CENTRAL ALBERTA


'Central Alberta' (also named 'Alberta's Heartland') is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.
Central Alberta is the most densely populated rural area in the province. Agriculture and energy make up an important part of the economy.

Contents
Geography
Demographics
Infrastructure
Politics
Communities
See also
References
External links

Geography


Central Alberta is bordered by the Canadian Rockies in the west, Southern Alberta and the Calgary Region to the south, Saskatchewan to the east and Northern Alberta to the north. It completely surrounds the Edmonton Capital Region and contains the central part of the heavily populated Calgary-Edmonton Corridor.
The North Saskatchewan River crosses the region from west to east. Other rivers traversing the area are Red Deer River, Battle River, Athabasca River, Pembina River, Brazeau River, Beaver River.
Tourist attractions in the region include: Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions, the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre in Leduc, Discovery Wildlife Park, Kerry Wood Nature Centre and Gaetz Lake Sanctuary in Red Deer, Nordegg Heritage Centre and Mine Site, Reynolds-Alberta Museum, Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Wild Rapids Waterslides and Stephannson House Provincial Historic Site near Sylvan Lake.[1]
Regional and National parks include Elk Island National Park, William A. Switzer Provincial Park, Sylvan Lake Provincial Park, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, Big Knife Provincial Park, Pigeon Lake Provincial Park.
A series of roadside attractions known as the Giants of the Prairies can be found in Central Alberta. Large mushrooms in Vilna, giant Perogy (Ukrainian dumpling) in Glendon, huge Kubasa (Ukrainian garlic sausage) in Mundare, large Pysanka (Ukrainian easter egg) in Vegreville, an UFO Landing Pad in St. Paul and a giant duck in Andrew.

Demographics


Central Alberta has a population of 240,368 (2004). Central Alberta statistis Alberta First
Sector Labour force % of total
Agriculture 16,530 12.83%
Mining 9,690 7.52%
Manufacturing 8,610 6.68%
Construction 11,340 8.80%
Transportation and utilities 5,945 4.61%
Retail and wholesale 19,150 14.87%
Finance 4,830 3.75%
Business and community services 48,360 37.54%
Public administration 4,340 3.37%
Total 128,825 100.00%

Infrastructure


;Transportation
Queen Elisabeth II Highway crosses the region from south to north, and the Yellowhead Highway from east to west. Other major highways include Highway 9, Highway 21, Veteran Memorial Highway, David Thomson Highway, Cowboy Trail, Grizzly Trail and Buffalo Trail. Poundmaker Trail runs through the north-east of the region.[2]
;Health Regions
The following health regions are located in the region: Aspen Regional Health Authority, David Thompson Regional Health Authority and East Central Health.
;Education
Post-secondary institutions in the region are Red Deer College and Olds College.

Politics


On a provincial level, central Alberta is represented in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta by MLA's elected in the ridings of Battle River-Wainwright, Drayton Valley-Calmar, Drumheller-Stettler, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, Lacombe-Ponoka, Leduc-Beaumont-Devon, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, Red Deer North, Red Deer South, Rocky Mountain House, Stony Plain, Vermilion-Lloydminster, West Yellowhead, Wetaskiwin-Camrose and Whitecourt-Ste. Anne.

Communities


Five cities are located in Central Alberta, with Camrose, Wetaskiwin and Red Deer in the heartland of the region, while Cold Lake and Lloydminster are close to the Saskatchewan border.
The region spreads across several census divisions: 7, 8, 9, 10, 14 and parts of divisions 11, 12 and 13.

'Towns'

Barrhead

Bashaw

Bentley

Blackfalds

Bonnyville

Bowden

Castor

Coronation

Daysland

Drayton Valley

Eckville

Edson

Elk Point

Hardisty

Hinton

Innisfail

Killam

Lacombe

Mayerthorpe

Millet

Mundare

Onoway

Penhold

Ponoka

Provost

Rimbey

Rocky Mountain House

Sedgewick

Smoky Lake

St. Paul

Stettler

Sylvan Lake

Tofield

Two Hills

Vegreville

Vermilion

Viking

Wainwright

Westlock

Whitecourt

'Villages'

Alberta Beach

Alix

Alliance

Amisk

Bawfl

Big Valley

Bittern Lake

Botha

Breton

Caroline

Chauvin

Clive

Clyde

Czar

Derwent

Dewberry

Donalda

Edberg

Edgerton

Ferintosh

Forestburg

Gadsby

Galahad

Glendon

Halkirk

Hay Lakes

Heisler

Holden

Hughenden

Innisfree

Irma

Kitscoty

Lougheed

Mannville

Marwayne

Minburn

Myrnam

New Norway

Paradise Valley

Rosalind

Ryley

Sangudo

Spring Lake

Strome

Thorhild

Vilna

Waskatenau

Willingdon

'Counties'

Barrhead

Beaver

Bonnyville

Brazeau

Camrose

Clearwater

Flagstaff

Lac Ste. Anne

Lacombe

Lamont

Minburn

Paintearth

Ponoka

Provost

Red Deer

Smoky Lake

St. Paul

Stettler

Thorhild

Two Hills

Vermilion

Wainwright

Westlock

Wetaskiwin

Woodlands

Yellowhead


See also



List of regions of Canada

References



1. Attractions in Alberta Travel Alberta
2. Central Alberta - Road report Alberta Motor Association


External links



Central Alberta

Travel Alberta - Central Alberta

Alberta Regions - Alberta Heritage

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