In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Spirit River had a population of 992 living in 445 of its 510 total private dwellings, a change of -0.3% from its 2016 population of 995. With a land area of 3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi), it had a population density of 319.0/km2 (826.1/sq mi) in 2021.[5][3]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Spirit River recorded a population of 995 living in 442 of its 487 total private dwellings, a -2.9% change from its 2011 population of 1,025. With a land area of 3.14 km2 (1.21 sq mi), it had a population density of 316.9/km2 (820.7/sq mi) in 2016.[14]
The name Spirit River comes from the CreeChepe Sepe, or Ghost River.[15]
In 1891, a trading post became the original settlement along the banks of the Spirit River. Ranching in the area started as early as the 1840s and farming in the 1880s.[15] The first school opened in 1910.[16] In 1915, to the northwest, on Section 22, the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway subdivided a townsite called Spirit River Station. The residents and storekeepers at the old settlement then moved, creating a village in 1916.[17] On February 16 of that year, the Herald Tribune reported that McRae & Co. opened a general store.[17] Spirit River was incorporated as a town in 1951.[18]
In October 2013, a pipeline inspection crew working in the Saddle Hills area southwest of Spirit River unearthed a 10-metre long dinosaur fossil.[19] It was later confirmed to be that of the duck-billed hadrosaur.[20]
The Town of Spirit River, along with the Municipal District of Spirit River celebrated its 100th anniversary in August 2016.[21]
Government
The Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133's municipal office is located in Spirit River. It is also home to the Peace-Wapiti School Board and provincial offices for Alberta Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife.
Infrastructure
Transportation
A paved airport accommodates medical emergency flights and private aircraft.
Recreation
The town features a curling rink, arena, outdoor pool, library, museum and community hall.
Health care
Spirit River is home to a hospital and the Central Peace Health Centre, a newly constructed clinic that has physician, dentist, physiotherapist and massage therapist offices.
A new 92-bed seniors care home is set to open in 2024.[22]
Education
The town is home to two schools – Ste. Marie Catholic School[23] (elementary) and Spirit River Regional Academy[24] (K-12).
Frank Grigware, who escaped from Leavenworth Prison while serving a life sentence for train robbery, and was elected mayor in 1916 using the name James Fahey [26]
^"Table 5: Population of urban centres, 1916-1946, with guide to locations". Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1946. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1949. pp. 397–400.
^"Table 6: Population by sex, for census subdivisions, 1956 and 1951". Census of Canada, 1956. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1958.
^"Table 9: Population by census subdivisions, 1966 by sex, and 1961". 1966 Census of Canada. Western Provinces. Vol. Population: Divisions and Subdivisions. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1967.
^"Table 3: Population for census divisions and subdivisions, 1971 and 1976". 1976 Census of Canada. Census Divisions and Subdivisions, Western Provinces and the Territories. Vol. Population: Geographic Distributions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1977.
^"Table 2: Census Subdivisions in Alphabetical Order, Showing Population Rank, Canada, 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Vol. Census subdivisions in decreasing population order. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. ISBN0-660-51563-6.
^"Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data". 91 Census. Vol. Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1992. pp. 100–108. ISBN0-660-57115-3.
