Okotoks
Okotoks | |
---|---|
Town | |
Town of Okotoks | |
Calgary Region | |
Census division | 6 |
Municipal district | Foothills County |
Incorporated[2] | |
• Village | 25 October 1899 |
• Town | 1 June 1904 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Tanya Thorn |
• Governing body | Okotoks Town Council
|
• CAO | Elaine Vincent |
• Highway 549 | |
Waterway | Sheep River |
Website | Official website |
Okotoks (
History
The town's name is derived from "ohkotok", the
Before European settlement, journeying
In the early 1880s, the site of the future town became a river crossing location on the original freight wagon route from
In 1879, the area saw the killing of the last buffalo. Government leasing of land for $0.01/acre ($0.025/ha) or $2.47/km2 ($6.4/sq mi) began in 1880. This created a major change in the region. The first settlers arrived in 1882.[16]
A community grew around a sawmill that was established in 1891, and it would grow in size. The last stagecoach stopped in Okotoks in 1891 when rail service between Calgary and Fort Macleod replaced horse-drawn travel.
By 1897 the community name had changed three times, first from Sheep Creek, to Dewdney after
In 2007, the energy efficient Drake Landing Solar Community was established in Okotoks.[19]
Flooding
Okotoks has experienced three major flooding events, in 1995, 2005 and 2013.[20][21][22] The 2005 event, which affected much of southern Alberta, flooded virtually all lands adjacent to the Sheep River, including the central business district, were at least briefly flooded, with the most serious damage being inflicted to riverside pathways, parks and campgrounds.[21] Okotoks was also affected by the 2013 Alberta floods.[22]
Heritage conservation
Numerous old buildings have been restored, and one house was even resited[23] blocks away to avoid destruction by the widening of the highway through the townsite.
Geography
Land annexation
Effective 1 July 2017 the Government of Alberta approved the annexation of approximately 1,950 ha (4,800 acres) of land. Okotoks and the
Water conservation
Although the
Climate
Okotoks experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with generally warm summers and long, cold winters. Rainfall is usually limited to the summer, with most of it falling between the months of May and September.
Climate data for Okotoks (1981−2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
23.0 (73.4) |
25.0 (77.0) |
25.5 (77.9) |
31.5 (88.7) |
32.5 (90.5) |
34.5 (94.1) |
34.0 (93.2) |
33.5 (92.3) |
27.5 (81.5) |
23.0 (73.4) |
18.0 (64.4) |
34.5 (94.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.3 (27.9) |
1.0 (33.8) |
4.9 (40.8) |
11.7 (53.1) |
16.8 (62.2) |
20.2 (68.4) |
24.3 (75.7) |
23.7 (74.7) |
18.9 (66.0) |
11.5 (52.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
11.1 (52.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −8.1 (17.4) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
5.0 (41.0) |
9.8 (49.6) |
13.7 (56.7) |
17.0 (62.6) |
16.2 (61.2) |
11.5 (52.7) |
5.0 (41.0) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
4.6 (40.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −13.8 (7.2) |
−10.9 (12.4) |
−7.7 (18.1) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
2.8 (37.0) |
7.1 (44.8) |
9.6 (49.3) |
8.6 (47.5) |
4.1 (39.4) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
Record low °C (°F) | −39.0 (−38.2) |
−36.0 (−32.8) |
−32.0 (−25.6) |
−20.5 (−4.9) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−9.0 (15.8) |
−26.0 (−14.8) |
−32.5 (−26.5) |
−39.0 (−38.2) |
−39.0 (−38.2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 14.8 (0.58) |
17.3 (0.68) |
28.6 (1.13) |
37.9 (1.49) |
70.4 (2.77) |
123.6 (4.87) |
54.4 (2.14) |
61.7 (2.43) |
45.8 (1.80) |
25.3 (1.00) |
21.9 (0.86) |
12.9 (0.51) |
514.5 (20.26) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.3 (0.01) |
0.1 (0.00) |
1.6 (0.06) |
16.0 (0.63) |
59.1 (2.33) |
123.6 (4.87) |
54.4 (2.14) |
61.3 (2.41) |
43.4 (1.71) |
10.1 (0.40) |
2.3 (0.09) |
0.4 (0.02) |
372.6 (14.67) |
Average snowfall cm (inches) | 14.5 (5.7) |
17.2 (6.8) |
26.9 (10.6) |
21.9 (8.6) |
11.3 (4.4) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (0.2) |
2.5 (1.0) |
15.2 (6.0) |
19.6 (7.7) |
12.4 (4.9) |
