Hinton, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Hinton is a town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in west-central Alberta
Central Alberta
Central Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Central Alberta is the most densely populated rural area in the province...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
It is located in Yellowhead County
Yellowhead County, Alberta
Yellowhead County is a municipal district in west central Alberta, Canada.It is the only county in Alberta Division 14, and shares the boundaries with this census division.-History:*1994: Established as a Municipal District of Yellowhead No...
, 81 kilometres (50.3 mi) northeast of Jasper
Jasper, Alberta
Jasper is a specialized municipality in western Alberta, Canada. It is the commercial centre of Jasper National Park, located in the Canadian Rockies in the Athabasca River valley....
and about 284 kilometres (176.5 mi) west of Alberta's capital city, Edmonton, at the intersection of Yellowhead and Bighorn Highway, in the Athabasca River
Athabasca River
The Athabasca River originates from the Columbia Glacier of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada...
valley.
History
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was a historical Canadian railway.A wholly owned subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway , the GTPR was constructed by GTR using loans provided by the Government of Canada. The company was formed in 1903 with a mandate to build west from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the...
. The community was officially recognized in 1928.
The exact location of the Town of Hinton has changed thirteen times in its history, its sites scattered along a line some twelve kilometres (7.5 mi) in length. The original location was along Hardisty Creek, where an aboriginal group from the Jasper area had left members stricken with smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
while the rest of the group travelled to Lac Ste. Anne
Lac Ste. Anne County, Alberta
Lac Ste. Anne County is a municipal district in central Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 13, north west of Edmonton. Highway 43 stretches across this county. The municipal seat is located in the Hamlet of Sangudo....
to find medical aid for the smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
epidemic which was ravaging the indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
population in Alberta. The area was thus dubbed Cache Picote (Smallpox Camp) in 1870.
Jack Gregg established a trading post at Prairie Creek in 1888 to serve travellers along the Jasper trail. The creek is now known as Muskuta Creek after an incorrect interpretation of the Cree
Cree language
Cree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...
name by white settlers. The construction of the railroad saw the establishment of a construction camp at Prairie Creek in 1908. The Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
also established a station called Bliss, 8 km from Prairie Creek, in 1914. In 1915, Dalehurst became the postal station for Hinton. Entrance, another important centre to Hinton, served as its communications centre. Entrance was so named due to its location at the entrance to Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning 10,878 km² . It is located in the province of Alberta, north of Banff National Park and west of the City of Edmonton. The park includes the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and...
.
The Canadian Northern Railway became an aggregating force as settlements grew around the operations of this company. The company, however, abandoned its track in 1926.
The population of Hinton experienced a boom during the 1930s when American entrepreneur Frank Seabolt and two partners opened the Hinton coal mine in 1931. Shortly thereafter, a recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
caused the population to dwindle to fewer than 100 people, but the town rebounded in 1955 with the opening of a pulp mill. The mill brought rapid construction to Hinton and the neighbouring Village of Drinnan
Drinnan, Alberta
Drinnan is a former village in western Alberta, Canada. It was incorporated as a village on January 1, 1957, but amalgamated with Hinton three months later on April 1, 1957....
, and the two communities amalgamated on April 1, 1957, to form the present Town of Hinton.
In 1986, 23 people were killed in the Hinton train collision
Hinton train collision
The Hinton train collision was a railway accident that occurred on February 8, 1986. Twenty-three people were killed in a collision between a Canadian National Railway freight train and a Via Rail passenger train. It was the most lethal Canadian rail disaster since the Dugald accident of 1947...
, Canada's most lethal rail disaster since 1947.
Demographics
The population of the Town of Hinton according to its 2009 municipal census is 9,825. The census originally counted 9,812 people within the town limits but an additional 13 were added when a long-standing annexation application was approved shortly after the census was conducted.According to the 2006 census:
- Population: 9,738 ; 9,405 (2001)
- Land area: 25.76 square kilometres (9.9 sq mi)
- Population change (2001–2006): 3.5%
- Source: Statistics CanadaStatistics CanadaStatistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
2006 Census'.
Public transit
Hinton TransitHinton Transit
Hinton Transit is the public transportation service in the town of Hinton in Alberta, Canada, located about west of Edmonton along Highway 16. Bus service operates on Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 8:00pm and on Saturday from 8:00am to 7:00pm...
is the municipal public transportation service, operated under contract by First Canada, which is responsible for providing the vehicles, drivers and maintenance. The bus service operates on Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 8:00pm and on Saturday from 8:00am to 7:00pm. No service is provided on Sunday or Statutory Holiday
Public holidays in Canada
Public holidays in Canada known as "statutory holidays," "stats" or "stat holidays" are legislated at the national, provincial and territorial levels...
.
