High River
High River is a town in southern Alberta, Canada, located approximately 65 kilometres south of Calgary in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains along the Highwood River. Incorporated in 1906, it serves as a hub for ranching and agriculture in the Calgary Metropolitan Region, with a population of 14,324 as recorded in the 2021 Canadian census. The community occupies land historically used by the Blackfoot and Stoney Indigenous peoples and has developed into a family-friendly destination noted for its outdoor recreation, cultural events, and role as a filming location for productions such as the long-running CBC television series Heartland.[1][2][3][4] The town's economy traditionally revolves around cattle ranching and serves as a shipping point for livestock, bolstered by its strategic position astride Highway 2 and proximity to Calgary. Tourism has grown significantly, driven by attractions like the Heartland series, which has drawn thousands of visitors annually to explore filming sites and themed experiences, contributing to local businesses and events. High River is also associated with equestrian heritage, as the birthplace and longtime residence of Guy Weadick, co-founder of the Calgary Stampede, who owned property there and is buried in the local cemetery.[2][5][6][7] A defining event in the town's modern history occurred in June 2013, when severe flooding from the Highwood River inundated much of High River, damaging or destroying over 60 percent of homes, displacing nearly all residents, and causing extensive infrastructure harm. The disaster prompted a comprehensive recovery involving government aid exceeding $50 million initially, large-scale property buyouts in flood-prone areas, and investments in river mitigation measures to enhance resilience against future events. This response has positioned High River as a case study in community adaptation and mental health support following natural disasters.[8][9][10]Geography
Location and physical features
High River is situated in southern Alberta, Canada, within the Calgary Metropolitan Region, approximately 68 kilometres south of Calgary along Alberta Highway 2.[11][12] The town's geographic coordinates are approximately 50°35′N 113°52′W, placing it at the confluence of the Bow River and the Highwood River, which form key natural features defining its boundaries and hydrology.[13][14] The municipal land area spans 22.19 square kilometres, encompassing flat prairie terrain interspersed with river valleys and gentle undulations characteristic of the Foothills Natural Region.[15] This topography transitions from open grasslands to the rolling hills of the eastern Rocky Mountain foothills, with elevations around 1,042 metres above sea level influencing local drainage and landforms.[16][17] The rivers' valleys provide incision into the surrounding plains, creating escarpments and supporting riparian zones amid predominantly agricultural and undeveloped expanses.[18] Proximity to the Rocky Mountains, about 50 kilometres west, contributes to varied physical contexts including wind corridors and sediment deposition from fluvial processes, while the area's zoning prioritizes residential clusters near the rivers and agricultural uses on peripheral flatlands.[2][19]Climate
High River has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), featuring cold, snowy winters and mild to warm summers with moderate precipitation throughout the year.[20] Long-term data from Environment and Climate Change Canada indicate average daily minimum temperatures of -17.2°C in January and maximums of 24.5°C in July, based on 1981–2010 normals recorded at the High River station. Annual precipitation averages 436.2 mm, predominantly as rain during the warmer months—peaking at 67.7 mm in June—while winter snowfall totals 132.8 cm, contributing to rapid spring runoff from snowmelt combined with convective thunderstorms.[21]| Month | Mean Daily Max (°C) | Mean Daily Min (°C) | Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -3.7 | -17.2 | 11.5 |
| July | 24.5 | 9.7 | 67.7 |
| Annual | 11.8 | -1.0 | 436.2 |
History
Indigenous and pre-settlement era
The region surrounding High River, in southern Alberta's foothills, constituted part of the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, comprising the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani nations, who exerted primary control over the northern Great Plains prior to European contact around 1740.[24][25] These groups maintained a nomadic lifestyle centered on communal bison hunting, with economies reliant on the vast herds that migrated across the open prairies and river valleys, supported by archaeological evidence of kill sites and processing camps throughout southern Alberta dating back millennia.[26] Trade routes linked these territories, facilitating exchange of goods like pemmican and hides among Plains nations, as corroborated by oral traditions and scattered artifacts such as stone tools recovered from regional sites.[27] The Stoney Nakoda, an offshoot of the Assiniboine, also utilized the High River area for seasonal hunting and temporary campsites, particularly in the pre-horse era before 1754, when mobility was limited to foot travel and dogs for transport.[24][28] This usage reflected broader ecological adaptations to the bow-and-riverine environment, where groups followed bison migrations without establishing fixed villages, as permanent settlements were impractical amid unpredictable herd patterns and seasonal resource shifts.[29] Archaeological records from proximate sites, including stratified bison bone deposits and lithic scatters, underscore a pre-1800 economy dominated by hunting rather than agriculture, with no evidence of sedentary communities in the immediate High River vicinity, aligning with the nomadic imperatives of Plains Indigenous lifeways.[30][31] Such patterns persisted until disruptions from European-introduced horses and fur trade dynamics altered mobility and inter-nation dynamics in the late 18th century.[27]European settlement and early growth (1880s–1906)