141.9 (55.9) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 6.7 | 6.5 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 12.9 | 14.5 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 9.0 | 7.8 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 110.7 |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 5.7 | 11.8 | 14.5 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 8.6 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 70.4 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 8.7 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 47.6 |
Source: Environment Canada[27]
|
Neighbourhoods
Neighbourhoods of Okotoks are:[28][29][30][31][32]
- Air Ranch
- Central Heights
- Cimarron
- Cornerstone
- Crystal Shores
- Crystal Ridge
- D'Arcy
- Downey Ridge
- Drake Landing Solar Community
- Green Haven Estates
- Hunter's Glen
- Mountainview
- Olde Towne
- Rosemont
- Ranchers Rise
- Sandstone
- Sheep River Ridge
- Skunk Hollow
- Suntree
- Tower Hill
- Wedderburn
- Westmount
- Westridge
- Woodhaven
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1901 | 245 | — |
1906 | 508 | +107.3% |
2021 | 30,405 | +5.3% |
Source: Statistics Canada [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] [11][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54] |
In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Okotoks had a population of 30,405 living in 10,476 of its 10,750 total private dwellings, a change of 4.8% from its 2016 population of 29,016. With a land area of 38.55 km2 (14.88 sq mi), it had a population density of 788.7/km2 (2,042.8/sq mi) in 2021.[4]
In the
The population of the Town of Okotoks according to its
Ethnicity
Almost 3% of Okotoks residents identified themselves as aboriginal at the time of the 2006 census.[57]
Panethnic group | 2021[58] | 2016[59] | 2011[60] | 2006[61] | 2001[62] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
European[a] | 26,130 | 87.04% | 25,330 | 88.81% | 22,490 | 92.08% | 16,030 | 93.52% | 11,135 | 95.7% |
Indigenous | 1,605 | 5.35% | 1,135 | 3.98% | 1,065 | 4.36% | 460 | 2.68% | 270 | 2.32% |
Southeast Asian[b] | 990 | 3.3% | 840 | 2.95% | 240 | 0.98% | 110 | 0.64% | 40 | 0.34% |
South Asian | 335 | 1.12% | 335 | 1.17% | 215 | 0.88% | 145 | 0.85% | 25 | 0.21% |
African
|
260 | 0.87% | 240 | 0.84% | 165 | 0.68% | 85 | 0.5% | 80 | 0.69% |
East Asian[c] | 250 | 0.83% | 370 | 1.3% | 170 | 0.7% | 210 | 1.23% | 80 | 0.69% |
Latin American | 250 | 0.83% | 145 | 0.51% | 65 | 0.27% | 55 | 0.32% | 0 | 0% |
Middle Eastern[d] | 65 | 0.22% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.09% |
Other/multiracial[e] | 150 | 0.5% | 140 | 0.49% | 20 | 0.08% | 35 | 0.2% | 0 | 0% |
Total responses | 30,020 | 98.73% | 28,520 | 98.29% | 24,425 | 99.65% | 17,140 | 99.97% | 11,635 | 99.54% |
Total population | 30,405 | 100% | 29,016 | 100% | 24,511 | 100% | 17,145 | 100% | 11,689 | 100% |
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses |
Language
According to the 2006 census, about 93% of residents identified English as their first language while 1.4% identified French and 1.0% identified German as their first language learned. The next most common languages were Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, Korean, and Slovak.[63]
Economy
The sawmill that was established by John Lineham along the Sheep River in 1891 operated for 25 years and was a major part of the local economy. At one time it employed 135 people, producing an average of 9,100 m (30,000 ft) of lumber per day. The growth of the Canadian Pacific Railway created a demand for railway ties and the mill helped meet that demand. Logs were brought down from the west via the Sheep River. The mill has long since disappeared but one building (one of the oldest remaining in the township) still stands. It housed an award-winning (butter) dairy from the 1920s to the 1940s. It currently houses a law office and restaurant. In May 2015, the Old Creamery was severely damaged following a suspected arson attack. On 15 June 2015, the Town Council voted to demolish the building.[64]
In 1900, just west of Okotoks, four brick-making plants were opened. Many of the first brick buildings in Okotoks (of which a number still exist) were constructed using locally-made brick. The industry reached its peak in 1912, when twelve million bricks were manufactured. The outbreak of World War I caused the shutdown of “Sandstone” as it was known.
