List of ghost towns in Alberta

Summary

The province of Alberta has several ghost towns that have been completely or partially abandoned.[1] Many of Alberta's ghost towns exist as a result of a number of failed coal mining operations in the area during the early 20th century.

Ghost towns are communities that once had a considerable population, that have since dwindled in numbers causing some or all its business to close, either due to the rerouting of a highway, train tracks being pulled, or exhaustion of some natural resource.

Remains of Flowerdale
Hotel in Luscar in the 1950s
Sun setting on Maybutt
The road into Mountain Park
Vacant store in Nemiscam
Vacant store in Orion
Grain elevator in Skiff

List of ghost towns edit

Ghost town Municipality Location About Peak population
(year)
Latest population
(year)
Alderson Cypress County 50°16′59″N 111°19′59″W / 50.283°N 111.333°W / 50.283; -111.333 (Alderson) 161
(1911)[2]
Alexo Clearwater County 52°28′30″N 115°46′59″W / 52.475°N 115.783°W / 52.475; -115.783 (Alexo) Former coal mining community[3] 113
(1951)[4]
Allerston County of Warner No. 5 49°08′42″N 111°45′50″W / 49.145°N 111.764°W / 49.145; -111.764 (Allerston)
Allingham Kneehill County 51°42′00″N 113°36′00″W / 51.700°N 113.600°W / 51.700; -113.600 (Allingham)
Ardley Red Deer County[5] 52°15′40″N 113°13′41″W / 52.261°N 113.228°W / 52.261; -113.228 (Ardley) 17
(1991)[6]
Altorado County of Forty Mile No. 8
Amber Valley Athabasca County 54°43′59″N 112°55′01″W / 54.733°N 112.917°W / 54.733; -112.917 (Altorado)
Ansell Yellowhead County 53°33′25″N 116°31′30″W / 53.557°N 116.525°W / 53.557; -116.525 (Ansell) 272
(1951)
Anthracite Improvement District No. 9 (Banff National Park) 51°11′56″N 115°30′00″W / 51.199°N 115.500°W / 51.199; -115.500 (Anthracite) 25
(1911)[7]
Ardenode Wheatland County 51°08′49″N 113°25′23″W / 51.147°N 113.423°W / 51.147; -113.423 (Ardenode) 0
(2016)[8]
Bankhead Improvement District No. 9 (Banff National Park) 51°12′00″N 115°31′59″W / 51.200°N 115.533°W / 51.200; -115.533 (Bankhead) Former coal mining community 694
(1911)[7]
Bardo Beaver County 53°18′07″N 112°41′06″W / 53.302°N 112.685°W / 53.302; -112.685 (Bardo)
Battle Bend Flagstaff County 52°26′02″N 111°26′38″W / 52.434°N 111.444°W / 52.434; -111.444 (Battle Bend)
Beazer Cardston County 49°06′58″N 113°28′52″W / 49.116°N 113.481°W / 49.116; -113.481 (Beazer) 11
(2008)[9]
Belloy Birch Hills County 55°45′00″N 118°15′00″W / 55.750°N 118.250°W / 55.750; -118.250 (Belloy)
Bickerdike Yellowhead County 53°32′38″N 116°38′31″W / 53.544°N 116.642°W / 53.544; -116.642 (Bickerdike) Post office closed in 1956 150
(1911)
Bindloss Special Area No. 2 50°52′44″N 110°16′34″W / 50.879°N 110.276°W / 50.879; -110.276 (Bindloss) 14
(1991)[6]
Bingham County of Forty Mile No. 8 49°28′48″N 111°16′34″W / 49.480°N 111.276°W / 49.480; -111.276 (Bingham)
Bliss Yellowhead County 53°01′55″N 117°19′37″W / 53.032°N 117.327°W / 53.032; -117.327 652
(1956)[10]
Bow City Vulcan County 50°25′30″N 112°16′23″W / 50.425°N 112.273°W / 50.425; -112.273 http://www.ghosttowns.com/canada/alberta/bowcity.htm
Brush Hill County of Minburn No. 27 53°34′15″N 111°57′36″W / 53.5707167°N 111.9601167°W / 53.5707167; -111.9601167
Buffalo Special Area No. 2 50°48′00″N 110°40′01″W / 50.800°N 110.667°W / 50.800; -110.667 (Buffalo)
Bulwark County of Paintearth No. 18 52°15′00″N 111°34′59″W / 52.250°N 111.583°W / 52.250; -111.583 (Bulwark)
Butte Clearwater County 52°10′59″N 114°43′59″W / 52.183°N 114.733°W / 52.183; -114.733 (Butte)
Cadomin Yellowhead County 53°01′55″N 117°19′37″W / 53.032°N 117.327°W / 53.032; -117.327 (Cadomin) 1,053
(1941)[4]
40
(2016)[8]
