Breton, Alberta
History
Originally called Keystone, it was established in 1909 by a group of African-American immigrants as a block settlement. The new Black Canadian homesteaders arrived from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, just four years after Alberta became a province in 1905.
A Canadian Northern Railway line went through Breton. Breton had several grain elevators and a station.
In 1927 the town was renamed after politician Douglas Breton, in his second year as the region's Member of the Alberta Legislature.
Infrastructure
It has one High School (grades 7–12) and one elementary (K-6) school. It has a Paid on call Fire department operating with the Brazeau county fire services, two grocery stores, two golf courses, four restaurants, two hair parlors, a police station with three officers and one secretary.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Breton had a population of 567 living in 259 of its 296 total private dwellings, a change of -1.2% from its 2016 population of 574. With a land area of 1.72 km (0.66 sq mi), it had a population density of 329.7/km (853.8/sq mi) in 2021.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Breton recorded a population of 574 living in 252 of its 292 total private dwellings, a 15.7% change from its 2011 population of 496. With a land area of 1.72 km (0.66 sq mi), it had a population density of 333.7/km (864.3/sq mi) in 2016.
The Village of Breton's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 581, a 0.3% increase over its 2007 municipal census population of 579.
See also
- List of communities in Alberta
- List of villages in Alberta
- Similar 1908 to 1910 Alberta homesteader settlements of Black Canadians: