Vulcan, Alberta
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The town of Vulcan is located midway between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge, in the southern part of Alberta, Canada. The population of the town is approximately 1,600, and the population of the county, which is also named Vulcan, is about 6,500. The area around Vulcan is used extensively for agricultural purposes, growing mostly wheat, canola, and barley.
The town would ordinarily be an unremarkable little settlement, no different from the thousands of other small towns dotting the prairies, if it were not for its name. Its name has brought the town a notoriety that has helped it become a major tourist attraction. In Star Trek, it is the name of the fictional homeworld of the alien Vulcans.
Capitalizing on this coincidence, the town of Vulcan has built a Star Trek–themed tourist station, a giant replica of the original starship Enterprise, and hosts the annual Star Trek convention Galaxyfest (formerly VulCon), which attracts hundreds of Star Trek fans from around the world. Also held annually are the Spock Days Rodeo, named after the most famous Vulcan character from Star Trek. The town has tried for many years, without success, to arrange a visit from Leonard Nimoy — the man who made Mr. Spock and Vulcans famous.
An air force training base, RCAF Station Vulcan, was located near the town during World War II. Many of the old hangars still exist and the runways can still be seen.