Cambria Town of Drumheller 51°23′46″N 112°35′35″W / 51.396°N 112.593°W / 51.396; -112.593 (Cambria) 239
(1951)[4]
Chisholm Mills Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124 54°54′36″N 114°10′12″W / 54.910°N 114.170°W / 54.910; -114.170 (Chisholm Mills) 323
(1941)[4]
25
(2016)[8]
Coal Valley Yellowhead County 53°04′59″N 116°48′00″W / 53.083°N 116.800°W / 53.083; -116.800 (Coal Valley) 194
(1951)[4]
Coalspur Yellowhead County 53°10′59″N 117°01′01″W / 53.183°N 117.017°W / 53.183; -117.017 (Coalspur) 133
(1951)[4]
Commerce Lethbridge County 49°55′01″N 112°56′20″W / 49.917°N 112.939°W / 49.917; -112.939 (Commerce) 360
(1921)[2]
Conquerville County of Forty Mile No. 8 49°40′12″N 111°13′26″W / 49.670°N 111.224°W / 49.670; -111.224 (Conquerville)
Conrad County of Forty Mile No. 8 49°31′01″N 111°58′01″W / 49.517°N 111.967°W / 49.517; -111.967 (Conrad)
Del Bonita Cardston County 49°01′44″N 112°47′20″W / 49.029°N 112.789°W / 49.029; -112.789 (Del Bonita) 8
(2008)[9]
Dorothy Special Area No. 2 51°18′00″N 112°19′01″W / 51.300°N 112.317°W / 51.300; -112.317 (Dorothy) 14
(1991)[6]
East Coulee Town of Drumheller 51°20′10″N 112°29′20″W / 51.336°N 112.489°W / 51.336; -112.489 (East Coulee) 1,831
(1941)[4]
148
(2016)[8]
Embarras Landing Yellowhead County 53°18′00″N 116°54′00″W / 53.300°N 116.900°W / 53.300; -116.900 (Embarras Landing)
Evarts Red Deer County 52°15′40″N 114°16′19″W / 52.261°N 114.272°W / 52.261; -114.272 (Evarts) 25
(1911)[2]
Flowerdale[11] Special Area No. 2 51°21′58″N 111°33′54″W / 51.366°N 111.565°W / 51.366; -111.565 (Flowerdale) The settlement was abandoned in the early 1920s and destroyed by a prairie fire soon after.[12] Flowerdale had a post office, Flowerdale Holdings, a general store, a schoolhouse and many other businesses.[12]
Foothills Yellowhead County 224
(1956)[10]
Frank Municipality of Crowsnest Pass 49°36′00″N 114°24′18″W / 49.600°N 114.405°W / 49.600; -114.405 (Frank) 1,178
(1906)[13]
85
(2016)[8]
Frankburg[14] Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 50°31′44″N 113°38′38″W / 50.529°N 113.644°W / 50.529; -113.644 (Frankburg)
Georgetown Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 51°06′29″N 115°23′38″W / 51.108°N 115.394°W / 51.108; -115.394 (Georgetown)
Harrisville[15] Cardston County 49°09′32″N 113°38′28″W / 49.159°N 113.641°W / 49.159; -113.641 (Harrisville)
Judson Cardston County 49°31′59″N 112°21′00″W / 49.533°N 112.350°W / 49.533; -112.350 (Judson)
Kimball Cardston County 49°04′59″N 113°12′00″W / 49.083°N 113.200°W / 49.083; -113.200 (Kimball) 26
(2008)[9]
Kovach Kananaskis Improvement District 50°55′59″N 115°12′00″W / 50.933°N 115.200°W / 50.933; -115.200 (Kovach)
Legend County of Forty Mile No. 8 49°28′55″N 111°35′53″W / 49.482°N 111.598°W / 49.482; -111.598 (Legend)
Lehigh Town of Drumheller 51°21′14″N 112°30′50″W / 51.354°N 112.514°W / 51.354; -112.514 (Lehigh) 133
(1941)[4]
Lille Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66 49°39′04″N 114°23′53″W / 49.651°N 114.398°W / 49.651; -114.398 (Lille) 413[2]
(1906)[2]
Luscar Yellowhead County 53°04′05″N 117°24′00″W / 53.068°N 117.400°W / 53.068; -117.400 (Luscar) Former coal mining community 620
(1941)[4]
Mannix Brazeau County 369
(1961)[2]
Maybutt County of Warner No. 5 49°31′05″N 112°31′41″W / 49.518°N 112.528°W / 49.518; -112.528 (Maybutt)
Mercoal Yellowhead County 53°10′01″N 117°04′59″W / 53.167°N 117.083°W / 53.167; -117.083 (Mercoal) Former coal mining community 977
(1951)[4]
Mintlaw Red Deer County 52°13′19″N 113°54′50″W / 52.222°N 113.914°W / 52.222; -113.914 (Mintlaw)
Mitford Rocky View County 51°12′43″N 114°33′04″W / 51.212°N 114.551°W / 51.212; -114.551 (Mitford)
