Баррхед қаласының тарихы мен географиясы

the town

Barrhead '/b//ɑr//h//ɛ//d/ is a town in central Alberta, Canada that is surrounded by the County of Barrhead No. 11. It is located along the Paddle River and at the intersection of Highway 33 (Grizzly Trail) and Highway 18, approximately northwest of the City of Edmonton. It is also located along the route of the Express Trail, used by the North West Company, which was originally a First Nations trail. The trail was later widened by George Simpson and John Rowand to save the North West Company over $5,000. The town was named after the Scottish town Barrhead, the birthplace of one of the children of the area's early settlers, James McGuire. Barrhead's official bird is the great blue heron.

During the late 19th century and the early 20th century, Barrhead played an important role in the settlement of northwest Alberta. Highway 33, known as the Grizzly Trail, follows the original Klondike Trail, which was the shortest route to the Yukon during the Gold Rush years. Once established, this route was key to the settlement of the Peace River region. The old Barrhead town site, 3 km north of the present Town Centre, was a frequent stop over for the few Klondikers and others who needed supplies for the rigorous journey north. Originally established in 1906, Barrhead's position as a major trade centre on the historic Klondike Trail gave it a significant role in the settlement of north western Alberta. It was a vital link in the trade route from Fort Edmonton to the Yukon. James McGuire, the child of one of the first settlers in the area, named Barrhead after his hometown in Scotland. Today, the community's rich history can be revisited through a collection of artifacts at the Barrhead and District Museum. The museum also houses a large display of African taxidermy, as well as the Barrhead Visitor Information Centre, which is open from May to September. The great blue heron is another prominent figure in local lore, is often spotted along the shores of the Paddle River and local lakes, and is the town's official animal. A statue of the bird is situated next to the Community Gazebo that marks the town centre and miniatures of the bird adorn the street posts. The area was a quiet land of rolling hills well covered with stands of poplar, birch, pine and spruce trees on the higher ground with the low areas filled with willow and tamarack. The area has always been sparsely populated, with Cree natives passing through the region for the last 5000 years mainly settling around the different lakes in the region (such as Shoal Lake).

The area contains dense stands of spruce, birch, pine and poplar. It also has some of the most fertile farmland in the province and is located between two major rivers, the Athabasca River and Pembina River. The Paddle River, a tributary of the Pembina River, flows directly through the town Barrhead. If you go south and east of town there are low flatlands and river lands, and to the west of town there is the area's main recreational area, Thunder Lake Provincial Park, approximately west of the town. Thunder Lake is very popular for boating, fishing and camping and is home to many residents from other areas of the province during the summer months. The northern parts of the Barrhead region contain thick stands of spruce, pine and tamarack. Throughout the county of Barrhead there are also numerous lakes besides just Thunder Lake Provincial Park that are great for camping and fishing. There is also a local ski hill with good elevation on the Athabasca River valley. Wildlife in the Barrhead area include deer, moose, coyote, black bear, grizzly bear, mountain lion, wolves and the county emblem the great blue heron.

The town has a borderline humid continental (Köppen Dfb)/subarctic (Dfc) climate. Barrhead lies in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 3a) and is characterised by pleasant summers and frigid winters. There are four distinct seasons. Temperatures reach upwards of 35 °C (95 °F) during June, July, and August and can drop as low as , though like all of Alberta winters are extremely variable from year to year. Rainfall is moderate, with the majority falling during the summer months. The area is noticeably wetter than in surrounding regions, particularly to the south and east. Around a metre of snow falls on the region during winter. During the summer solstice, twilight extends throughout the night and during the winter, night comes quickly. However, the town gets to experience beautiful displays of the Aurora borealis and this helps with the dark.

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Barrhead had a population of 4,320 living in 1,833 of its 1,983 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 4,579. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Barrhead recorded a population of 4,579 living in 1,912 of its 2,009 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 4,432. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016.

The major industries that support Barrhead's economy are oil and gas, forestry, and agriculture. Dairy, sheep, livestock, wheat, and fruit crops are examples of the types of agricultural activities in the area. Barrhead is home to a facility of Pollard Banknote Ltd., a supplier of scratch off and pull tab instant tickets, ticket vending machines, and bingo supplies. The town is also home to a modular housing plant. Barrhead has several large companies as it has two major tractor dealers (John Deere) and KNM Sales and Services which supplies the entire area of Barrhead county. It has many churches and was known for most churches per square meter. There are two web development companies (bizuns) and Slomp Technologies

The town houses the province's correspondence school, which in 1991 was renamed the Alberta Distance Learning Centre.

The current Mayor is Dave Mackenzie. The town council consists of 6 councillors and 1 mayor which is elected every 4 5 years usually.

Barrhead is currently in the Peace River—Westlock federal electoral district represented by MP Arnold Viersen.

Barrhead is currently in the Athabasca Barrhead Westlock provincial electoral district represented by MLA Glenn van Dijken.

The town is within the Pembina Hills Public Schools Division, which formed in 1995 as a merger of three school districts. Barrhead Composite High School (winners of the Reach for the Top national championship in 1973) serves the community.

Barrhead is home to a junior ice hockey team in Western States Hockey League announced to start playing in 2019–20 season.