Drumheller
Town
Town of Drumheller
Downtown Drumheller
Downtown Drumheller
Flag of Drumheller
Flag
Nickname: 
Dinosaur Capital of the World[1]
Location within Alberta
Location within Alberta
Coordinates: 51°27′49″N 112°43′10″W / 51.46361°N 112.71944°W / 51.46361; -112.71944
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionSouthern Alberta
Census division5
Adjacent municipal districtsKneehill County, Starland County and Wheatland County
Adjacent special areaSpecial Area No. 2
Founded1911
Incorporated[2] 
 • VillageMay 15, 1913
 • TownMarch 2, 1916
 • CityApril 3, 1930
 • TownJanuary 1, 1998
Amalgamated[2]January 1, 1998
Government
[3]
 • MayorHeather Colberg
 • MPDamien Kurek (Battle River-Crowfoot)
 • MLANate Horner (Drumheller-Stettler)
Area
 (2021)[4]
 • Land107.56 km2 (41.53 sq mi)
Elevation
[5]
670 m (2,200 ft)
Population
 (2021)[4][6]
 • Total7,909
 • Density73.5/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Forward sortation area
T0J
Area code(s)+1-403, +1-587
Websitewww.dinosaurvalley.com

Drumheller /drʌmˈhɛlər/ is a town on the Red Deer River in the badlands of east-central Alberta, Canada. It is located 110 kilometres (68 mi) northeast of Calgary and 97 kilometres (60 mi) south of Stettler. The Drumheller portion of the Red Deer River valley, often referred to as Dinosaur Valley, has an approximate width of 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) and an approximate length of 28 kilometres (17 mi).

Drumheller was named after Samuel Drumheller, who, after purchasing the homestead of Thomas Patrick Greentree, had it surveyed into the original Drumheller townsite and put lots on the market in 1911. Also in 1911, Samuel Drumheller started coal mining operations near the townsite.[7]

Drumheller got a railway station in 1912.[8] It was then incorporated as a village on May 15, 1913, a town on March 2, 1916, and a city on April 3, 1930.[9] Over a 15-year period, Drumheller's population increased 857% from 312 in 1916[10] to 2,987 in 1931[11] shortly after becoming a city.

Drumheller boomed until the end of the Second World War when coal lost most of its value.[7]

The City of Drumheller amalgamated with the Municipal District of Badlands No. 7 on January 1, 1998, to form the current Town of Drumheller.[12] Some of the reasons the two municipalities amalgamated included Badlands No. 7 having more in common with Drumheller than other surrounding rural municipalities and both were experiencing similar planning and development issues due to their locations within the Red Deer River valley.[13] The amalgamated municipality opted for town status rather than city status so that highways within would remain the responsibility of the Province of Alberta.[14] As a result of the amalgamation, Drumheller became Alberta's largest town in terms of land area at 107.93 square kilometres (41.67 sq mi).[15]

The 1998 amalgamation resulted in Drumheller absorbing six hamlets that were previously under the jurisdiction of the Municipal District of Badlands No. 7—Cambria, East Coulee, Lehigh, Nacmine, Rosedale and Wayne.[13] Drumheller also previously absorbed the hamlets of Bankview, Midlandvale (Midland), Newcastle and North Drumheller during annexations while under city status.[13] Bankview and Midland were annexed in 1964 and 1972 respectively, while Newcastle and North Drumheller were both annexed in 1967.[13] Other localities within Drumheller, either absorbed through past annexations or its eventual amalgamation with Badlands No. 7, include Aerial, Eladesor, Kneehill, Rosedale Station, Western Monarch (Atlas)[16] and Willow Creek.[17]

In total, Drumheller has absorbed at least 13 other communities in its history, some of which are now recognized as neighbourhoods or districts within the town.[18]

