Bow Island, Alberta
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| Town of Bow Island | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Alberta |
| Region | Southern Alberta |
| Census division | 1 |
| County | Forty Mile |
| Government [1] | |
| - Mayor | Alan Hyland |
| - Governing body | Bow Island Town Council |
| Area | |
| - Total | 5.92 km² (2.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 790 m (2,592 ft) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 1,790 |
| - Density | 302.4/km² (783.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| Postal code span | T0K 0G0 |
| Area code(s) | 1+403 |
| Highways | Highway 3 |
| Waterway | South Saskatchewan River |
| Website: Town of Bow Island | |
Bow Island is a town in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is located on Crowsnest Highway, in the southeastern corner of the province, about 100 kilometres (60 mi) from the US border and 320 kilometres (199 mi) south of Calgary.
Contents |
[edit] History
The community of Bow Island received its first families in 1900. In February, 1910, the Village of Bow Island was formed, and by March of 1912 the village was declared the Town of Bow Island.
The naming of Bow Island brings many stories to the forefront, but the most prominent one is that the communities of Grassy Lake (located 25 km/15 mi west) and Bow Island had their respective names mixed up. North of Grassy Lake the confluence of the Bow River and the Oldman River form an island called "Bow Island", and just south of Bow Island a low depressional area was called "Grassy Lake".
Bow Island was one of the first towns in Alberta to have natural gas wells, and operated them until the franchise was sold to a private company.
In the early 1950s, irrigation was extended to the Bow Island area, and the town doubled in population. Bow Island is surrounded by 110,000 acres (445 km²) of highly productive lands. Some of the most modern irrigation systems in the world are located in the area; the first pivot and linear sprinkler systems in Canada were erected in the Bow Island area. A completely automated distribution system was installed in 1982 by the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID), and it serves an area of 5,000 acres (20 km²). The system is known as the Lateral 12 System and has been toured by groups from around the world.
[edit] Demographics
In 2006, Bow Island had a population of 1,790 living in 631 dwellings, a 5.0% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 5.92 km² (2.3 sq mi) and a population density of 302.4/km² (783.2/sq mi).[2]
[edit] Economy
Bow Island is well known for its dry edible bean industry. A 5.5 metre (18 ft) tall statue of the mascot "Pinto MacBean" is located adjacent to Highway No. 3 and greets everyone coming into town.
Less notable but equally important is the operation of the Spitz company, originally Alberta Sunflower Seeds, which produces Spitz brand sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. These products are shipped worldwide. The majority of the sunflower seeds are produced locally, but the pumpkin seeds are produced in China.
[edit] Arts and culture
"Blues at the Bow Live", located in the historic Bow Theatre, is an internationally renowned live blues venue featuring Grammy and Juno Award winning blues artists. This nonprofit, solely volunteer operated Canadian blues society was formed in 1993. The society's first show to be held in the Bow Theatre took place on December 17, 1994. They have been hosting sold out performances since inception. Blues at the Bow draws patrons from every corner of the province of Alberta and beyond.[3]
[edit] Famous Bow Islanders
- Troy Loney, WHL/NHL player
- Nicholas Taylor, senator
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Town of Bow Island. Town Council. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
- ^ a b Statistics Canada (Census 2006). Bow Island - Community Profile. Retrieved on 2007-06-10.
- ^ Blues at the Bow Live
[edit] External links
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| Warner | Foremost | Elkwater |
