Bowden, Alberta
The community may take its name from Bowdon, Greater Manchester, in England. A provincial Alberta Land Surveyor reference relates this alternate name source, "The most widely accepted version says that a surveyor named Williamson suggested that this siding on the Edmonton-Calgary Trail take the maiden name of his wife."
History
During the World War II an area of land 4 kilometres north of the town was appropriated by the Royal Canadian Air Force for construction of an Air Training Base. RCAF Station Bowden was home to No. 32 Elementary Flying Train School (EFTS).
After the war the site was converted to the Bowden Institution, originally as a provincial facility. In 1974 it was converted to a Corrections Canada medium security penitentiary.
The town describes itself as a bedroom community, meaning a large proportion of the working population commutes to other employment centres, including Red Deer and Calgary.
Geography
Nearby communities include Innisfail to the north, Caroline to the west, Huxley to the east and Olds to the south.
Climate
| Climate data for Bowden | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 12.8 (55.0) |
14.4 (57.9) |
19.4 (66.9) |
28.9 (84.0) |
30.6 (87.1) |
33.3 (91.9) |
34.4 (93.9) |
32.8 (91.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
29.0 (84.2) |
22.2 (72.0) |
13.9 (57.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −8 (18) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
1.2 (34.2) |
9.6 (49.3) |
16.5 (61.7) |
20.0 (68.0) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.1 (71.8) |
16.7 (62.1) |
11.9 (53.4) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−6 (21) |
8.7 (47.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −13.6 (7.5) |
−8.6 (16.5) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
3.4 (38.1) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.6 (56.5) |
15.7 (60.3) |
15.0 (59.0) |
9.9 (49.8) |
4.9 (40.8) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−11.6 (11.1) |
2.5 (36.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −19.4 (−2.9) |
−14.5 (5.9) |
−10 (14) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
2.6 (36.7) |
7.1 (44.8) |
8.9 (48.0) |
7.8 (46.0) |
3.2 (37.8) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−10 (14) |
−17.2 (1.0) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −45.6 (−50.1) |
−42 (−44) |
−39.4 (−38.9) |
−22.8 (−9.0) |
−12.8 (9.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
1.1 (34.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−24.5 (−12.1) |
−33.3 (−27.9) |
−44.4 (−47.9) |
−45.6 (−50.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 27.3 (1.07) |
19.2 (0.76) |
20.6 (0.81) |
25.4 (1.00) |
58.5 (2.30) |
89.1 (3.51) |
90.1 (3.55) |
59.5 (2.34) |
53.9 (2.12) |
22.3 (0.88) |
18.5 (0.73) |
27.5 (1.08) |
511.7 (20.15) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 1.0 (0.04) |
0.3 (0.01) |
1.7 (0.07) |
10.4 (0.41) |
55.0 (2.17) |
89.0 (3.50) |
90.1 (3.55) |
59.5 (2.34) |
50.3 (1.98) |
12.0 (0.47) |
1.3 (0.05) |
0.0 (0.0) |
370.6 (14.59) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 26.3 (10.4) |
18.9 (7.4) |
18.9 (7.4) |
15.0 (5.9) |
3.5 (1.4) |
0.1 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.5 (1.4) |
10.3 (4.1) |
17.2 (6.8) |
27.5 (10.8) |
141.0 (55.5) |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bowden had a population of 1,280 living in 584 of its 622 total private dwellings, a change of 3.2% from its 2016 population of 1,240. With a land area of 3.46 km (1.34 sq mi), it had a population density of 369.9/km (958.1/sq mi) in 2021.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bowden recorded a population of 1,240 living in 524 of its 581 total private dwellings, a -0.1% change from its 2011 population of 1,241. With a land area of 2.8 km (1.1 sq mi), it had a population density of 442.9/km (1,147.0/sq mi) in 2016.
Attractions
Bowden has a nine-hole golf course with a licensed clubhouse. The Paterson Community Centre and the Friendship Centre provide venues for family and community functions. The Pioneer Museum offers an insight into past community life and the past history of the Town. The pioneer museum features photographs by the local photographer Bob Hoare, who documented local residents around the turn of the twentieth century.
Notable people
- Neil MacGonigill, music manager and producer, was raised in Bowden
See also
List of communities in Alberta
List of towns in Alberta
References
- ^ "Location and History Profile: Town of Bowden" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 92. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
- ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 23.
- ^ "Place Names Profile: Town of Bowden". Alberta Land Surveyors' Assoc. September 25, 2018. p. 5. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 82.
- ^ Hatch, F. J. (1983). The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945 (PDF). Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence. p. 207. ISBN 0-660-11443-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-11. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- ^ Bowden Institution and Annex, Government of Canada. Accessed November 2, 2018.
- ^ Bowden: Gateway to the Parkland, Town of Bowden. Accessed November 2, 2018
- ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1961-1990". Environment Canada. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ^ Bowden Hi-Way Golf Course website. Accessed November 2, 2018.
- ^ Visitor Information, Town of Bowden. Accessed November 2, 2018
- ^ Michelle Bartleman (August 22, 2017). A piece of Bowden history on display, Olds Albertan. Accessed November 2, 2018.
- ^ Heath McCoy (June 19, 2007). "Field of dreamers". Calgary Herald. Canada.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
External links
Places adjacent to Bowden, Alberta | |
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