Castor, Alberta
Castor is a town in Alberta, Canada. It is located at the intersection of Highway 12 and Highway 861, approximately 143 km (89 mi) east of the City of Red Deer. It has an elevation 816 m (2,677 ft).
Castor | |
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Town | |
Town of Castor | |
Welcome sign in Castor | |
Castor Location of Castor in Alberta | |
Coordinates: 52°13′12″N 111°54′34″W | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Alberta |
Region | Central Alberta |
Census division | 7 |
Municipal district | County of Paintearth No. 18 |
Incorporated[1] | |
• Village | November 26, 1909 |
• Town | June 27, 1910 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Richard Elhard |
• Governing body | Castor Town Council |
• MP | Damien Kurek |
• MLA | Nate Horner |
Area (2016)[3] | |
• Land | 2.63 km2 (1.02 sq mi) |
Elevation | 816 m (2,677 ft) |
Population (2016)[3] | |
• Total | 929 |
• Density | 352.6/km2 (913/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
Postal code span | T0C 0X0 |
Area code(s) | 403, 587 |
Highways | Highway 12 Highway 36 |
Waterways | Battle River Sullivan Lake |
Website | Official website |
Castor is French (also Latin) for beaver.[5] The town is known for its duck and geese migration in the fall since its territory includes many stopping points well frequented by migrating waterfowl.
History
Castor was incorporated on July 13, 1910.
Demographics
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Castor recorded a population of 929 living in 419 of its 448 total private dwellings, a -0.3% change from its 2011 population of 932. With a land area of 2.63 km2 (1.02 sq mi), it had a population density of 353.2/km2 (914.9/sq mi) in 2016.[3]
In the 2011 Census, the Town of Castor had a population of 932 living in 417 of its 456 total dwellings, a 0.1% change from its 2006 population of 931. With a land area of 2.72 km2 (1.05 sq mi), it had a population density of 342.6/km2 (887.5/sq mi) in 2011.[6]
Economy
The town's main industries are agriculture, mining and oil and gas services.
Infrastructure
Castor is home to the Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital.[7]
Education
The Town of Castor has two schools, one Public named Gus Wetter School and one Catholic named Theresetta Catholic School. A source of humour for those familiar with Castor is the name of Gus Wetter's school men's sports teams: The Castor Raiders.
Media
The local newspaper is the Castor Advance covering news events occurring in Castor as well as neighbouring communities.
Literature
W. O. Mitchell was a teacher in Castor when he wrote Who Has Seen the Wind.
Notable people
- Darcy Tucker, former professional hockey player
References
- "Location and History Profile: Town of Castor" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 134. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
- Town of Castor. "Government Services". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
- "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- Harper, Collins. "Castor_Beaver". Translation. Harper Collins. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- "Health Services". Town of Castor. Archived from the original on 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2012-10-13.