Conklin, Alberta

Conklin is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the Regional Municipality (R.M.) of Wood Buffalo.[2] It is located on Highway 881 between Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche. It lies near the west end of Christina Lake at an elevation of 575 metres (1,886 ft), and was named for John Conklin, a railroad employee.[3]

Conklin
Hamlet
Location of Conklin in Alberta
Coordinates: 55.6311°N 111.0789°W / 55.6311; -111.0789
Country Canada
Province Alberta
Census divisionNo. 16
Specialized municipalityR.M. of Wood Buffalo
Government
 • TypeUnincorporated
 • MayorDon Scott
 • Governing body
Area
 • Land16.32 km2 (6.30 sq mi)
Elevation
575 m (1,886 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total185
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)

The hamlet is located in census division No. 16 and in the federal riding of Fort McMurray-Athabasca.

Demographics

As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Conklin recorded a population of 185 living in 71 of its 112 total private dwellings, a change of -12.3% from its 2011 population of 211. With a land area of 16.32 km2 (6.30 sq mi), it had a population density of 11.3/km2 (29.4/sq mi) in 2016.[1]

The population of Conklin in 2012 was 318 according to a municipal census conducted by the R.M of Wood Buffalo.[4]

As a designated place in the 2011 Census, Conklin had a population of 211 living in 66 of its 86 total dwellings, a 6% change from its 2006 population of 199. With a land area of 15.35 km2 (5.93 sq mi), it had a population density of 13.75/km2 (35.60/sq mi) in 2011.[5]

History

The hamlet of Conklin was named for John Conklin, a railroad employee.[3] It was originally situated at the extreme northwestern end of Christina Lake, adjacent to its outlet at the Jackfish River. When the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway (which eventually became part of the Northern Alberta Railway and later the Athabasca Northern Railway)[6] reached Conklin in 1921, the town was relocated alongside the railway tracks.[7]

Conklin was an important centre for the local fur trade from 1940 to 1960. Mink pelts from several mink farms in the area were transferred by canoe and dogsled to the railway siding at Conklin for shipment to markets.[7]

From 1940 to 1960 there was heavy commercial fishing in Christina Lake, and a fish processing plant was located at the outlet to the Jackfish River.[7]

Conklin lies within the Athabasca Oil Sands region, and Cenovus Energy has been operating its Christina Lake project in the area since 2000. The Christina Lake project is a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) project that recovers bitumen from the McMurray Formation, which lies at a depth of 375 m (1,230 ft) at that location.[8]

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 2010-07-10.
  3. Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 37.
  4. "Municipal Census 2012: Count Yourself In!" (PDF). Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. p. 24. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  5. "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.
  6. "Atlas of Alberta Railways: The Alberta and Great Waterways Railway". University of Alberta. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  7. Integrated Resource Plan - Christina Lake Management Plan (PDF) (Report). Land Use Planning. SRD Government of Alberta. 1991. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  8. "Operations - Oil - Christina Lake". Cenovus Energy. Archived from the original on 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
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