Geography

Climate

Drumheller experiences a semi-arid climate (BSk) with very cold winters and hot summers. The highest temperature ever recorded in Drumheller was 40.6 °C (105 °F) on July 18, 1941.[19] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −43.9 °C (−47 °F) on January 29, 1996.[20]

Climate data for Drumheller, 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1923−present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.5
(59.9)		 18.0
(64.4)		 28.0
(82.4)		 33.9
(93.0)		 37.0
(98.6)		 39.4
(102.9)		 40.6
(105.1)		 38.1
(100.6)		 37.2
(99.0)		 33.3
(91.9)		 25.9
(78.6)		 17.3
(63.1)		 40.6
(105.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −6.0
(21.2)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 3.7
(38.7)		 12.9
(55.2)		 18.4
(65.1)		 22.1
(71.8)		 26.7
(80.1)		 26.1
(79.0)		 20.0
(68.0)		 13.2
(55.8)		 3.1
(37.6)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 11.4
(52.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −12.3
(9.9)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 5.9
(42.6)		 11.5
(52.7)		 15.8
(60.4)		 19.4
(66.9)		 18.3
(64.9)		 12.5
(54.5)		 5.9
(42.6)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −8.8
(16.2)		 4.5
(40.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −18.6
(−1.5)		 −14.6
(5.7)		 −9.2
(15.4)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 4.5
(40.1)		 9.4
(48.9)		 12.0
(53.6)		 10.4
(50.7)		 4.9
(40.8)		 −1.4
(29.5)		 −9.1
(15.6)		 −15.1
(4.8)		 −2.3
(27.9)
Record low °C (°F) −43.9
(−47.0)		 −41.4
(−42.5)		 −37.8
(−36.0)		 −26.7
(−16.1)		 −9.4
(15.1)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −22.5
(−8.5)		 −35.1
(−31.2)		 −42.8
(−45.0)		 −43.9
(−47.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 12.3
(0.48)		 10.2
(0.40)		 15.0
(0.59)		 25.7
(1.01)		 47.7
(1.88)		 69.3
(2.73)		 64.4
(2.54)		 51.4
(2.02)		 41.2
(1.62)		 13.4
(0.53)		 11.2
(0.44)		 10.4
(0.41)		 372.1
(14.65)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.0
(0.0)		 0.1
(0.00)		 1.5
(0.06)		 20.5
(0.81)		 43.6
(1.72)		 69.3
(2.73)		 64.4
(2.54)		 51.0
(2.01)		 40.5
(1.59)		 9.7
(0.38)		 1.1
(0.04)		 0.0
(0.0)		 301.7
(11.88)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 12.2
(4.8)		 10.1
(4.0)		 13.5
(5.3)		 5.2
(2.0)		 4.0
(1.6)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.4
(0.2)		 0.7
(0.3)		 3.8
(1.5)		 10.1
(4.0)		 10.4
(4.1)		 70.5
(27.8)
Source 1: Environment Canada[21][19][22][23][24][20][25]
Source 2: Weatherbase[26]

Demographics

Population history
of Drumheller
(pre-1998 boundaries)
YearPop.±%
1916312—    
19212,499+701.0%
19262,578+3.2%
19312,987+15.9%
19362,912−2.5%
19412,748−5.6%
19462,659−3.2%
19512,601−2.2%
19562,632+1.2%
19612,931+11.4%
19663,574+21.9%
19715,446+52.4%
19766,154+13.0%
19816,528+6.1%
19866,366−2.5%
19916,277−1.4%
19966,587+4.9%
20016,503−1.3%
Percent changes for 1966, 1971, and 1976 are inflated due to intercensal municipal boundary adjustments including the annexation of Bankview in 1964, Newcastle and North Drumheller in 1967, and Midlandvale in 1972.
Source: Statistics Canada
[27][28][29][30][31][13][32]
Population history of the
Town of Drumheller
(current boundary)
YearPop.±%
19568,134—    
19617,401−9.0%
19666,977−5.7%
19717,306+4.7%
19767,420+1.6%
19817,791+5.0%
19867,511−3.6%
19917,468−0.6%
19967,833+4.9%
20017,785−0.6%
20067,932+1.9%
20118,029+1.2%
20167,982−0.6%
Source: Statistics Canada
[13][33][34][15][35]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Drumheller had a population of 7,909 living in 3,198 of its 3,557 total private dwellings, a change of -0.9% from its 2016 population of 7,982. With a land area of 107.56 km2 (41.53 sq mi), it had a population density of 73.5/km2 (190.4/sq mi) in 2021.[4]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Drumheller recorded a population of 7,982 living in 3,164 of its 3,471 total private dwellings, a -0.6% change from its 2011 population of 8,029. With a land area of 108.03 km2 (41.71 sq mi), it had a population density of 73.9/km2 (191.4/sq mi) in 2016.[35]

