Vilna
Village
Village of Vilna
Pool hall and barbershop
Pool hall and barbershop
Vilna is located in Alberta
Vilna
Vilna
Location of Vilna
Coordinates: 54°06′56″N 111°55′16″W / 54.11556°N 111.92111°W / 54.11556; -111.92111
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionCentral Alberta
Census DivisionNo. 12
Municipal districtSmoky Lake County
Founded1907
Incorporated[1] 
 • VillageJune 23, 1923
Government
 • MayorLeo Chapdelaine
 • Governing bodyVilna Village Council
 • Village Council MembersDonald Romanko, Roy Dyck and Leo Chapdelaine
Area
 (2021)[2]
 • Land0.96 km2 (0.37 sq mi)
Elevation
640 m (2,100 ft)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Total268
 • Density278/km2 (720/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Highways Hwy 28
Hwy 859
WaterwaysBonnie Lake, Stony Creek
WebsiteOfficial website

Vilna is a village in central Alberta, Canada.

Vilna is located in Smoky Lake County, on Highway 28, 150 km (93.2 mi) northeast of the city of Edmonton. Bonnie Lake Provincial Recreation Area is located 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the community, on the shores of Bonnie Lake.

History

Vilna was founded in 1907, mostly by central European settlers. By 1918, the settlers were calling the larger district Vilna, after the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius (Latin: Vilna).[3] The main community started to coalesce in 1919, when the railroad reached the area and the first grain elevator was built.[4] The "Villette" post office, located two miles east, was relocated to the growing community in 1920, at which time the community was officially named Vilna.[4] That same year, the first schoolhouse was built.[4] Vilna was incorporated as a village on June 13, 1923.[4]

On February 5, 1967, Vilna experienced a meteor air burst with a yield estimated at 600 tonnes of TNT (2.5 TJ). Subsequently, two very small meteorite fragments were found – 48 milligrams (0.74 grains) and 94 milligrams (1.45 gr) which are now stored at University of Alberta, in Edmonton.[5]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Vilna had a population of 268 living in 108 of its 119 total private dwellings, a change of -7.6% from its 2016 population of 290. With a land area of 0.96 km2 (0.37 sq mi), it had a population density of 279.2/km2 (723.0/sq mi) in 2021.[2]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Vilna recorded a population of 290 living in 114 of its 143 total private dwellings, a 16.5% change from its 2011 population of 249. With a land area of 0.96 km2 (0.37 sq mi), it had a population density of 302.1/km2 (782.4/sq mi) in 2016.[6]

The Village of Vilna's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 290.[7]

Attractions

The town claims to be home to the world's largest metal sculpture mushroom.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Location and History Profile: Village of Vilna" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 21, 2016. p. 583. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 129.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Vilna Story". A Century of Progress: an Historical Study of the Waskatenau, Smoky Lake, Warspite, Bellis, Vilna and Spedden School Communities. Edmonton: Modern Press. 1967. pp. 38–39 [241–242]. Retrieved 2023-08-22 – via University of Calgary Digital Collections - Local Histories Collection. [note: each section of the book covers a different community/area in The County of Smoky Lake, as a 1967 Centennial Project written and edited by teachers and pupils of the schools in the county]
  5. ↑ University of Calgary, Canadian Meteorite Catalogue
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "2012 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2012-11-22. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  8. ↑ Roadside attractions - Vilna mushrooms
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