Mountain Park Yellowhead County 52°55′01″N 117°16′01″W / 52.917°N 117.267°W / 52.917; -117.267 (Mountain Park) Former coal mining community
Nordegg Clearwater County 52°28′05″N 116°04′52″W / 52.468°N 116.081°W / 52.468; -116.081 (Nordegg) Former coal mining community/National Historic Site 875
(1951)[4]
53
(1986)[16]
Pakowki County of Forty Mile No. 8 49°27′58″N 110°56′53″W / 49.466°N 110.948°W / 49.466; -110.948 (Pakowki)
Passburg Municipality of Crowsnest Pass 49°33′25″N 114°20′24″W / 49.557°N 114.340°W / 49.557; -114.340 (Passburg) 305
(1911)[7]
Port Cornwall Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124 55°10′01″N 114°03′29″W / 55.167°N 114.058°W / 55.167; -114.058 (Port Cornwall) 200
(1913)[17]
Pendant d'Oreille County of Forty Mile No. 8 49°12′11″N 110°52′01″W / 49.203°N 110.867°W / 49.203; -110.867 (Pendant d'Oreille)
Queenstown Vulcan County 50°38′17″N 112°56′17″W / 50.638°N 112.938°W / 50.638; -112.938 (Queenstown) 666
(1911)[7]
8
(2007)[9]
Raley Cardston County 49°17′28″N 113°10′55″W / 49.291°N 113.182°W / 49.291; -113.182 (Raley)
Retlaw Municipal District of Taber 50°04′01″N 112°16′01″W / 50.067°N 112.267°W / 50.067; -112.267 (Retlaw) 154
(1921)[2]
Rowley Starland County 51°45′54″N 112°47′17″W / 51.765°N 112.788°W / 51.765; -112.788 (Rowley) 76
(1951)[4]
8
(2013)[18]
Royalties Foothills County 50°33′18″N 114°13′52″W / 50.555°N 114.231°W / 50.555; -114.231 (Royalties) 824
(1941)[4]
St. Michael Lamont County 52°49′55″N 112°37′44″W / 52.832°N 112.629°W / 52.832; -112.629 (St. Michael) 342
(1951)[4]
39
(1991)[6]
Seebe Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 51°05′46″N 115°03′53″W / 51.096°N 115.0648°W / 51.096; -115.0648 (Seebe) 147
(1951)[4]
0
(2016)[8]
Sterco Yellowhead County 53°06′00″N 116°49′41″W / 53.100°N 116.828°W / 53.100; -116.828 (Sterco) 224
(1941)[4]
Taylorville Cardston County 49°01′59″N 113°07′01″W / 49.033°N 113.117°W / 49.033; -113.117 (Taylorville)
Tollerton Yellowhead County 53°32′10″N 116°28′08″W / 53.536°N 116.469°W / 53.536; -116.469 (Tollerton) 180
(1916)[19]
Travers Vulcan County 50°15′07″N 112°32′53″W / 50.252°N 112.548°W / 50.252; -112.548 (Travers) 0
(2007)[9]
Twin River Cardston County
Violet Grove Brazeau County 53°09′47″N 115°02′17″W / 53.163°N 115.038°W / 53.163; -115.038 (Violet Grove) 712
(1956)[10]
141
(2005)[20]
Wardlow Special Area No. 2 50°54′22″N 111°33′04″W / 50.906°N 111.551°W / 50.906; -111.551 (Wardlow) 28
(1991)[6]
Wayne Town of Drumheller 51°22′55″N 112°39′36″W / 51.382°N 112.660°W / 51.382; -112.660 (Wayne) 601
(1941)[4]
Whiskey Gap Cardston County 49°01′59″N 113°01′59″W / 49.033°N 113.033°W / 49.033; -113.033 (Whiskey Gap)
Whitford Lamont County 53°52′01″N 112°13′01″W / 53.867°N 112.217°W / 53.867; -112.217 (Whitford) 6
(1981)[21]
Whitla County of Forty Mile No. 8 49°52′01″N 111°03′00″W / 49.867°N 111.050°W / 49.867; -111.050 (Whitla)
Wimborne Kneehill County 51°51′54″N 113°35′38″W / 51.865°N 113.594°W / 51.865; -113.594 (Wimborne) 90
(1951)[4]
20
(2016)[8]
Windfall Woodlands County 54°11′13″N 116°13′08″W / 54.187°N 116.219°W / 54.187; -116.219 (Windfall) Former gas plant community founded by Canadian Fina Oil Ltd.[22] 101
(1961)[2]
Winnifred County of Forty Mile No. 8 49°54′00″N 111°12′00″W / 49.900°N 111.200°W / 49.900; -111.200 (Winnifred) 80
(1941)[4]
Woolford Cardston County 49°10′59″N 113°07′59″W / 49.183°N 113.133°W / 49.183; -113.133 (Woolford) 13
(1986)[16]
Wostok Lamont County 53°51′00″N 112°28′01″W / 53.850°N 112.467°W / 53.850; -112.467 (Wostok) 15
(1991)[6]
Yates Yellowhead County 53°01′55″N 117°19′37″W / 53.032°N 117.327°W / 53.032; -117.327 (Yates) 301
(1951)[4]