European settlers began arriving in the High River area in the early 1880s, drawn by the fertile grasslands suitable for cattle ranching following the signing of Treaty 7 in 1877, which opened the region to non-Indigenous land use along established trails like the Macleod Trail. The community initially formed at Spitzee Crossing—known locally as "the Crossing"—a strategic ford on the Highwood River midway between Fort Macleod and Calgary, serving as a rest stop for travelers and early ranchers. By 1882, the Northwest Cattle Company established the Bar U Ranch along the Highwood River, marking the onset of large-scale open-range cattle operations that defined the local economy, with herds grazing freely on public domain lands leased for grazing.[24][32] Ranching thrived under British-influenced practices imported by elite cattlemen, focusing on breeding hardy beef cattle for export markets, supported by the influx of American and Canadian ranchers experienced in frontier herding. The area's high bluffs and river crossings facilitated cattle drives, while the absence of fencing allowed expansive operations; by the mid-1880s, small herds numbered in the hundreds, contributing to economic migration as settlers established homesteads and trading posts. In November 1885, Presbyterian settlers founded the first church at the Crossing, reflecting community stabilization amid ranching activities.[33][34] The completion of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway in 1892 connected High River to broader markets, enabling efficient cattle shipping and accelerating population growth from scattered ranches to a nascent village. This infrastructure shift transitioned the economy from trail-based logistics to rail-dependent trade, with the town serving as a key loading point for livestock bound for eastern processors. High River incorporated as a village on December 5, 1901, and advanced to town status on February 12, 1906, formalizing municipal governance to manage expanding ranch-related services like stockyards and law enforcement for frontier disputes.[24][35]20th-century development and ranching economy
The Canadian Pacific Railway's established line through High River, with its station operational since the late 19th century, expanded post-World War I to enhance shipping of beef cattle and wheat, cementing these as core economic pillars amid growing demand for prairie exports.[36] Local ranchers leveraged foothill grasslands for cattle grazing, with operations like those near the Highwood River sustaining large herds through the interwar period, though open-range practices gave way to fenced pastures by the 1920s.[37] Unlike southern Alberta's extensive irrigation networks, High River's development relied more on natural watercourses and dryland techniques, fostering resilient wheat production tied to rail efficiency rather than large-scale water diversion. Population increased from 1,500 residents in 1927 to approximately 3,900 by 1961, driven by provincial highway upgrades including paving segments of Highway 2 in the 1930s and 1940s, which improved connectivity to Calgary and reduced transport costs for agricultural goods.[38][39] These infrastructure gains supported modest urbanization, with new services and mechanized farms attracting workers, though growth remained tied to ranching stability rather than industrial booms. Post-World War II tractor adoption and equipment advancements further mechanized operations, enabling larger-scale beef production and mixed farming without proportional labor increases.[40] The 1930s Dust Bowl droughts severely impacted the region, causing soil erosion and wheat yield drops of up to 80 percent in affected areas, prompting practical adaptations like summerfallowing fields to restore moisture and shifting emphasis to drought-tolerant cattle ranching.[41] Farmers implemented strip cropping and reduced tillage independently, minimizing reliance on emerging government relief programs, which preserved local self-sufficiency amid broader Prairie economic strain.[42] By the late 20th century, these adaptations, combined with market-oriented herd management, maintained ranching's dominance, with beef exports underpinning steady recovery through the 1970s and 1980s.[33]Major events and challenges post-2000
High River experienced significant population and residential growth in the 2000s and early 2010s, driven by its position as a commuter suburb to Calgary amid Alberta's oil boom, which fueled regional economic expansion through high energy prices and job creation in upstream sectors.[43] The town's population rose from approximately 7,492 in the 2001 census to 12,920 by 2011, prompting new housing subdivisions and infrastructure strain as inbound workers sought affordable alternatives to urban Calgary.[44] This period saw peaking developments in the mid-2010s, with municipal plans projecting a 14% housing demand increase beyond population trends due to smaller household sizes and commuter influx. A notable positive development was the filming of the television series Heartland, which began production in High River in 2007 and continued through subsequent seasons, injecting economic activity via local vendor contracts and tourism. Season 9 alone engaged over 120 High River-based vendors, contributing to diversified spending in services and retail beyond traditional ranching.[45] Proximity to Foothills oil fields supported minor energy-related ties, though the town's economy remained anchored in agriculture with limited direct diversification into hydrocarbons. The COVID-19 pandemic posed a acute challenge in April 2020, when an outbreak at the Cargill meat-processing plant—the town's largest employer—resulted in nearly 1,600 cases among workers, two fatalities, and a two-week shutdown that halted almost half of Canada's beef processing capacity.[46][47] The incident, linked to dense indoor work conditions and affecting primarily newcomer employees, amplified local transmission before containment measures like enhanced testing and facility modifications enabled resumption.[48] Recovery was relatively swift, with minimal enduring economic disruption attributed to the community's rural self-sufficiency and federal-provincial supports, though subsequent smaller outbreaks occurred in 2021 and 2022.[49] Alberta's broader oil price volatility post-2014 indirectly pressured commuter incomes but did not precipitate major local downturns.[50]Demographics
Population trends and growth
The population of High River experienced rapid expansion in the early 2000s, driven by Alberta's economic boom, before stabilizing at more moderate rates. The 2011 Census recorded 12,945 residents, up significantly from 7,492 in 2006, reflecting an average annual growth of approximately 11.6% during that period. By the 2016 Census, the figure reached 13,594, a 5.0% increase over five years or about 1.0% annually, followed by a further rise to 14,324 in the 2021 Census, equating to a 1.05% average annual growth rate from 2016 to 2021.[51] These trends indicate a slowdown from pre-2013 levels of 2–3% annual growth but consistent overall expansion, with temporary disruptions from the 2013 floods offset by post-recovery rebound.[52] Net internal migration has been a key driver since 2015, with positive inflows primarily from nearby urban areas like Calgary, including commuters and retirees attracted to lower housing costs relative to metropolitan centers. Statistics Canada data highlights sustained intermunicipal migration gains, contributing to the town's resilience and growth amid broader Alberta trends. Recent estimates place the 2024 population at 15,445, a 1.18% year-over-year increase and 9.96% rise over the prior five years from the 2021 baseline.[53]| Census Year | Population | Five-Year Growth (%) | Average Annual Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 12,945 | - | - |
| 2016 | 13,594 | 5.0 | 1.0 |
| 2021 | 14,324 | 5.4 | 1.05 |