Vulcan, Alberta

Vulcan
Town
Town of Vulcan

Tourism and Trek Station
Vulcan

Location of Vulcan in Alberta

Coordinates: 50°24′24″N 113°15′18″W / 50.40667°N 113.25500°W / 50.40667; -113.25500
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Southern Alberta
Census division 5
Municipal district Vulcan County
Incorporated[1]  
 • Village December 23, 1912
 • Town June 15, 1921
Government[2]
 • Mayor Thomas Grant
 • Governing body Vulcan Town Council
 • MP John Barlow (Macleod-Cons)
 • MLA Dave Schneider (Little Bow-Wildrose Party)
Area (2011)[3]
 • Total 6.58 km2 (2.54 sq mi)
Elevation[4] 1,049 m (3,442 ft)
Population (2011)[3]
 • Total 1,836
 • Density 280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC−7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC−6)
Postal code span T0L 2B0
Area code(s) +1-403, +1-587
Highways Highway 23
Highway 534
Railways Canadian Pacific Railway
Website Official website

Vulcan is a town in the prairies of southern Alberta, Canada, within Vulcan County. It is located on Highway 23, midway between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge. The population of the town was 1,836 in 2011.[3]

History

Vulcan elevator row in the 1960s

Vulcan was named by a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway after the Roman God of Fire – Vulcan. Originally, all the streets of Vulcan were named after gods and goddesses of the classical world such as Juno, Mars, and Jupiter. The community was incorporated as a village on December 23, 1912 and then as a town on June 15, 1921.[5] In July 1927, a major tornado destroyed many homes and the new curling rink in the town. That tornado was made famous when a photograph of it approaching Vulcan was used for the "tornado" article in Encyclopædia Britannica.

Vulcan once had nine grain elevators, more than any other location west of Winnipeg, making it the largest grain shipping point at that time. Due to the changing economics of the agricultural industry, the original elevators were taken down one by one. Today, Vulcan has only one of the "prairie skyscrapers" left that once could be seen miles away. Although not original, this last wooden elevator was built in the 1980s.

A British Commonwealth Air Training Plan air force base, RCAF Station Vulcan, was located a few kilometres southwest of the town during the Second World War. Many of the old hangars still exist and the runways can still be seen.

Geography

Climate

Vulcan experiences a dry continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with long, cold winters and short, warm summers.

Demographics

Centre Street 2008

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Vulcan had a population of 1,836 living in 768 of its 865 total dwellings, a −5.4% change from its 2006 population of 1,940. With a land area of 6.58 km2 (2.54 sq mi), it had a population density of 279.0/km2 (722.7/sq mi) in 2011.[3]

In 2006, Vulcan had a population of 1,940 living in 814 dwellings, a 10.1% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 6.58 km2 (2.54 sq mi) and a population density of 294.8/km2 (764/sq mi).[7]

Economy

The town's economy is mainly tourism and agriculture-based. Wheat, canola and barley are the main crops grown in the Vulcan area.

Tourism

Vulcan's Starship FX6-1995-A, replica of the Starship Enterprise and named after Vulcan Airport's designation FX6[8]

The town's name has brought some attention that has helped it become a tourist attraction.[9][10] In the Star Trek television and feature film series it is the name of the homeworld of Spock and his fellow Vulcans.

Capitalizing on this coincidence, the town has built a Star Trek–themed tourist station (the Tourism and Trek Station), which provides tourist information, displays Star Trek memorabilia, provides unique photo opportunities, and allows visitors to participate in The Vulcan Space Adventure virtual reality game. Nearby, a replica of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek V has been mounted on a pedestal which includes writing from Trek alien languages like Klingon. The town has also created space-themed murals and signs, and hosts an annual community-wide Star Trek convention known as "Spock Days". This convention attracts hundreds of Star Trek fans from around the world.[9] In 2013, the TrekCetera Star Trek museum opened in Vulcan.[11] A plaque commemorates a Star Trek postage stamp issued by Canada Post in 2016, which was unveiled in Vulcan and which features Spock.[12]

Since 1990, Vulcan has hosted the annual Vulcan Tinman Triathlon, which takes place at the beginning of June. This sprint-distance triathlon attracts nearly 1,000 participants. There are classes for adults of all ages and skill levels as well as for teams and children.

Infrastructure

Healthcare

Vulcan Community Healthcare Centre

The Vulcan Community Healthcare Centre offers emergency and long-term care medical services. The hospital had 5,125 visits for emergency medical services in the 2013/2014 year. More patients are admitted to hospital in Vulcan than in the general Alberta population.[13] It has eight medical beds with 15 long-term care beds and hosts a medical clinic.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Location and History Profile: Town of Vulcan" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 716. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  4. ↑ "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 9, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Location and History Profile: Town of Vulcan". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  6. ↑ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed March 23, 2010
  7. ↑ "Canada 2006 Census: Vulcan – Community Profile". Statistics Canada. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
  8. ↑ http://www.vulcantourism.com/about-vulcan-albertas-star-ship-fx6-1995-a.html
  9. 1 2 Pawlowski, A. (August 22, 2013). "Live long and prosper in Vulcan, the 'Star Trek Capital of Canada'". NBC News. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  10. ↑ Cernetig, Miro (September 8, 1990). "Small Town Ties Spacey Idea: Vulcan turns to 'Star Trek' to boost image". Toronto Globe and Mail.
  11. ↑ "Vulcan's TrekCetera Museum opens today". Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ Bell, David (April 9, 2016). "Vulcan residents get 1st peek at new Canada Post Spock stamp". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  13. ↑ http://www.health.alberta.ca/documents/PHC-Profile-Vulcan.pdf
  14. ↑ http://www.vulcanbusiness.ca/residents/health/
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Coordinates: 50°24′N 113°15′W / 50.400°N 113.250°W / 50.400; -113.250 (Vulcan)

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