Hinton, Alberta

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Hinton
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settlement_type = Town
motto = Gateway to the Rockies


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dot_map_caption = Location of Hinton in Alberta
dot_x =35 |dot_y =137
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = AB
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Central Alberta
subdivision_type3 = Census division
subdivision_name3 = 14
subdivision_type4 = County
subdivision_name4 = Yellowhead |government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Glenn Taylor
leader_title1 = Governing body
leader_name1 = Hinton Town Council
leader_title2 = MP
leader_name2 = Rob Merrifield (Cons - Yellowhead)
leader_title3 = MLA
leader_name3 = Robin Campbell (PC - West Yellowhead)
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established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1928
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area_total_km2 = 25.76
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population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =Cite web| url= 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 | title= Hinton - Community Profile | author= Statistics Canada| authorlink= Statistics Canada| year= Census 2006 | accessdate= 2007-06-12]
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population_total = 9738
population_density_km2 = 378.0
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
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latd=53 |latm=24 |lats=41 |latNS=N
longd=117 |longm=33 |longs=50 |longEW=W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 1003
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postal_code_type = Postal code span
postal_code = T7V
area_code = +1-780
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website = [http://www.town.hinton.ab.ca Town of Hinton]
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Hinton is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada.

It is located in Yellowhead County, km to mi|81|spell=Commonwealth|precision=0|wiki=yes northeast of Jasper and about km to mi|284|spell=Commonwealth|precision=0| west of Alberta's capital city, Edmonton, at the intersection of Yellowhead and Bighorn Highway, in the Athabasca River valley.

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 [ [http://www.hintonhistory.com/StoryofHinton/storyhinton.html A History of Hinton] ] . 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 to the neighbouring village of Drinnan, and the two communities amalgamated in 1958 to form the present municipality of Hinton.

Demographics

According to the 2006 census:
* Population: 9,738 ; 9,405 (2001); 9,769 (2006 Municipal Census)
* Land area: km2 to mi2|25.76|percision=2
* Population change (2001-2006): 3.5%:"Source: Statistics Canada 2006 Census' [ [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=48&B1=All&Custom= 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] .

Recreation

Hinton has many activities including:
* Skiing
* Kayaking
* Canoeing
* Slo-Pitch
* Fishing
* Hiking
* Golf
* Curling
* Hockey
* Minor Soccer
* Snowboarding
* Swimming
* Hunting

Hinton is one of two staging areas for expeditions in the Willmore Wilderness Park, the other being Grande Cache.

Media

A weekly newspaper is printed in Hinton, the "Hinton Parklander". FM radio stations also serve the town.

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
* [http://www.sgces.ca/ St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School] (K-4)
* [http://grccs.ca/ Gerard Redmond Community Catholic School] (5-12)

References

External links

* [http://www.town.hinton.ab.ca/ Town of Hinton] (Official website)

Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre = Hinton
North =

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