Wabamun, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wabamun
Hamlet
Hamlet of Wabamun
Dragonfly sculpture in Wabamun
Wabamun Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Edmonton Metropolitan Region
Census division	11
Municipal district	Parkland County
Incorporated
• Village	July 18, 1912
• Dissolution	January 1, 1946
• Village	January 1, 1980
• Dissolution	January 1, 2021
Founded by	Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
Named for	Wabamun Lake
Area  (2016)
• Land	3.58 km2 (1.38 sq mi)
Elevation	740 m (2,430 ft)
Population  (2016)
• Total	682
• Density	190.5/km2 (493/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code(s)	+1-780
Highways	Highway 16
Waterway	Wabamun Lake

Wabamun is a small community called a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada. It's part of Parkland County. You can find it about 67 kilometers (42 miles) west of Edmonton on Highway 16. Until 2021, Wabamun was a village.

The Story of Wabamun

Wabamun got its name because it's located on the north shore of Wabamun Lake. The first post office in Wabamun opened in 1903. In the early 1900s, Wabamun was an important stop for settlers traveling by train. Many people brought their goods and animals by train to Wabamun. From there, they used wagons pulled by oxen or horses to reach their new homes. These homes were often in the nearby Lac Ste. Anne area.

In 1984, Wabamun hosted the very first Grand North American Old Time Fiddle Championship. This event helped raise money for the community.

Wabamun has changed its official status a few times. It became a village for the first time on July 18, 1912. Then, it stopped being a village on January 1, 1946. Wabamun became a village again on January 1, 1980. However, it changed back to a hamlet on January 1, 2021. Now, it is managed by Parkland County.

How Many People Live Here?

In 2016, Statistics Canada counted the population of Wabamun. There were 682 people living in 270 homes. This was a small increase from its 2011 population of 661 people. Wabamun covers a land area of about 3.58 square kilometers (1.38 square miles). This means there were about 190.5 people per square kilometer in 2016.

In 2011, Wabamun had 661 people living in 265 homes. This was a 10% increase from its 2006 population of 601. The land area in 2011 was 3.24 square kilometers (1.25 square miles). The population density was about 204.0 people per square kilometer.

A local count in 2009 showed that Wabamun had 662 residents.

What Drives the Economy?

The main source of jobs in Wabamun used to be the power plants nearby. These plants were run by TransAlta Utilities. The power plant right in Wabamun was eventually closed. This happened because of concerns from environmental groups and because the plant was getting old.

The Wabamun power plant used water from the lake to cool its systems. This warm water was put back into the lake. This caused a lot of weeds to grow, which was a big issue for people living near the lake.

The Wabamun Generating Station officially stopped working on March 31, 2010. Its tall smoke stacks were taken down on March 18, 2017.

Fun Things to Do and See

Wabamun is a popular spot for people with cabins in the summer. However, people live in the community all year round.

Local attractions include:

• Wabamun Lake
• Waterfront Park
• The Wabamun Marina
• A long pier that is 380 feet (116 meters) long
• The world's largest dragonfly sculpture

You can find many businesses in Wabamun. These include four restaurants, a hardware store, and bowling lanes. There's also a post office, pharmacy, and a senior center. Other businesses are a realtor, liquor store, market, and a car wash. You can also find a laundromat, motel, hotel, inn, tavern, and a bottle depot. There's a convenience store, two banks, a mechanic, and a grocery store.

There are plans to make Wabamun an even bigger tourist spot in central Alberta. These plans include making Waterfront Park even larger. They also want to build the biggest boat launch on the lake. Another project is Discovery Wharf, which will develop about 100 acres of lakefront land.

The lake itself is home to many fish. You can find a lot of northern pike, along with whitefish and perch.

The main sailing club on the lake is the Wabamun Sailing Club. It's about 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of the community. A smaller sailing club is on the opposite side of the lake.

Wabamun is also home to "Canada's largest dragonfly". This is a metal statue, much like other large attractions you can find in the Prairies.

What Happened with the Oil Spill?

On August 3, 2005, a CN Rail train had an accident near Wabamun Lake. 45 train cars went off the tracks. This caused more than 700,000 liters (185,000 gallons) of fuel oils and pole treating oils to spill into the lake.

Community Buildings and Services

• Wabamun and District Museum
• Wabamun Public Library
• Wabamun School - This school is part of the Parkland School Division and teaches students from kindergarten to grade 9.
• Waterfront Park - This park offers access to the lakeshore, parking, and a full-sized boat launch. It also has a picnic area with a shelter, restrooms, changing rooms, a playground, and a water spray park.