Bezanson, Alberta

Bezanson is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the County of Grande Prairie No. 1.[2] It is located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Grande Prairie on Highway 43, west of the Smoky River.

Bezanson
Hamlet
Location of Bezanson in Alberta
Coordinates: 55.2286°N 118.3608°W / 55.2286; -118.3608
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionNorthern Alberta
Planning regionUpper Peace
Municipal districtGrande Prairie
Government
 • TypeUnincorporated
 • ReeveLeanne Beaupre
 • Governing body
Area
 • Land1.11 km2 (0.43 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total107
 • Density96.7/km2 (250/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6
Area code(s)780, 587, 825

History

Born near Halifax, Nova Scotia September 1, 1878, A. M. Bezanson (Ancel Maynard) had come to the Peace River Country in 1906. On returning to Edmonton he published a pamphlet, 'The Peace River Trail', in May 1907 in an effort to increase interest in the area. He settled near the junction of the Wapiti, Smoky, and Simonette rivers in 1908 and started a settlement there. Bezanson was established in 1910, when it was expected that the Grande Prairie-Grande Cache Railway would pass through the region. The settlement grew until 1914,[3] when it was found that the railway would pass to the north through Rycroft. The townsite was moved to be near the highway. A campsite and historical markers are at the original townsite 6 miles (9.7 km) to the southeast.

A ferry was opened in 1915 across the Smoky River. The first bridge over the river was built in 1949, near where the highway from Grande Prairie to Edmonton passed through the settlement. It was detoured in 2001, with the twinning of Highway 43 and the opening of the new Smoky River bridge.

Geography

The nearby Kleskun Hills are the northernmost badlands in Canada and contain one of the few unbroken areas of the original prairie.

Demographics

As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Bezanson recorded a population of 107 living in 50 of its 55 total private dwellings, a change of -11.6% from its 2011 population of 121. With a land area of 1.11 km2 (0.43 sq mi), it had a population density of 96.4/km2 (249.7/sq mi) in 2016.[1]

As a designated place in the 2011 Census, Bezanson had a population of 121 living in 57 of its 62 total dwellings, a -11.7% change from its 2006 population of 137. With a land area of 1.17 km2 (0.45 sq mi), it had a population density of 103.4/km2 (267.9/sq mi) in 2011.[4]

The population of Bezanson according to the County of Grande Prairie No. 1's 2006 municipal census is 155.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. Alberta Municipal Affairs (2010-04-01). "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
  3. Discover the Peace Country. "Bezason". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  4. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
  5. County of Grande Prairie No. 1. "Economic Profile" (PDF). Retrieved January 10, 2010.
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