Lethbridge

Lethbridge, Alberta
Climate diagram
	Temperature in ° C , precipitation in mm
	Source: Meteorological Service of Canada

Lethbridge
	; Center of Lethbridge
; coat of arms	; flag
Location in Alberta
	Lethbridge
	Lethbridge
State :	Canada
Province :	Alberta
Region:	Southern Alberta
Coordinates :	49 ° 42 ′ N , 112 ° 50 ′ W Coordinates: 49 ° 42 ′ N , 112 ° 50 ′ W
Height :	910 m
Area :	122.09 km²
Inhabitants : ; - Metropolitan Area :	92,729 (as of 2016); 117,394 (as of 2016)
Population density :	759.5 inhabitants / km²
Time zone :	Mountain Time ( UTC − 7 )
Postal code :	T1H - T1K
Foundation :	November 29, 1890
Mayor :	Chris Spearman
Website :	www.lethbridge.ca

Lethbridge is a city in the southern Canadian province of Alberta . It is located on the edge of the prairie near the Rocky Mountains on the Oldman River , 210 kilometers southeast of Calgary and has 92,729 inhabitants (as of 2016). This makes Lethbridge the largest city in the southern part of the province.

history

In 1869 the fort "Whoop-Up" was built on the site of the present city , from where US Americans operated illegal alcohol trade with the Indians . This was one of the reasons for the creation of the North West Mounted Police in 1873. In 1870 the last battle between the Cree and Blackfoot took place on the Oldman River ; In 1871 these two Indian nations signed a formal peace treaty. In 1874 a coal mining town was founded called Coalbanks , which was named Lethbridge in 1885 .

Between 1907 and 1909 the Canadian Pacific Railway built the Lethbridge Viaduct (also known as the "High-Level Bridge") over the "Oldman River Valley", which is still the longest railway bridge in the world made entirely of steel. The University of Lethbridge opened in 1967.

Demographics

The census in 2016 showed a population of 92,729 inhabitants for the city, after the census in 2011 for the municipality still showed a population of 83,517 inhabitants. The population has increased by 11.0% compared to the last census in 2011 and is therefore close to the provincial average with a population increase of 11.6%. In the census period 2006 to 2011, the number of inhabitants in the city increased, slightly above average, by only 11.8%, while the provincial average increased by 10.8%.

For the 2016 census, a median age of 37.2 years was determined for the city . The median age of the province in 2016 was only 36.7 years. The mean age was 39.5 years, or 37.8 years in the province. For the 2011 census, a median age of 37.4 years was determined for the municipality. The median age of the province in 2011 was only 36.5 years.

Economy and Infrastructure

economy

Lethbridge does not have a substantial manufacturing industry. Most jobs are in the service sector. Here you can shop in the large Westside Mall or in one of the many shops on the arteries . You can find all kinds of entertainment here that you would find in a big city. There are theaters, cinemas, many pubs and the Galt Museum, named after Sir Alexander Galt .

Infrastructure

Lethbridge is a major transportation hub in southern Alberta. Lethbridge is passed by the following highway or they start / end in town:

Alberta Highway 3 (as part of the Crowsnest Highway ),
Alberta Highway 4 ,
Alberta Highway 5 ,
Alberta Highway 25

Since Highway 4 begins in Lethbridge, the city is part of the CANAMEX Corridor . This transport corridor was defined as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement and is used for transport between Canada, the United States and Mexico.

A stretch of the Canadian Pacific Railway also runs through the city. About 13 kilometers south-south-east of the community is Lethbridge Airport ( IATA code : YQL, ICAO code : CYQL). The airfield has two asphalt runways less than 2,000 meters in length.

education

There are two universities in the city. The largest public college in the city is the University of Lethbridge with 9,000 students in 6 departments enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. The Lethbridge College is a small college on the 4,200 students are enrolled.

There are three high schools in town that run through grade 12. There are also four middle schools and twelve elementary schools. These schools are owned by Lethbridge School District No. 51 managed and supervised.

Sports

The flagship of the city is the junior ice hockey team from the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Lethbridge Hurricanes .

climate

Lethbridge is markedly influenced by the chinook's foehn winds , which sometimes take on hurricane-like proportions and can lead to extreme temperature fluctuations.