Nanton, Alberta

Nanton
Town
Town of Nanton

Elevators in Nanton
Motto: Authentic Alberta
Nanton
Coordinates: 50°20′58″N 113°46′18″W / 50.34944°N 113.77167°W / 50.34944; -113.77167Coordinates: 50°20′58″N 113°46′18″W / 50.34944°N 113.77167°W / 50.34944; -113.77167
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Southern Alberta
Census division 3
Municipal district Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26
Incorporated[1]  
 • Village June 22, 1903
 • Town August 9, 1907
Government
 • Mayor Rick Everett
 • Governing body Nanton Town Council
Area (2011)[2]
 • Total 4.80 km2 (1.85 sq mi)
Elevation[3] 1,024 m (3,360 ft)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 2,132
 • Density 443.9/km2 (1,150/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
Highways Highway 2
Highway 533
Website Official website
Nanton Drug Co. Building
MacEwan Schoolhouse visitor information centre
Nanton Golf Club
Shaw & Cooper Building
Avro Canada CF-100 "Canuck"
W.S. Keely Building
Nanton Agriculture Park entrance gate

Nanton is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. Nanton was named after Sir Augustus Meredith Nanton, of Winnipeg (1860–1925) who directed firms that offered financing for farms and ranches throughout the west. It is located south of Calgary, at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 533.

Nanton was historically known as "Tap Town", after providing passing motorists with free water supplied from the foothills via a stand tap on the northbound highway. This water was one of this first to be bottled and sold in Canada, resulting in the creation of Nanton Water & Soda Ltd, still a thriving business in the town today.[4]

Traditionally a farming and ranching community, Nanton is now a popular tourist destination.[5]

Demographics

In the Canada 2011 Census, the Town of Nanton had a population of 2,132 living in 905 of its 957 total dwellings, a 3.7% change from its 2006 population of 2,055. With a land area of 4.8 square kilometres (1.9 sq mi), it had a population density of 444.2/km2 (1,150.4/sq mi) in 2011.[2]

The population of the Town of Nanton according to its 2009 municipal census is 2,124.[6]

In 2006, Nanton had a population of 2,055 living in 853 dwellings, an 11.6% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 4.25 square kilometres (1.64 sq mi) and a population density of 483.3 per square kilometre (1,252/sq mi).[7]

Attractions

Nanton is known primarily for three distinct features: an aviation museum - Bomber Command Museum of Canada (formerly known as the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum)[8] situated in the centre of town on Highway 2 south, adjacent to Highway 533; a high number of antique shops;[9] and two fully restored grain elevators on northbound Highway 2.

One of the main attractions at the aviation museum is its preserved Avro Lancaster bomber[10] FM159[11] which performs regular runs[12] of its Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.[13] The aviation museum is also home to a number of other significant RAF Bomber Command era aircraft,[14] including a Bristol Blenheim Mk IV.[15]

Nanton’s antique shops and galleries have contributed in making Nanton a popular tourist destination.[16][17][18] They are organized around the notion of a downtown walk.[19][20]

The Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre is a set of restored grain elevators located in the centre of Nanton. The "Save One" society's goal is to preserve examples of old grain elevators to educate visitors about the town's, and Alberta's, agricultural history.

Arts and culture

Nanton's Agriculture park, home of Nanton Ag society, hosts a variety of events that includes Alberta High School Rodeos, TNT Roping and Barrel Racing, the Medicine Tree Ranch Rodeo, Nanton FCA Rodeo, Nanton Wrangler Youth Rodeo Series, as well is the venue for the long-standing tradition, the Nanton Nite Rodeo Series.[21][22] In 2013 they played host to the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals.[23]

Nanton was selected as one of fifty host communities for Alberta Culture Days 2014, to be held September from 26-28.[24]

Nanton Round Up Days is a series of celebratory community events centered in the downtown core and typically held the first weekend in August. Celebrations culminate with a fireworks display.[25]

The Shady Grove Bluegrass Festival, held at Broadway Farm, is an annual music festival held in August that has run for more than 20 years.[26]

Nanton Lights The Way and the Distinctly Nanton Market are festival events traditionally held in the last week of November, to mark the beginning of the Christmas season.[27]

Parks and recreation

Nanton has two parks, Centennial Park and Lions Park, both located alongside the southbound highway. Centennial Park has ball diamonds, a skate park and children's play area.

