Hinton, Alberta
| Hinton | |||
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| — Town — | |||
| Town of Hinton | |||
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| Motto: Gateway to the Rockies | |||
 Hinton
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| Coordinates: 53°24′41″N 117°33′50″W / 53.41139°N 117.56389°WCoordinates: 53°24′41″N 117°33′50″W / 53.41139°N 117.56389°W | |||
| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  Alberta |
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| Region | Central Alberta | ||
| Census division | 14 | ||
| County | Yellowhead | ||
| Incorporated | 1928 | ||
| Government[1][2] | |||
| • Mayor | vacant | ||
| • Governing body |
Hinton Town Council
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| • Manager | Bernie Kreiner | ||
| • MP | Rob Merrifield (Cons - Yellowhead) | ||
| • MLA | Robin Campbell (PC - West Yellowhead) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 25.76 km2 (9.9 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1,003 m (3,291 ft) | ||
| Population (2006)[3] | |||
| • Total | 9,738 | ||
| • Density | 378.0/km2 (979/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | MST (UTC−7) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC−6) | ||
| Postal code span | T7V | ||
| Area code(s) | +1-780 | ||
| Website | Town of Hinton | ||
Hinton is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada.
It is located in Yellowhead County, 81 kilometres (50 mi) northeast of Jasper and about 284 kilometres (176 mi) west of Alberta's capital city, Edmonton, at the intersection of Yellowhead and Bighorn Highway, in the Athabasca River valley.
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[edit] History
The Town of Hinton was named for William D. Hinton, Vice President and General Manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. 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 while the rest of the group travelled to Lac Ste. Anne to find medical aid for the smallpox epidemic which was ravaging the indigenous 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 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 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.
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.[4] Shortly thereafter, a recession 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, and the two communities amalgamated on April 1, 1957, to form the present Town of Hinton.[5]
In 1986, 23 people were killed in the Hinton train collision, Canada's most lethal rail disaster since 1947.[6]
[edit] Demographics
The population of the Town of Hinton according to its 2009 municipal census is 9,825.[7] The census originally counted 9,812 people within the town limits[8] 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 (9.95 sq mi)
- Population change (2001–2006): 3.5%
- Source: Statistics Canada 2006 Census'.[9]
[edit] Public transit
Hinton Transit 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.
As a flag stop Via Rail's The Canadian calls at the Hinton CN railway station three times per week, in each direction.
[edit] Notable residents
- Bob Nystrom, professional ice hockey player
- Dave Scatchard, professional ice hockey player
- Glenn Taylor, leader of the Alberta Party, former mayor
[edit] 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 areas for expeditions in the Willmore Wilderness Park, the other being Grande Cache.
Hinton is also home to the Wild Mountain Music Fest, a weekend long show hosted by the Entrance Ranch.
[edit] Media
- Newspapers
Two weekly newspapers are produced in Hinton; the Hinton Parklander, owned by Sunmedia, and the Hinton Voice, a weekly independent newspaper that started up in June 2009.
- Radio
- CBXI-FM 88.1 CBC Radio One
- CFXH-FM 97.5 Newcap Broadcasting
- CHFA-FM-4 100.7 Première Chaîne
- CKUA-FM-7 102.5 CKUA Radio Network
[edit] Education
- Grande Yellowhead Regional Division No. 35
- Crescent Valley Elementary School (K-7)
- Harry Collinge High School (8-12 English, French)
- Mountain View Elementary School (K-7 English, French)
- Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 2
[edit] Sister town
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2011) |
Hinton has had a partnership with the town of Wanouchi, Gifu, 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 visit Wanouchi and live with local families.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. January 6, 2012. http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/mc_municipal_officials_search.cfm. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ Kreiner, Bernie (January 6, 2012). "Hinton Mayor Glenn Taylor Resigns". Town of Hinton. http://www.hinton.ca/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=231. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Hinton - Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4814019&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Hinton&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4814019. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- ^ A History of Hinton
- ^ Province of Alberta (1957-03-27). "Order in Council (O.C.) 494-57, New Town Established (Amalgamation of Hinton and Drinnan)". http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/TOWN/0151/Hinton_Gaz_OC_494_57_1957_No13.pdf. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Hinton Train Collision". Town of Hinton. http://www.hinton.ca/index.aspx?NID=148. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2009-09-15). "Alberta 2009 Official Population List". http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/documents/LGS/2009pop.pdf. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
- ^ "Hinton's Population is Up!". Town of Hinton. 2009-07-25. http://www.town.hinton.ab.ca/files/%7B2BE8B17D-FB27-4A96-BEA4-384D5BA14D8C%7D2009%2007%2015%20Census%20News%20Release.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
- ^ Hinton Community Profile - Statistics Canada. 2006. 2006 Community Profiles. Released March 13, 2007. Last modified: 2007-03-13. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 92-591-XWE
[edit] External links
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Grande Cache | Grande Prairie | Fox Creek | |
| Jasper National Park |  |
Edson | ||
 Hinton  |
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| Jasper | Cadomin | Nordegg |