See also edit

NB
PE
 
Ghost towns in Canada by province or territory

References edit

  1. ^ Ghost towns in Canada. "Alberta Ghost Towns". Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 1961 Census of Canada, Series SP, Population – Unincorporated Villages, Bulletin SP–4. Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1961.
  3. ^ Morgan, O. 1948. Bighorn and Saunders. Western Miner, vol. 21, no. 8, p. 96.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Ninth Census of Canada, 1951 (PDF). Vol. SP-7 (Population: Unincorporated villages and hamlets). Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 31 March 1954. pp. 55–57. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Fantastic Mrs. Fox". TALES OF BASEBALL. 28 July 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "91 Census: Unincorporated Places – Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. June 1993. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d Fifth Census of Canada, 1911. Dominion Bureau of Statistics.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Alberta Population Summary: Alberta's Hamlets Alphabetically, 2010" (PDF). Alberta Population. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Census of Canada, 1956 (PDF). Vol. Population of unincorporated villages and settlements. Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 25 October 1957. pp. 56–59. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  11. ^ Roads to Rose Lynn: Rose Lynn Book Club (1978). Roads to Rose Lynn.
  12. ^ a b Roads to Rose Lynn: Rose Lynn Book Club (1978). Roads to Rose Lynn. p. 445.
  13. ^ "Table 1: Population by sexes in 1906 and 1901". 1906 Census: Northwest Provinces (Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta) (PDF). Vol. I: Population of 1906 Compared with 1901. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1907. pp. 55–78. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  14. ^ Fencelines and Furrows History Book Society (1971). Fencelines and Furrows. p. 35. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  15. ^ Shaw, Keith (1978). Chief mountain country : a history of Cardston and district. Volume I. Cardston, Alberta: Cardston and District Historical Society. p. 63. ISBN 0-919213-89-8. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  16. ^ a b "Census Canada 1986: Population – Unincorporated Places (Population and Dwelling Counts – Canada)" (PDF). Statistics Canada. July 1988. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Population Data 1913" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 1913. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  18. ^ "Past Census Trackers: 2013 Municipal Censuses". Alberta Population. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Population Data 1916" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 1916. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  20. ^ "Regular Council Meeting". Brazeau County. 30 August 2005. p. 47 (PDF page 70). Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  21. ^ "1981 Census of Canada: Place Name Reference List – Western Provinces and the Territories" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1983. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  22. ^ Whitecourt Web (which summarized from Sagitawah Saga by Doreen Olecko, along with other source works). "Oil & Gas – 1950 to 1960s". Retrieved 10 October 2010.

External links edit

  • Alberta ghost towns
  • Canadian geographical names database