Stony Plain, Alberta

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Stony Plain
—  Town  —
Town of Stony Plain

Logo
Nickname(s): The Town with the Painted Past
Stony Plain is located in Alberta
Stony Plain
Location of Stony Plain in Alberta
Coordinates: 53°31′48″N 114°00′23″W / 53.53°N 114.00639°W / 53.53; -114.00639Coordinates: 53°31′48″N 114°00′23″W / 53.53°N 114.00639°W / 53.53; -114.00639
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Edmonton Region
Census division 11
County Parkland
Village 1907
Town December 10, 1908
Government[1]
 • Mayor Ken Lemke
 • Governing body
 • Manager Tom Goulden
 • MLA
Area
 • Total 35.61 km2 (13.7 sq mi)
Elevation 705 m (2,313 ft)
Population (2006)[2]
 • Total 12,363
 • Density 347.2/km2 (899.2/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
Area code(s) 780, 587
Highways Highway 16
Highway 779
Website Town of Stony Plain

Stony Plain is a large town in rural Alberta, Canada, just west of Edmonton.

Stony Plain is a rapidly growing town with strong historical roots. It is located west of Spruce Grove and surrounded by Parkland County. The town is governed by one mayor and six councillors. The region is dominated by agricultural and other resource-based industry. The proximity of Stony Plain to Edmonton makes it attractive for commuters—servicing a surrounding population of over 60,000 people. Around the town, there are many colourful murals that depict important figures and events of local history. These murals have earned it the nickname "The Town with the Painted Past." The town was originally known as Dog Rump Creek.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

The name of the town is known to come from two possible origins. The first is that the Stoney people camped in the area historically. The seconded possibility is Dr. James Hector, a geologist on the Palliser Expedition noticed boulders scattered across the area. The official name for the settlement was adopted in 1892.[4]

[edit] Demographics

Census History
[citation needed]
Year Population
1911 505
1941 566
1951 878
1961 1,311
1971 1,770
1981 4,839
1991 7,226
2001 9,589
2006 12,363
2010 14,177

The population of the Town of Stony Plain according to its 2010 municipal census is 14,177.[5][6]

In 2006, Stony Plain had a population of 12,363 living in 4,808 dwellings, a 28.5% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 35.61 km2 (13.75 sq mi) and a population density of 347.2 /km2 (899 /sq mi).[2]

[edit] Services and attractions

Stony Plain is a full-service town. Parkland School Division operates one K-6 school, three K-9 schools, one high school, and an outreach centre within the town.[7] Evergreen Catholic School division operates one K-8 school, and there are a variety of small private schools and home schooling organizations.[8] NorQuest College also operates a small satellite campus, offering a variety of adult academic upgrading programs.[9] Stony Plain is host to the newly constructed WestView Health Centre (a 68-bed public hospital), an RCMP detachment, and a Provincial Court. The Town of Stony Plain jointly owns and operates the new TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre sports complex. The town is home to several important civic and cultural institutions such as the Stony Plain Public Library, the Multicultural Heritage Centre, and the Pioneer Museum. The town has three major parks (Shikaoi, Whispering Waters, and Rotary), a skate park, a BMX park, and a green path system running through the middle of the town. There are eight churches in Stony Plain and seven more in the surrounding area.

The town has a vibrant civic life. It is home to the Multicultural Heritage Centre, the Parkland Potters Guild & Crooked Pot Gallery, and active service organizations such as the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, and the Royal Canadian Legion.

[edit] Festivals and events

Stony Plain celebrates Farmers' Days in the first week of June each year, complete with the Farmers' Days Parade, the Kinsmen rodeo, a pancake breakfast, and fair grounds. The town also plays host to the Great White North Triathlon[10] in the first week of July. In the summer, Stony Plain hosts two major festivals. The first is the Blueberry Bluegrass and Country Music Festival,[11] which is held in early August and is the largest bluegrass event in western Canada. The second is the Cowboy Poetry and Country Music Gathering[12] held in late August. In December, the town sets up a large Christmas tree on Main Street. The tree remains lit throughout the Christmas season. To celebrate New Year’s Eve, the town holds its Family Fest event at the Rotary Park. Family Fest offers skating on the frozen pond, hot chocolate, and fireworks.

[edit] Recent developments

As of April 15, 2006, the Town of Stony Plain added an Organicart compost collection program and a blue bag recycling program to the services it currently offers to residents. The Town also recently announced the 2006 Mural Project, which is a plan to add two murals in the summer of 2006. The mural artists will be selected through open competition.

[edit] Climate

Climate data for Stony Plain
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.5
(56.3)
14.5
(58.1)
17.8
(64.0)
28.9
(84.0)
31.5
(88.7)
33.3
(91.9)
32
(90)
35
(95)
33.9
(93.0)
29
(84)
19.4
(66.9)
17.5
(63.5)
35
(95)
Average high °C (°F) −7.3
(18.9)
−3.9
(25.0)
1.5
(34.7)
10.4
(50.7)
16.7
(62.1)
19.9
(67.8)
21.8
(71.2)
21
(70)
16
(61)
10.2
(50.4)
−0.6
(30.9)
−5.7
(21.7)
8.3
(46.9)
Average low °C (°F) −15.9
(3.4)
−12.9
(8.8)
−7.6
(18.3)
−0.5
(31.1)
5.1
(41.2)
9.1
(48.4)
11.2
(52.2)
10.3
(50.5)
5.3
(41.5)
0.3
(32.5)
−8.1
(17.4)
−13.6
(7.5)
−1.5
(29.3)
Record low °C (°F) −40
(−40)
−39
(−38)
−32.2
(−26.0)
−24
(−11)
−6
(21)
0
(32)
2.5
(36.5)
−0.6
(30.9)
−6.7
(19.9)
−25.5
(−13.9)
−36.5
(−33.7)
−40
(−40)
−40
(−40)
Precipitation mm (inches) 24.1
(0.949)
18.3
(0.72)
19.3
(0.76)
26.6
(1.047)
54
(2.13)
98.1
(3.862)
106.2
(4.181)
73.6
(2.898)
47.9
(1.886)
22.7
(0.894)
21.8
(0.858)
23.5
(0.925)
536
(21.1)
Source: Environment Canada[13]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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