Strathmore, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Strathmore
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Town
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| Town of Strathmore | ||
Grain elevators, 1974
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| Motto(s):
Where Quality of Life is a Way of Life
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 Strathmore
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada | |
| Province | Alberta | |
| Region | Calgary Region | |
| Census division | 5 | |
| Municipal district | Wheatland County | |
| Founded | 1883 | |
| Incorporated | ||
| • Village | March 20, 1908 | |
| • Town | July 6, 1911 | |
| Named for | Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne | |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 26.98 km2 (10.42 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 973 m (3,192 ft) | |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 14,339 | |
| • Density | 531.5/km2 (1,377/sq mi) | |
| • Municipal census (2015) | 13,327 | |
| • Estimate (2020) | 14,645 | |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) | |
| Postal code range |
T1P
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| Area code(s) | 403, 587, 825, 368 | |
| Highways |   Hwy 1 / Hwy 817 |
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| Waterways | Eagle Lake | |
Strathmore is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. It is surrounded by Wheatland County. The town is located along the Trans-Canada Highway, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Calgary.
Contents
History of Strathmore
Strathmore started as a small railway settlement in 1883. It was built for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) lines. The railway named the town after Claude Bowes-Lyon, the Earl of Strathmore, who was a supporter of the CPR. His granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), even visited Strathmore on the "Royal Train" in 1939.
When the railway was built, workers set a record between Strathmore and Cheadle. They laid one mile (1.6 km) of track in just one hour! By the end of a ten-hour workday, they had laid 9 miles (14 km) of rails.
In 1872, the Canadian government passed the Dominion Lands Act. This law encouraged people to settle in new areas. Because of this, Strathmore grew as more people moved there. It also became an important stop for railway supplies.
Strathmore's first school opened in 1908. The original CPR railway tracks are no longer there. The land where they once ran has now been developed for other uses.
In 2011, the Town of Strathmore celebrated its 100th birthday. To mark this special event, they released a book called 100 Years of Memories: Celebrating Strathmore’s Centennial.
Strathmore's Population Growth
Strathmore has grown quite a bit over the years. In the 2021 Census, 14,339 people lived in Strathmore. This was an increase from 13,756 people in 2016. The town covers an area of about 26.98 square kilometers (10.42 square miles).
In 2015, a local town count showed that 13,327 people lived in Strathmore. This was also an increase from 12,352 people in 2012. Strathmore is now one of the largest towns in Alberta. A town can become a city in Alberta once it reaches 10,000 residents.
Economy and Jobs
Today, Strathmore is an important farming community. There is also a growing interest in finding oil and natural gas in the area. The town is home to the main office of Golden Hills School Division No. 75.
Many people who live in Strathmore travel daily to Calgary for work. In recent years, the town has seen a lot of new businesses open. Many well-known restaurants and large chain stores have set up shop in Strathmore.
Getting Around Strathmore
Strathmore does not have a public bus system. However, people can use local taxis to get around. There is also a special service called the Strathmore Handi-Bus. This bus helps residents who have trouble moving around on their own. It allows them to travel when they need to. The Handi-Bus program is run by a non-profit group called the Strathmore Handibus Association.
Sports and Recreation
Strathmore has a strong sports community. It used to be home to the Strathmore Rockies, a women's hockey team. Currently, the town is home to the Strathmore Wheatland Kings. This team plays in the Heritage Junior "B" hockey league.
The town was also the former home of the UFA Bisons hockey team. This team has helped many players go on to play in the NHL, including Peyton Krebs, Zach Boychuk, and Mason Raymond.
The Strathmore Spartans football team has players who have gone on to play in college football and even the CFL.
In 2010, the Strathmore Venom Junior "B" lacrosse team won the provincial championship. This was their first title since the team started in 2004.
Strathmore was also one of the places that hosted the 2013 Tour of Alberta, a professional cycling event.
Every year, Strathmore holds its Heritage Days celebrations. These events include the Strathmore Stampede, which is Canada's third largest rodeo!
Education in Strathmore
Strathmore is part of the Golden Hills School Division No. 75.
The town has several schools for different age groups:
- Elementary Schools: Wheatland, Westmount, and Brentwood.
- Kindergarten to Grade 9 Schools: George Freeman School and Trinity Christian Academy.
- Junior High School: Crowther Memorial Junior High School.
- High Schools: Strathmore High School and Strathmore Storefront School.
- Catholic Schools: Sacred Heart Academy (Kindergarten to Grade 6) and Holy Cross Collegiate (Grade 7 to 12).
Strathmore was once home to Covenant Bible College Canada. Students there studied religious topics. The college closed in 2007 because fewer students were enrolling and it had financial problems. The former college campus was later sold to another Christian group called EnCharis.
In September 2008, Trinity Christian Academy opened at the old Covenant Bible College property. Trinity Christian is a publicly funded Christian school that teaches students from Kindergarten to Grade 9.
