Drumheller is a town on the

Red Deer River The Red Deer River is a river in Alberta and a small portion of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a major tributary of the South Saskatchewan River and is part of the larger Saskatchewan-Nelson system that empties into Hudson Bay. Red Deer River ...

in the

badlands Badlands are a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded."Badlands" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 47. They are characterized by steep slopes, m ...

of east-central Alberta, Canada. It is northeast of

Calgary Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...

and south of Stettler. The Drumheller portion of the Red Deer River valley, often referred to as Dinosaur Valley, has an approximate width of and an approximate length of . Drumheller was named after Samuel Drumheller, who, after purchasing the homestead of Thomas Patrick Greentree, had it surveyed into the original Drumheller townsite and put lots on the market in 1911. Also in 1911, Samuel Drumheller started

coal mining Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...

operations near the townsite. Drumheller got a railway station in 1912. It was then incorporated as a village on May 15, 1913, a town on March 2, 1916 and a city on April 3, 1930. Over a 15-year period, Drumheller's population increased from 312 in 1916 to 2,987 in 1931 shortly after becoming a city. Drumheller boomed until the end of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

when coal lost most of its value. The City of Drumheller amalgamated with the Municipal District (MD) of Badlands No. 7 on January 1, 1998 to form the current Town of Drumheller. Some of the reasons the two municipalities amalgamated included the MD of Badlands No. 7 having more in common with Drumheller than other surrounding rural municipalities and both were experiencing similar planning and development issues due to their locations within the Red Deer River valley. The amalgamated municipality opted for town status rather than city status so that highways within would remain the responsibility of the Province of Alberta. As a result of the amalgamation, Drumheller became Alberta's largest town in terms of land area at . The 1998 amalgamation resulted in Drumheller absorbing six hamlets that were previously under the jurisdiction of the MD of Badlands No. 7 –

Cambria Cambria is a name for Wales, being the Latinised form of the Welsh name for the country, . The term was not in use during the Roman period (when Wales had not come into existence as a distinct entity). It emerged later, in the medieval period, a ...

, East Coulee, Lehigh, Nacmine, Rosedale and Wayne. Drumheller also previously absorbed the hamlets of Bankview, Midlandvale (Midland),

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...

and North Drumheller during annexations while under city status. Bankview and Midland were annexed in 1964 and 1972 respectively, while Newcastle and North Drumheller were both annexed in 1967. Other localities within Drumheller, either absorbed through past annexations or its eventual amalgamation with the MD of Badlands No. 7, include Aerial, Eladesor, Kneehill, Rosedale Station, Western Monarch (Atlas) and Willow Creek. In total, Drumheller has absorbed at least 13 other communities in its history, some of which are now recognized as neighbourhoods or districts within the town.

Geography

Climate

Drumheller experiences a

semi-arid climate A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-ar ...

(

BSk BSK is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to: Sports * OFK Beograd, Serbian football club * FK BSK Borča, Serbian football club * FK BSK Batajnica, Serbian football club * FK BSK Banja Luka, Bosnian-Herzegovinian football club * FK BSK Led ...

) with very cold winters and hot summers. The highest temperature ever recorded in Drumheller was on July 18, 1941. The coldest temperature ever recorded was on January 29, 1996.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by

Statistics Canada Statistics Canada (StatCan; french: Statistique Canada), formed in 1971, is the agency of the Government of Canada commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and cultur ...

, the Town of Drumheller had a population of 7,909 living in 3,198 of its 3,557 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 7,982. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Drumheller recorded a population of 7,982 living in 3,164 of its 3,471 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 8,029. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016.

Economy

Drumheller was once the largest coal producing city in Western Canada, with the

Atlas Coal Mine The Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site is an inactive coal mine in Alberta, Canada that operated from 1936 to 1979. Located in East Coulee near Drumheller, it is considered to be Canada's most complete historic coal mine and is home to the c ...

. Now, coal mining has been replaced by natural gas and oil. Drumheller has Alberta's second largest natural gas field, the West Drumheller Field. However, Drumheller is planning to transition away from fossil fuels and emphasize renewable energy sources, such as wind power, in its economy. Currently, tourism is Drumheller's main industry. A

federal prison A federal prison is operated under the jurisdiction of a federal government as opposed to a state or provincial body. Federal prisons are used for convicts who violated federal law (U.S., Mexico), inmates considered dangerous (Brazil), or those s ...

and regional medical complex also contribute to the economy. Agriculture is also quite important.