Economy

Drumheller was once the largest coal producing city in Western Canada, with the Atlas Coal Mine. Now, coal mining has been replaced by natural gas and oil. Drumheller has Alberta's second largest natural gas field, the West Drumheller Field. However, Drumheller is planning to transition away from fossil fuels and emphasize renewable energy sources, such as wind power, in its economy.[36]

Currently, tourism is Drumheller's main industry. A federal prison and regional medical complex also contribute to the economy. Agriculture is also quite important.[37]

Attractions

Hoodoos at Drumheller

South of the traffic bridge over the Red Deer river on Highway 9 is the World's Largest Dinosaur, a 26.2-metre (86 ft) high fiberglass Tyrannosaurus rex that can be entered for a view of the Badlands, including the adjacent 23 metre (75 ft) water fountain, again one of the largest in Canada.[38] Tourist attractions also include the Star Mine Suspension Bridge, Atlas Coal Mine, Canadian Badlands Passion Play, Horseshoe Canyon, Rotary Spray Park,[39] Aquaplex (with indoor and outdoor pools), Horse Thief Canyon, hoodoos, Midland Provincial Park, the Rosedeer Hotel in Wayne, 27 kilometres (17 mi) of constructed pathways, Bleriot Ferry, East Coulee School Museum, the Homestead Museum and the Little Church, which is capable of seating only six patrons.[40]

Next to the now closed Drumheller ski hill is the Canadian Badlands Passion Play site, where, for two weeks each July, performances are held. The Badlands Amphitheatre began hosting the Passion Play in 1991.[41] Companies are composed of actors from all over Alberta. The site also offers small plays throughout the summer and an interpretive centre.[42]

Drumheller was also home to the Valley Doll Museum and Gifts, where it displayed over 700 dolls.

Royal Tyrrell Museum

Gorgosaurus at Royal Tyrrell Museum

The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is a museum that hosts Canada's largest collection of dinosaur fossils. It boasts 375,000 visitors a year, the largest of all provincial museum attractions. It opened on September 25, 1985. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is located in the northwest quadrant of the Town of Drumheller, in Midland Provincial Park.

Media

Digital

DrumhellerOnline.com is Drumheller's local news portal.

Radio

Newspapers

Newspapers covering Drumheller include the weekly Drumheller Mail, which has been publishing every Wednesday since 1911 and has been owned by the Sheddy family since 1954.

Television

All stations are analogue relays of stations from Calgary.

Transportation

Drumheller/Ostergard's Airport and Drumheller Municipal Airport are in the vicinity of Drumheller. None have regular passenger flights.

