Bentley
Town
Town of Bentley
Bentley is located in Alberta
Bentley
Bentley
Location of Bentley in Alberta
Coordinates: 52°27′54″N 114°02′59″W / 52.46500°N 114.04972°W / 52.46500; -114.04972
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionCentral Alberta
Census division8
Municipal districtLacombe County
Incorporated[1] 
 • VillageMarch 17, 1915
 • TownJanuary 1, 2001
Government
[2]
 • MayorGreg Rathjen
 • Governing bodyBentley Town Council
 • MPJason Nixon
Area
 (2021)[3]
 • Land2.24 km2 (0.86 sq mi)
Elevation
910 m (2,990 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total1,042
 • Density464.4/km2 (1,203/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span
T0C 0J0
Area code403
HighwaysHighway 20
Highway 12
WaterwayBlindman River
Gull Lake
Websitewww.townofbentley.ca

Bentley is a town in central, Alberta, Canada within Lacombe County. It is located on Highway 12, approximately 28 km (17 mi) northwest of Red Deer.

Shops in Bentley

History

The first settlers came from the U.S. in 1888-1890 and either walked or drove oxen from Lacombe, which was the closest railroad station at that time. Post office opened in 1901.[4] The first church was built in 1890 by the Methodists, and a schoolhouse was built in 1903. Bentley was incorporated as a village on March 17, 1915.[5]

A disastrous fire destroyed all buildings on the south side of the community in 1916. The centre roadway was made 36 metres (118 ft) wide and new buildings could not be constructed inside that area. In 1930, a centre boulevard was constructed for fire protection and street lights installed.

Bentley was incorporated as a town on January 1, 2001.[5]

Town name

Bentley was named in honour of George Bentley, an early homesteader and sawyer,[6] however at the time it was a controversial choice. When Major William B. McPherson, a U.S. Civil War veteran, opened a post office, settlers preferred McPherson's name, but they were outnumbered by the sawmill employees, who wanted Bentley.[7] Prior to 1915, a petition was formed regarding the naming of the village. The original names of Oxford and Springdale were turned down as these two names had been frequently used across Canada.[7]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bentley had a population of 1,042 living in 451 of its 471 total private dwellings, a change of -3.3% from its 2016 population of 1,078. With a land area of 2.24 km2 (0.86 sq mi), it had a population density of 465.2/km2 (1,204.8/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bentley recorded a population of 1,078 living in 441 of its 463 total private dwellings, a 0.5% change from its 2011 population of 1,073. With a land area of 2.24 km2 (0.86 sq mi), it had a population density of 481.3/km2 (1,246.4/sq mi) in 2016.[8]

Education

Bentley has one public school, Bentley School (Pre-K to grade 12), administered by Wolf Creek Public Schools.[9]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Location and History Profile: Town of Bentley" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 50. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  4. ↑ Hamilton, William (1978). The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names. Toronto: Macmillan. pp. 20–21. ISBN 0-7715-9754-1.
  5. 1 2 "Location and History Profile: Town of Bentley". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  6. ↑ Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 18.
  7. 1 2 Sanders, Harry M. "Bentley: The Story Behind Alberta Names". Community Stories. Archived from the original on 2021-05-01.
  8. ↑ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Wolfcreek Public Schools, Alberta". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2006-11-07.

52°28′N 114°03′W / 52.467°N 114.050°W / 52.467; -114.050 (Bentley)

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