Attractions

South of the traffic bridge over the Red Deer river on Highway 9 is the ''

World's Largest Dinosaur The "World's Largest Dinosaur" is the name of a Roadside attraction, roadside tourist attraction in the form of a model ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' located in the Drumheller, Alberta, Town of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. The World's Largest Dinosaur i ...

'', a 26.2-metre (86 ft) high fiberglass ''

Tyrannosaurus rex ''Tyrannosaurus'' is a genus of large theropod dinosaur. The species ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' (''rex'' meaning "king" in Latin), often called ''T. rex'' or colloquially ''T-Rex'', is one of the best represented theropods. ''Tyrannosaurus'' live ...

'' that can be entered for a view of the Badlands, including the adjacent 23 metre (75 ft) water fountain, again one of the largest in Canada. Tourist attractions also include the

Star Mine Suspension Bridge The Star Mine Suspension Bridge is a 117-metre-long pedestrian suspension bridge across the Red Deer River in Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. Constructed in 1931, it was built for the coal workers of Star Mine. In 1958, the Alberta government re ...

, Canadian Badlands Passion Play, Horseshoe Canyon, Water Spray Park, Aquaplex with indoor and outdoor pools, Horse Thief Canyon, hoodoos,

Midland Provincial Park Midland Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Alberta, Canada. Once the site of the Midland Coal Mine, it was designated as a provincial park on June 5, 1979. It now hosts the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. The Midland Coal Mine ...

, the Rosedeer Hotel in Wayne, of constructed pathways,

Bleriot Ferry The Bleriot Ferry is a cable ferry in Alberta, Canada. It links the two sections of the North Dinosaur Trail ( Highway 838) as it crosses the Red Deer River from Kneehill County on the west, to Starland County on the east. Originally known as t ...

, East Coulee School Museum, Homestead Museum, Valley Doll Museum and the Little Church which is capable of seating only six patrons. Next to the now closed Drumheller ski hill is the Canadian Badlands Passion Play site, where, for two weeks each July, performances are held. Companies are composed of actors from all over Alberta. The site also offers small plays throughout the summer and an interpretive centre. Drumheller is also home to the Valley Doll Museum and Gifts, where it displays over 700 dolls.

Royal Tyrrell Museum

The

Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (RTMP, and often referred to as the Royal Tyrrell Museum) is a palaeontology museum and research facility in Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. The museum was named in honour of Joseph Burr Tyrrell, and is situ ...

is a museum that hosts Canada's largest collection of dinosaur fossils. It boasts 375,000 visitors a year, the largest of all provincial museum attractions. It opened on September 25, 1985. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is located in the northwest quadrant of the Town of Drumheller, in Midland Provincial Park.

Media

Digital

DrumhellerOnline.com
is Drumheller's local news portal.

Radio

* Boom 99.5: CHOO-FM, Classic hits (Rock) * FM 94.5: CHTR-FM, tourist information * AM 910:

CKDQ CKDQ (''Real Country 910'') is a radio station in Drumheller, Alberta. Owned by Stingray Group, it broadcasts a country format. CKDQ is the only station in Canada which broadcasts on 910 AM, a Regional broadcast frequency. History The stati ...

, country music * FM 91.3:

CKUA-FM-13 The CKUA Radio Network is a Canadian donor-funded community radio network based in Edmonton, Alberta. Originally located on the campus of the University of Alberta in Edmonton (hence the UA of the call letters), it was the first public broadcaste ...

public broadcasting Public broadcasting involves radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing ...

(relay)

Newspapers

Newspapers covering Drumheller include the weekly ''

Drumheller Mail The Drumheller Mail is a community newspaper in Alberta, Canada. Established in 1911, it is one of Alberta's oldest community newspapers. History In 1911, The Mail was started by Grover Cleveland Duncan in Munson, Alberta. In April 1918, the pr ...

'', which has been publishing every Wednesday since 1911 and has been owned by the Sheddy family since 1954.

