Edmonton is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. Located approximately 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Calgary, the city anchors the northern end of what Statistics Canada defines as the "Calgary–Edmonton Corridor."
History
The Edmonton area was first inhabited by First Nations peoples and was also a historic site for the Métis. By 1795, trading posts had been established in the region. Fort Edmonton became the main centre for trade after the 1821 merger of the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company. The area remained sparsely populated until the Canadian acquisition of Rupert's Land in 1870, followed by the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1891. Edmonton was incorporated as a city in 1904 and designated as the capital of the new province of Alberta in 1905.
The fort's name was chosen by William Tomison, who named it after Edmonton, Middlesex, England (now part of London). The name Edmonton derives from Adelmetone, meaning "farmstead/estate of Ēadhelm" (from the Old English personal name Ēadhelm and tūn), appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Geography and Climate
Edmonton lies on the North Saskatchewan River at an elevation of 671 metres (2,201 ft). It is North America's northernmost city with a population over one million. The terrain is generally flat to gently rolling, with ravines and deep river valleys. The city has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold, dry winters and warm, sunny summers. Edmonton receives 2,344 hours of bright sunshine per year, making it one of Canada's sunniest cities.
Demographics
As of the 2021 census, Edmonton had a city population of 1,010,899 and a metropolitan population of 1,418,118, making it the fifth-largest city and sixth-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Residents are called Edmontonians. The city has a diverse population: 51.4% of residents are of European ethnicities, with significant South Asian (11.5%), Southeast Asian (9.0%), Black (7.6%), East Asian (7.0%), and Indigenous (5.8%) communities. In 2021, 44.6% of residents identified as Christian, 8.3% as Muslim, 4.1% as Sikh, 3.4% as Hindu, and 36.4% reported no religious affiliation.
Economy
Edmonton is a major economic centre for northern and central Alberta and a key hub for the oil and gas industry, earning it the nickname "Oil Capital of Canada" in the 1940s. The city is home to Canadian Western Bank, the only publicly traded Schedule I chartered bank headquartered west of Toronto. Major companies founded in Edmonton include The Brick, Boston Pizza, Booster Juice, and Bioware (a video game developer). West Edmonton Mall, located in the city, is the second-largest shopping mall in North America and the 10th largest in the world.
Government
Edmonton is the capital of Alberta and houses the Alberta Legislature Building. The Edmonton City Council consists of a mayor and twelve councillors serving four-year terms. The city is represented by 20 MLAs in the provincial legislature and 9 Members of Parliament in the federal House of Commons.
Attractions and Culture
Edmonton is known as "Canada's Festival City," hosting numerous large festivals including the Edmonton International Fringe Festival (the largest fringe theatre festival in North America), the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and K-Days. The city's river valley constitutes the longest stretch of connected urban parkland in North America. Notable attractions include Fort Edmonton Park (Canada's largest living history museum), the Royal Alberta Museum, the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Muttart Conservatory, and the Telus World of Science Edmonton.
Sports
Edmonton is home to the Edmonton Oilers (NHL), the Edmonton Elks (CFL), and the Edmonton Stingers (CEBL). The city hosted the 1978 Commonwealth Games, the 1983 World University Games, and the 2001 World Championships in Athletics.
Transportation
Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is the main airport serving the city. The Edmonton Transit Service operates the Edmonton Light Rail Transit (LRT) network, which began service in 1978 as the first "modern" light rail line in North America. Major roadways include the Anthony Henday Drive ring road, Yellowhead Trail (Highway 16), and Whitemud Drive.
Education
Edmonton is home to the University of Alberta, a major research university with over 40,000 students, as well as MacEwan University, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), NorQuest College, and Concordia University of Edmonton.
