Edson, Alberta

From Free net encyclopedia

 Elevation=|
 Highway=Highway 16
Highway 47
Highway 748|
 Waterway=McLeod River|
 Founded= |
 Incorporated=1911|
 Time zone=MST|
 Postal Code=T7E|
 Population description=Town Population|
 Population=8,365 (2005)|
 Population Density=283.2|
 Area=29.54|
 Town Mayor= Greg Pasychny||
 Governing Body=Edson Town Council|
 website= Town of Edson website|
 Census Year=2001|
 Extra references= Town of Edson website|

}}

Edson is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada. Edmonton lies 200 km to the east via the Yellowhead Highway.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Employment & Industry
5 Infrastructure
- 5.1 Highways
6 Media
- 6.1 Newspapers
- 6.2 Radio Stations
7 Recreation
8 Education
9 External link

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History

It was originally named Heatherwood, but the name was changed around 1911 in honour of Edson J. Chamberlain, vice-president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Local history maintains that Edson (Heatherwood) was built in its current location because it was the only level spot between Edmonton and Hinton. When Edson was declared the local rail centre, smaller towns such as Rosevear (abandoned), Wolf Creek (current population about 12), Carrot Creek (population about 20) and Niton Junction (population about 150) fell into a decline that continues today. In the 1950's, upgrading of Highway 16 caused a dramatic increase in private, commercial and industrial traffic. Today, the Yellowhead Route carries some of the heaviest traffic flow in Alberta. The Yellowhead Route has been officially declared as the second Trans-Canada Highway. In the 1970's a revitalized coal industry saw the Cardinal River Coal and Luscar Sterco mines launched in the area. The 1980's saw the development of Pelican Spruce Mills (now Weyerhaeuser Canada) and Sundance Forest Industries - two of Edson's major employers.

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Geography

The local geography is very much like that of central Russia: primarily taiga forest with sand hills and muskeg (the Canadian term for low-lying bog).

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Demographics

According to the 2001 census:

Population: 7,585 (7,399 in 1996); 8,365 (2005)
Land area: 29.54 km²
Median family income: $60,672
Average value of private dwelling: $112,334

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Employment & Industry

The main sources of income are resource based (coal, natural gas, lumber, and building products).

There have been substantial changes in Edson since the 2001 census. The increasing price of gas and oil has brought boom times to this town, with a commensurate increase in population (close to 9,000 as of late 2005), a higher median family income, and very high increases in private dwelling values.

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