Stettler, Alberta

Stettler
Town
Town of Stettler
Main Street, Stettler
Nickname:  The Heart of Alberta
Stettler Show map of the County of Stettler Stettler Show map of Alberta
Coordinates: 52°19′25″N 112°43′09″W
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Central Alberta
Municipal district	County of Stettler No. 6
Incorporated[1]
• Village	June 30, 1906
• Town	November 23, 1906
Government [2]
• Mayor	Sean Nolls
• Governing body	Stettler Town Council
Area  (2021)[3]
• Land	13.19 km^2 (5.09 sq mi)
Elevation [4]	820 m (2,690 ft)
Population  (2021)[3][5]
• Total	5,695
• Density	431.9/km^2 (1,119/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span	T4K & T0C 2L0 to 2L2
Area code(s)	403, 587
Highways	Highway 12 Highway 56
Waterway	Redwillow Creek
Website	www.stettler.net

Stettler is a town in east-central Alberta, Canada that is surrounded by the County of Stettler No. 6.

History

Stettler was founded in 1905 and was named after Swiss immigrant Carl Stettler, who also founded a settlement east of the town at Blumenau, as well as being influential in the nearby community of Castor. He also served on the first Town Council of Stettler.

Geography

Climate

Stettler experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb).

Climate data for Stettler
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	10 (50)	15 (59)	20 (68)	29 (84)	33.5 (92.3)	33.5 (92.3)	34.5 (94.1)	36 (97)	35 (95)	29.5 (85.1)	21 (70)	14 (57)	36 (97)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−7.2 (19.0)	−3.7 (25.3)	2.3 (36.1)	11.4 (52.5)	17.3 (63.1)	20.8 (69.4)	23 (73)	22.5 (72.5)	17.5 (63.5)	11.4 (52.5)	0.1 (32.2)	−5.5 (22.1)	9.2 (48.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−12.6 (9.3)	−9.5 (14.9)	−3.3 (26.1)	4.7 (40.5)	10.4 (50.7)	14.3 (57.7)	16.4 (61.5)	15.5 (59.9)	10.7 (51.3)	4.8 (40.6)	−5 (23)	−10.6 (12.9)	3 (37)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−18.1 (−0.6)	−15.2 (4.6)	−8.8 (16.2)	−2 (28)	3.5 (38.3)	7.8 (46.0)	9.8 (49.6)	8.5 (47.3)	3.9 (39.0)	−1.8 (28.8)	−10 (14)	−15.6 (3.9)	−3.2 (26.2)
Record low °C (°F)	−45 (−49)	−42 (−44)	−32 (−26)	−27 (−17)	−8.5 (16.7)	−1.5 (29.3)	1 (34)	−3 (27)	−11 (12)	−25 (−13)	−34 (−29)	−45 (−49)	−45 (−49)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	21.5 (0.85)	13.8 (0.54)	21.4 (0.84)	23.3 (0.92)	54.5 (2.15)	87.1 (3.43)	88.3 (3.48)	64.2 (2.53)	50.9 (2.00)	20.7 (0.81)	17.4 (0.69)	18.1 (0.71)	481.1 (18.94)
Source: Environment Canada[6]

Demographics

Population history

Year	Pop.	±%
2001	5,125	—
2006	5,445	+6.2%
2011	5,748	+5.6%
2016	5,952	+3.5%
2021	5,695	−4.3%
Source: Statistics Canada [7][8][9][10]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Stettler had a population of 5,695 living in 2,384 of its 2,574 total private dwellings, a change of -4.3% from its 2016 population of 5,952. With a land area of 13.19 km² (5.09 sq mi), it had a population density of 431.8/km² (1,118.3/sq mi) in 2021.^[3]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Stettler recorded a population of 5,952 living in 2,415 of its 2,607 total private dwellings, a 3.5% change from its 2011 population of 5,748. With a land area of 13.14 km² (5.07 sq mi), it had a population density of 453.0/km² (1,173.2/sq mi) in 2016.^[10]

The population of the Town of Stettler according to its 2008 municipal census is 5,843.^[11]

The median household income in 2005 for Stettler was $56,201, which is below the Alberta provincial average of $63,988.^[12]

Attractions

Alberta Prairie Railway, engine 41

Stettler, circa 1900

Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions is in Stettler, offering rail tours on a line from Stettler to Big Valley, a 35 km (22 mi), one-hour trip.

In addition, Stettler has a historic Parrish & Heimbecker grain elevator overlooking the railway tracks. One of the last elevators in Alberta and the only survivor of the three elevators that previously operated in Stettler. It operates as a museum and also houses a 1887 Heeber and Son's Little Giant threshing machine, a 1912 International Harvester hit-and-miss engine called the Beast and a 1940s Ford tractor called Mickey Mouse. All run (including the elevator's "leg") and in 2016 the Little Giant travelled to Winnipeg and joined more than 150 other threshing machines that claimed a Guinness World Records record for the most threshing machines operating simultaneously.^[13] The Little Giant had the distinction of being the oldest one there and possibly may be one of the oldest still working threshing machines.

There is also a county museum featuring the original town train station which was moved and other historic buildings.

The Jewel Theatre was built in 1952. The movie theatre was renovated in 2021 to become a 200-seat theatre.^{[citation needed]}

Government

As of 2022, the mayor is Sean Nolls, and the councillors are Cheryl Barros, Kurt Baker, Travis Randell, Gord Lawlor, Scott Pfeiffer, and Wayne Smith.^[2]

Education

The town has two schools in the Clearview Public Schools school district: Stettler Elementary School, and William E. Hay Stettler Secondary Campus.^[14]

Christ King Catholic School is part of the East Central Catholic School Division.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people

• Kenn Borek — founder of Kenn Borek Air
• Robert Raymond Cook — "last man to be hanged in Alberta" after being convicted of the 1959 murder of his family
• Bob Falkenberg — retired professional hockey player
• Marie Jean Laing — Canadian politician, NDP MLA (1986–1993)
• Brian Ogilvie — retired professional hockey player
• Chester Reynolds — Social Credit Party politician in the Alberta provincial government and grandfather to actor Ryan Reynolds

See also

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta

References

1. "Location and History Profile: Town of Stettler" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 597. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
2. "Town Council Contacts". Town of Stettler. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
3. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
4. "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 9, 2013.
5. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
6. Environment Canada—[1]. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
7. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
8. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. January 6, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
9. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
10. "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.
11. Alberta Municipal Affairs (September 15, 2009). "Alberta 2009 Official Population List" (PDF). Retrieved September 14, 2010.
12. "Stettler, Alberta – Detailed City Profile". Retrieved October 9, 2009.
13. "Most threshing machines operating simultaneously". Guinness World Records. August 11, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
14. Map of Schools (Map). Clearview Public Schools. Retrieved December 8, 2022.

External links

• Official website