The Tom Hornecker Recreation Center offers an outdoor heated pool, ice rink, curling sheets, gymnasium, and a racquetball court.[28]

Nanton Golf club is an 18-hole course.[29] A campground is adjacent to Nanton Golf Course and Agricultural Park. Facilities include a large, coin-operated shower building with washrooms, water taps throughout, camp kitchen, group camping and treed sites.[30]

Sports

The Nanton Palominos senior A hockey team have been in operation since 1947. They currently play in the Ranchland Hockey League.[31] The Palominos earned a spot at the 2013 Investor's Group Hockey Alberta Senior Men's AA/A Provincial Championships in Innisfail, AB[32] after winning the 2013 Ranchland Hockey League Championship.[33] The team was led to victory by captain Steve "Smac" McMasters,[34] winning the 2013 Senior A Championship.[35]

Education

The first school opened in 1902.[36] There are two schools presently providing K-12 education in Nanton. A.B. Daley School houses grades K-6, while J.T. Foster provides grades 7-12. Each school has a population of approximately 200 students.[37]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Location and History Profile: Town of Nanton" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 428. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  3. ↑ "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 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,nantonlanc.html
  5. ↑ http://lethbridgelivingonline.com/previous-articles/item/why-we-love-nanton
  6. ↑ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2009-09-15). "Alberta 2009 Official Population List" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  7. ↑ Statistics Canada. "Canada 2006 Census: Nanton - Community Profile". Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  8. ↑ "Bomber Command Museum of Canada". Nanton Lancaster Society. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  9. ↑ http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Love+antiques+likely+leave+Nanton+empty+handed/6609008/story.html
  10. ↑ "Bomber Command Museum of Canada". Nanton Lancaster Society. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "Bazalgette Lancaster FM-159". Nanton Lancaster Society. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  12. ↑ http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/event_merlinrunups.html
  13. ↑ "Rolls-Royce Merlin -224". Nanton Lancaster Society. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "Aircraft of Bomber Command". Nanton Lancaster Society. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "Bristol Blenheim Mk IV". Nanton Lancaster Society. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  16. ↑ https://issuu.com/routes/docs/routes_may_june_2013_issue/17?e=0
  17. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Antique-Art-Walk-of-Alberta/504884012881774
  18. ↑ http://openplac.es/trips/nanton-in-nanton-ab-ca
  19. ↑ http://www.antiquewalk.com/thewalk.html
  20. ↑ http://www.nantonnews.com/2013/04/10/antique-and-art-walk-redux
  21. ↑ http://www.nantonagsociety.com/
  22. ↑ http://www.nantonniterodeo.com/
  23. ↑ http://www.chsrfnanton.com/
  24. ↑ http://culture.alberta.ca/culturedays/sites.aspx
  25. ↑ http://www.nanton.ca/files/%7B17405570-B927-4CBD-BE92-2D465B9754A4%7DRound-Up%20Days%20page-3.pdf
  26. ↑ http://www.foothillsbluegrass.com/ShadyGrove/SGindex.php
  27. ↑ http://www.nantonnews.com/events/245259
  28. ↑ http://www.nanton.ca/Facilities/Facility/Details/Tom-Hornecker-Recreation-Centre-THRC-11
  29. ↑ http://www.nantongolfclub.ca/
  30. ↑ http://www.nanton.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?PageID=56
  31. ↑ "Nanton Palaminos 2011-2012". Ranchland Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  32. ↑ Skeet, Russell (1 April 2013). "Palominos Off To Provincials". High River Online.
  33. ↑ "2012–2013 Standings". Ranchland Hockey League.
  34. ↑ Koch, Chris (15 April 2013). "Provincial Champs". Nanton News.
  35. ↑ "Game Summary". Hockey Alberta. 7 April 2013.
  36. ↑ Douglas, Helen (1965). Echoes of Willow Creek. Granum, Alberta: Willow Creek Historical Society. p. 90.
  37. ↑ http://education.alberta.ca/apps/eireports/pdf_files/iar1004_2013/iar1004_2013.pdf
  38. ↑ $2 million gift launches Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage
  39. ↑ Nanton barrel racer Lindsay Sears torn by which horse to ride at the WNFR
  40. ↑ World Champion Barrel Racer Lindsay Sears Joins Panhandle Rock and Roll ProRodeo Team
 Longview High River Arrowwood
Pekisko Vulcan
   Nanton  
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Carmangay
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