- Source: Spirit River, Alberta
- Source: Spirit River (Alberta)
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- Spirit River, Alberta
- Spirit River (Alberta)
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- Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133
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Spirit River is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is approximately 78 km (48 mi) north of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 49 and Highway 731.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Spirit River had a population of 992 living in 445 of its 510 total private dwellings, a change of -0.3% from its 2016 population of 995. With a land area of 3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi), it had a population density of 319.0/km2 (826.1/sq mi) in 2021.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Spirit River recorded a population of 995 living in 442 of its 487 total private dwellings, a -2.9% change from its 2011 population of 1,025. With a land area of 3.14 km2 (1.21 sq mi), it had a population density of 316.9/km2 (820.7/sq mi) in 2016.
Economy
The community is largely agricultural, being located in the fertile Peace Country. It also features an active oil and gas industry.
History
The name Spirit River comes from the Cree Chepe Sepe, or Ghost River.
In 1891, a trading post became the original settlement along the banks of the Spirit River. Ranching in the area started as early as the 1840s and farming in the 1880s. The first school opened in 1910. In 1915, to the northwest, on Section 22, the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway subdivided a townsite called Spirit River Station. The residents and storekeepers at the old settlement then moved, creating a village in 1916. On February 16 of that year, the Herald Tribune reported that McRae & Co. opened a general store. Spirit River was incorporated as a town in 1951.
In 1923, the wheat pool was established.
In October 2013, a pipeline inspection crew working in the Saddle Hills area southwest of Spirit River unearthed a 10-metre long dinosaur fossil. It was later confirmed to be that of the duck-billed hadrosaur.
The Town of Spirit River, along with the Municipal District of Spirit River celebrated its 100th anniversary in August 2016.
Government
The Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133's municipal office is located in Spirit River. It is also home to the Peace-Wapiti School Board and provincial offices for Alberta Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife.
Infrastructure
Transportation
A paved airport accommodates medical emergency flights and private aircraft.
Recreation
The town features a curling rink, arena, outdoor pool, library, museum and community hall.
Health care
Spirit River is home to a hospital and the Central Peace Health Centre, a newly constructed clinic that has physician, dentist, physiotherapist and massage therapist offices.
A new 92-bed seniors care home is set to open in 2024.
Education
The town is home to two schools – Ste. Marie Catholic School (elementary) and Spirit River Regional Academy (K-12).
Sports
The Spirit River Rangers of the North Peace Hockey League play out of the Maclean Rec Centre.
Notable people
Hilarion Kapral, a bishop and First Hierarch of ROCOR
Patricia Joudry, screenwriter.
Tim Howar, singer and dancer, known as a London-based rock vocalist with Mike + the Mechanics
Aaron Goodvin, country singer
Frank Grigware, who escaped from Leavenworth Prison while serving a life sentence for train robbery, and was elected mayor in 1916 using the name James Fahey
See also
List of communities in Alberta
List of towns in Alberta
References
External links
Official website
The Spirit River is a river in northern Alberta, Canada. The name is a translation of the Cree words Chepe Sepi, meaning ghost or spirit.
The town of Spirit River is established close to the river banks and is named for the river, as is the Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133 and the Spirit River Formation, a geological formation of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.
Course
The river originates in the Spirit Ridge, 25 kilometers (16 mi) southwest from the town of Spirit River, at an elevation of 920 meters (3,020 ft). It flows eastwards through the Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133, then by Rycroft, south of the Birch Hills into Birch Hills County. There it flows into the Saddle River (AKA Burnt River), at an elevation of 440 meters (1,440 ft); the Saddle River empties after 25 kilometers (16 mi) into the Peace River east of Dunvegan.
See also
List of rivers of Alberta