Television

All stations are analogue relays of stations from Calgary. * Channel 8: CICT-TV-1 (

Global Global means of or referring to a globe and may also refer to: Entertainment * ''Global'' (Paul van Dyk album), 2003 * ''Global'' (Bunji Garlin album), 2007 * ''Global'' (Humanoid album), 1989 * ''Global'' (Todd Rundgren album), 2015 * Bruno ...

) * Channel 10: CFCN-TV-6 ( CTV) ''(city grade)'' * Channel 12: CFCN-TV-1 ( CTV) ''(from Delia)''

Transportation

Drumheller/Ostergard's Airport Drumheller/Ostergard's Airport is located south southeast of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward ...

and Drumheller Municipal Airport are in the vicinity of Drumheller. None have regular passenger flights. Passenger rail service ran from 1912 up until 1981 but freight continued on the through lines up until 2014. The railway was decommissioned and demolished in 2014.

Notable people

* Tommy Anderson (1910–1971), professional ice hockey player *

Jaydee Bixby Jaydee Bixby (born August 14, 1990) is a Canadian country musician who was the runner-up on the fifth season of '' Canadian Idol''. In 2008 he signed with Her Royal Majesty's Records and went on to release his debut album ''Cowboys and Cadil ...

(born 1990), professional musician *

Andrew Bodnarchuk Andrew Scott Bodnarchuk (born July 11, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Bodnarchuk was born in Drumheller, Alberta, but grew up in Hamm ...

(born 1988), professional ice hockey player * Don Campbell (1925–2012), professional ice hockey player *

John Murray Campbell John Murray "Jack" Campbell (May 14, 1931 – December 21, 2021) was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1979 to 1989. He was the younger brother professional ice ...

("Jack"; born 1931), Canadian politician *

Philip J. Currie Philip John Currie (born March 13, 1949) is a Canadian palaeontologist and museum curator who helped found the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller, Alberta and is now a professor at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. In the ...

(born 1949), palaeontologist and museum curator * Bruno De Costa (born 1938), Olympic skeet shooter * Jack Evans (1928–1996), professional ice hockey player *

Glen Gorbous Glen Edward Gorbous (July 8, 1930 - June 12, 1990)Sports Illust ...

(1930-1990), professional baseball player * Glenn Gray (1924–2011), curler *

Glenn Hagel Glenn Joseph Hagel (born August 17, 1949) is a Canadian provincial and municipal politician. He was a Saskatchewan New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1986 to 2007, representing the constituencies of Moose ...

(born 1949), provincial and municipal politician *

Doug MacAuley Douglas William MacAuley (July 22, 1929 – September 2, 2009) was a Canadian ice hockey player with the Edmonton Mercurys. He won a gold medal at the 1950 World Ice Hockey Championships in London, England. The 1950 Edmonton Mercurys team was ...

(1929–2009), professional ice hockey player *

Jackie Pement Jacquelynne (Jackie) Pement (born May 10, 1946 in Drumheller, Alberta)

(born 1946), provincial politician * Howard E. Ross (1921–2010), land developer and builder *

Frank Sandercock Frank Ernest Sandercock (August 16, 1887October 27, 1942) was a Canadian ice hockey administrator. He served as president of both the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association, and had previously been an exe ...

(1887–1942), president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association *

Stanley Schumacher Stanley Stanford Schumacher (12 June 1933 – 10 October 2020) was a politician from Alberta, Canada. He was speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and a member of the House of Commons of Canada. Early life Stanley Stanford Schuma ...

(1933-2020), politician and lawyer *

Tom Siddon Thomas Edward Siddon, (born November 9, 1941) is a Canadian politician. Early life and education Born in Drumheller, Alberta, Siddon pursued engineering, graduating with distinction from the University of Alberta in 1963, winning the Gold Medal i ...

(born 1941), politician and engineer *

Darren Tanke Darren H. Tanke (born 1960) is a Canadian fossil preparation technician of the Dinosaur Research Program at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller, Alberta. Born in Calgary, Tanke became interested in natural history at an early a ...

(born 1960), palaeontologist and museum curator * Jeff Trembecky (born 1974), professional ice hockey player

References

External links

* {{coord, 51, 27, 49, N, 112, 43, 10, W, type:city_region:CA-AB, name=Drumheller, display=title 1913 establishments in Alberta Towns in Alberta Former cities in Alberta