surrounded by 84 Street SE to the west, a railway line to the north, and 114 Avenue SE (also known as Beulah Vista Road) to the south. The Stoney Trail ring road runs just west of Shepard. Right next to Shepard, to the north, is Ralph Klein Park, a big green park built around 2000.
Shepard's Story: A Look at Its Past
A train station was built in Shepard by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1884. It was named after one of the partners who helped build the railway. A school opened in 1886, and a church followed in 1890.
Shepard also had a post office. It was open for a few months in 1903. Then, it reopened in 1905 and stayed open until 1966. Today, Shepard is mostly a neighborhood with homes and some businesses. It also has its own community hall.
How Shepard Grew: Population Changes
In 2016, Statistics Canada counted the people living in Shepard. There were 10 people living in 4 homes. This number was the same as in 2011.
Shepard covers a small area of about 0.06 square kilometers (0.02 square miles). This means there were about 167 people living in each square kilometer in 2016. In 2011, Shepard also had 10 people, but they lived in 5 homes. This was a big change from 2006, when 20 people lived there.
Becoming Part of Calgary: The Annexation
In June 2006, the City of Calgary and Rocky View County made an agreement. Calgary would take over a large area of land from the county, and Shepard was part of this area.
The Alberta government approved this change on July 31, 2007. After Shepard became part of Calgary, its street names changed. Streets that were called 1 Street through 5 Street became 85 Street SE through 89 Street SE. Beulah Vista Road became part of 114 Avenue SE. This helped Shepard fit into Calgary's street numbering system. Only Rochon Avenue kept its original name.
In early 2008, Calgary started planning for the land in the newly added areas, including Shepard. A plan in 2008 suggested that most of Shepard's land would be set aside for "future urban development."
After Shepard joined Calgary, the city said it would bring water and sewer services to the area by 2010. However, in 2013, the city said it might take until 2030. But in May 2013, the city council discussed a new plan. If approved, this plan could lead to new homes for up to 27,800 people in the coming years.
