Red Deer, Alberta

Red Deer () is a city in central Alberta, Canada, located almost midway between Calgary and Edmonton within the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor. It is Alberta's third largest city by population after Calgary and Edmonton. Red Deer is located in the Parkland, a region of rolling hills focused on oil, grain and cattle production. According to the 2006 city census, the population of Red Deer is 82 971. The city is a centre for oil and agriculture distribution, and the surrounding region is a major centre for petrochemical production.

Red Deer County surrounds the city.

The name Red Deer is a translation of was-ka-soo which means "elk river" in the Cree aboriginal language. Waskasoo is also a neighborhood in Red Deer overlooking the Red Deer river.

Demographics

Racial diversity

90.7% Caucasian
4.0% Aboriginal
1.3% Filipino
1.0% Chinese

History

Prior to European settlement, the area was inhabited by aboriginal tribes (Blackfoot, Plains Cree, and Stoney) and later by Métis and fur traders.
The city was named for the Red Deer River which runs through it.
The first major road from Fort Calgary to Fort Edmonton was called the Calgary and Edmonton Trail (abbreviated to C&E Trail) and it crossed the Red Deer River near the present city at Red Deer Crossing.
In 1882 a trading post was established at Red Deer Crossing.
During the Riel Rebellion of 1885, the Canadian militia constructed Fort Normandeau at the Crossing which was later taken over by the North West Mounted Police who used it until 1893.
By 1891 the Calgary and Edmonton Railway laid track east of the Crossing at the present site of the city.
In 1901 Red Deer was incorporated as a town with a population of 343.
In 1907 it became a major divisional point for the Canadian Pacific Railway.
In 1911 the Alberta Central Railway and the Canadian Northern Railway entered the town.
On 25 March 1913 Red Deer was incorporated as a city with a population of nearly 2800.
In 1922, the province established in Red Deer an institution for the care of the mentally handicapped, currently called the Michener Centre.
In the late 1950s, Red Deer claimed to be the fastest growing city in Canada.

Education

Post-secondary

Red Deer College was founded in 1964 as the Red Deer Junior College. Today, it offers adult upgrading, certificate programs, diploma programs, university transfer courses, applied degree programs and apprenticeship and trades training.

Public schools (K-12)

As of 2005, public school students in Red Deer are served by the Red Deer Public School District No. 104 (RDPSD). The RDPSD includes thirteen elementary schools (K-5), four middle schools (6-8), one Christian school (K-9), several alternative school programs and two high schools, Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School (1900 students in grades 9-12) and Hunting Hills High School (1400 students in grades 9-12). The city is also home to various Christian and especially Catholic schools such as Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Thomas, and École Secondaire Notre Dame High School. The Catholic schools fall under the jusrisdiction of the Red Deer Catholic Regional Division No. 39 (RDCRD).

Media

Newspapers

Radio

Television

Cities in Alberta

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Red Deer, Alberta