As a flag stop Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
's The Canadian
The Canadian
The Canadian is a Canadian transcontinental passenger train originally operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway between 1955 and 1978. It is currently operated as an Inter-city rail service by Via Rail Canada with service between Union Station in Toronto, Ontario and Pacific Central Station in...
calls at the Hinton CN railway station three times per week, in each direction.
Notable residents
- Dave ScatchardDave ScatchardDave Scatchard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues...
played with the Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and Phoenix CoyotesPhoenix CoyotesThe Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
. - Bob NystromBob NyströmRobert Thore Nystrom is a retired professional ice hockey right winger. He played for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League from 1972 to 1986. He is best remembered as having scored the winning goal at the 7:11 mark of overtime to give the New York Islanders the 1980 Stanley Cup...
who played for the New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
from 1973-1986 winning 4 Stanley Cups and scoring 4 playoff overtime winning goals, including the Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
clinching goal in 1980 against the Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in Game 6 played all his minor hockey in Hinton and still considers it his hometown.
Recreation
Hinton has many activities including:- Skiing
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Slo-Pitch
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Golf
- Curling
- Hockey
- Minor Soccer
- Snowboarding
- Swimming
- Hunting
- Natural Luge
- Quadding
- Dirt Biking
- Mountain Biking (World Class Bike Park)
Hinton is one of two staging area
Staging area
A staging area is a location where organisms, people, vehicles, equipment or material are assembled before use.- In construction :...
s for expeditions in the Willmore Wilderness Park
Willmore Wilderness Park
Willmore Wilderness Park, located in Alberta, Canada, is a 4,600 square kilometre wilderness area adjacent to the world famous Jasper National Park...
, the other being Grande Cache
Grande Cache, Alberta
Grande Cache is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada, located northwest of Hinton and west of Edmonton. It is located in the Municipal District of Greenview, between Highway 40 and the Smoky River, at the northern border of Alberta's Rockies...
.
Hinton is also home to the Wild Mountain Music Fest, a weekend long show hosted by the Entrance Ranch.
Media
NewspapersTwo weekly newspapers are produced in Hinton; the Hinton Parklander
Hinton Parklander
The Hinton Parklander is a weekly newspaper serving the Hinton, Alberta area....
, owned by Sunmedia, and the Hinton Voice, a weekly independent newspaper that started up in June 2009.
Radio
- CBXI-FM 88.1 CBC Radio OneCBC Radio OneCBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
- CFXH-FM 97.5 Newcap BroadcastingNewcap BroadcastingNewfoundland Capital Corporation Limited is a major Canadian broadcasting company, majority-owned by Harold R. Steele. Newfoundland Capital is the parent company of Newcap Inc. . It is currently the number two private-sector radio broadcaster in Canada, just behind Astral Media...
- CHFA-FM-4CHFA (AM)CHFA is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts the programming of Radio-Canada's Première Chaîne network in Edmonton, Alberta.The station, which broadcasts on 680 AM, was launched in 1949 by a local non-profit consortium to bring French radio service to Edmonton, and was directly acquired by...
100.7 Première Chaîne - CKUA-FM-7 102.5 CKUA Radio Network
Education
Grande Yellowhead Regional Division No. 35- Crescent Valley Elementary School (K-7)
- Harry Collinge High SchoolHarry Collinge High SchoolHarry Collinge High School is a public high school located in Hinton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1957 as Hardisty School, it was renamed in 1969 as Harry Collinge High School after Harry Collinge, the first manager of North Western Pulp and Power ....
(8-12 English, French) - Mountain View Elementary School (K-7 English, French)
Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 2
- St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School (K-4)
- Gerard Redmond Community Catholic SchoolGerard Redmond Community Catholic SchoolGerard Redmond Community Catholic School was named after Father Gerard Redmond who presided over Our Lady of the Foothills Parish from 1964 - 1970 and again from 1980 -1983. Fr. Redmond was instrumental in the initial development of a Catholic school system here in Hinton, Alberta beginning...
(5-12)
Sister town
Hinton has had a partnership with the town of Wanouchi, GifuWanouchi, Gifu
is a small town located in Anpachi District, Gifu, Japan.As of July 2011, the town has an estimated population of 9,976. The total area is 22.36 km².- History :...
, Japan since 1998. This partnership is primarily for educational and cultural exchange. Every year, students from Wanouchi Junior High School travel to Hinton to learn about Canadian life and culture while living with a host family. Every two years, students from Hinton's Harry Collinge High School
Harry Collinge High School
Harry Collinge High School is a public high school located in Hinton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1957 as Hardisty School, it was renamed in 1969 as Harry Collinge High School after Harry Collinge, the first manager of North Western Pulp and Power ....
visit Wanouchi and live with local families.
External links
- Town of Hinton (Official website)