By 1906 the population had hit 1900, a figure that would not be reached again until 1977.
Oil was discovered west of Okotoks on 7 October 1913.
The Texas Gulf
Since 1974, Okotoks has been hosting a collector car auction in late May. It is the longest running collector car auction in Canada.[66]
Okotoks was one of the few communities its size with its own airport. A number of small air shows were held there over the years. It was the home of an aircraft charter company, flight school, and a
Transit
Okotoks Transit operates an on-demand bus service within the town boundaries.[67] The system began in 2019 with accessible vans instead of traditional buses.[68]
Media
- Western Wheel, with a local weekly newspaper, Great West Newspapers
Radio
- 100.9 FM — CKUV-FM (The Eagle 100.9), Golden West Broadcasting
See also
Notes
- ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
References
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- Alberta Municipal Affairs. 17 June 2016. p. 435. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- Alberta Municipal Affairs. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
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- ^ a b "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Okotoks [Population centre], Alberta". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ Town of Okotoks - Okotoks' Beginnings Retrieved 2012-02-10
- ^ "Pioneers' wagon route receives marker". Western Wheel. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Alberta Register of Historic Places - Macleod Trail Cultural Landscape". Retrieved 18 June 2024.
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- ^ Natural Resources Canada. "Unique Community a Model for a Greener, Healthier Canada". Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2008.
- ^ "Okotoks Life and Times". Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ a b "2005 Flood". Town of Okotoks. Archived from the original on 16 February 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2007.
- ^ a b "Town of Okotoks Floods Remediation and Mitigation Updates" (PDF). Town of Okotoks. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ Alberta Archives. Okotoks
- ^ Okotoks Annexation Retrieved 13 May 2018
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- ^ Mayor Bill McAlpine interviewed by Anna Maria Tremonti on the CBC Radio One radio show The Current, 9 January 2007
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- ^ "Christmas Eve Parade route". Town of Okotoks/Western Wheel Newspaper (2010-12-17). Retrieved 3 February 2012.
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- ^ "Okotoks". Aboriginal Identity (8), Sex (3) and Age Groups (12) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data. Statistics Canada. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
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- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Okotoks". Detailed Mother Tongue (186), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 and 2006 Censuses - 20% Sample Data. Statistics Canada. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ "Century-old barn to be demolished". Okotoks Western Wheel. 18 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- The Toronto Star. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "5 cool vehicles to watch at Canada's oldest collector car auction". Hagerty Media. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ "Map | Okotoks Transit". www.okotokstransit.ca. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "New Transit Bus in Okotoks". OkotoksOnline. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
Further reading
- Thomas, Lewis G. (October 1979). "Okotoks: From Trading Post to Suburb". Urban History Review. 8 (2): 3–22. ISSN 1918-5138.