Passenger rail service ran from 1912 up until 1981 but freight continued on the through lines up until 2014.[43]

The railway was decommissioned and demolished in 2014.[44]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Dinosaur Capital of the World". traveldrumheller.com. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Location and History Profile: Town of Drumheller" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 17 June 2016. p. 211. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Drumheller | The Canadian Encyclopedia". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  8. ↑ The Canadian Encyclopedia. "Drumheller". Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  9. ↑ "Municipal Profile – Town of Drumheller". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  10. ↑ "Table I: Population of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta by Districts, Townships, Cities, Towns, and Incorporated Villages in 1916, 1911, 1906, and 1901". Census of Prairie Provinces, 1916. Vol. Population and Agriculture. Ottawa: Government of Canada. 1918. pp. 77–140.
  11. ↑ "Table 12: Population of Canada by provinces, counties or census divisions and subdivisions, 1871-1931". Census of Canada, 1931. Ottawa: Government of Canada. 1932. pp. 98–102.
  12. ↑ "Location and History Profile: Town of Drumheller". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Town of Drumheller Municipal Development Plan: Volume 1 Background Study". Town of Drumheller and Palliser Regional Municipal Services. 21 April 2008. p. 7. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  14. ↑ Pat Kolafa (22 April 2011). "The original Dr. Phil". The Drumheller Mail. Drumheller Mail. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  15. 1 2 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  16. ↑ "The Alberta Gazette (Board Order No. 20515)" (PDF). Local Authorities Board. 31 December 1992. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  17. ↑ "Drumheller, geographical codes and localities". Statistics Canada. 5 March 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  18. ↑ Town of Drumheller. "Town of Drumheller maps" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  19. 1 2 "Daily Data Report for July 1941". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Daily Data Report for January 1996". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "Drumheller". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  22. ↑ "Daily Drumheller East". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Daily Drumheller Institution". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  24. ↑ "Daily Drumheller City". Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  25. ↑ "Drumheller Andrew". Environment Canada. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  26. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Drumheller, Alberta, Canada". Weatherbase.com. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  27. ↑ "Table 5: Population of urban centres, 1916-1946, with guide to locations". 1946 Census of Alberta (PDF). Vol. Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 22 August 1949. pp. 397–400. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  28. ↑ "Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1901–1961". 1961 Census of Canada. Series 1.1: Historical, 1901–1961. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 8 March 1963. p. 6.77–6.83. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  29. ↑ "Table 10: Population of incorporated cities, towns and villages, 1966 and 1961, with guide to locations". 1961 Census of Canada. Vol. Population: Incorporated Cities, Towns and Villages. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. October 1967. pp. 10–1 to 10–32. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  30. ↑ "Table 2: Area and Density of Population, for Census Subdivisions Population by census subdivisions, 1971 (Alberta)". 1971 Census of Canada. Special Bulletin: Geography. Vol. Land Areas and Densities of Statistical Units. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. June 1973. pp. 2–41 to 2–44. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  31. ↑ Population: Geographic Distributions – Census Divisions and Subdivisions, Western Provinces and the Territories. Statistics Canada. June 1977. pp. 3–41.
  32. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles: Drumheller, Alberta (City / Dissolved)". Statistics Canada. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  33. ↑ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  34. ↑ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  35. 1 2 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  36. ↑ "Town of Drumheller". The Canadian Business Journal. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  37. ↑ "Drumheller | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  38. ↑ "The World's Largest Dinosaur". worldslargestdinosaur.com. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  39. ↑ "Rotary Spray Park". TravelDrumheller.com. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  40. ↑ "The Little Church". Drumheller Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  41. ↑ "Lots of new touches for this year's Canadian Badlands Passion Play - Lacombe Express". www.lacombeexpress.com. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  42. ↑ "Badlands Amphitheatre | Canada's largest outdoor stage". badlandsamp.com. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  43. ↑ "Rise and Fall of Passenger Rail in Central Alberta - Forth Junction Project". forthjunction.ca. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  44. ↑ "Rail era ending". Drumheller Mail. 8 July 2014.
  45. ↑ "Dr. Frank Sandercock Past-Pres. Of C.A.H.A., Dies In City Tuesday". Drumheller Mail. Drumheller, Alberta. 29 October 1942. p. 1.Free access icon
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51°27′49″N 112°43′10″W / 51.46361°N 112.71944°W / 51.46361; -112.71944 (Drumheller)

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