Castor is a town in Alberta, Canada. It is located at the intersection of

Highway 12 Route 12 or Highway 12 can refer to: For a list of roads named A12, see A12 roads. International * Asian Highway 12 * European route E12 * European route E012 Argentina * National Route 12 Australia NSW * Western Sydney Airport Motorway ( ...

and Highway 861, approximately east of the City of Red Deer. It has an elevation . ''Castor'' is French (also Latin) for

beaver Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents in the genus ''Castor'' native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. There are two extant species: the North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') and the Eurasian beaver (''C. fiber''). Beavers ar ...

. The town is known for its duck and geese migration in the fall since its territory includes many stopping points well frequented by migrating waterfowl.

History

Castor was incorporated on July 13, 1910.

Demographics

In the

2021 Census of Population The 2021 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population with a reference date of May 11, 2021. It follows the 2016 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 35,151,728. The overall response rate was 98%, which is sli ...

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 Castor had a population of 803 living in 383 of its 426 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 929. 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 Castor recorded a population of 929 living in 419 of its 448 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 932. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016.

Tourism

Castor's tourism peaks during the summer months. Each year Castor's lake like creek that wraps around the north-east end of the town, is a large drawing point for visitors. This one of a kind creek is framed by sandstone cliffs, and a visit will usually be filled with numerous wildlife sightings. The creek is one of the best places on the Alberta prairies for Kayaking and paddle-boarding. Other creek activities include motor-boating and swimming. On dry years natural beaches form at the base of some of the cliffs, giving visitors opportunities to dock their kayaks, during parts of creek. In addition to the creek, the town hosts many museums, including the towns original hospital dating back to 1911, the Machine Shed Museum, the Pharmacy Museum housed in the towns original drug store, the Beaver School Museum, the historic All Saints Anglican Church, the Grain Elevator Historical Site, and the Train Station Museum.

Economy

The town's main industries are agriculture, mining and oil and gas services.

Infrastructure

Castor is home to the Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital.

Education

The Town of Castor has two schools, one Public named Gus Wetter School and one Catholic named

Theresetta Catholic School Castor is a town in Alberta, Canada. It is located at the intersection of Alberta Highway 12, Highway 12 and Alberta Highway 861, Highway 861, approximately east of the City of Red Deer, Alberta, Red Deer. It has an elevation . ''Castor'' is Fre ...

. A source of humour for those familiar with Castor is the name of Gus Wetter's school men's sports teams: The Castor Raiders.

Media

The local newspaper is the ''Castor Advance'' covering news events occurring in Castor as well as neighbouring communities.

Literature

W. O. Mitchell William Ormond Mitchell, (March 13, 1914 – February 25, 1998) was a Canadian writer and broadcaster. His "best-loved" novel is '' Who Has Seen the Wind'' (1947), which portrays life on the Canadian Prairies from the point of view of a smal ...

was a teacher in Castor when he wrote ''

Who Has Seen the Wind Who Has Seen the Wind may refer to: * ''Who Has Seen the Wind'' (novel), 1947 novel by Canadian author W. O. Mitchell *'' Who Has Seen the Wind?'', American TV production directed by George Sidney; produced by the United Nations * "Who Has Seen the ...

''.

Notable people

Darcy Tucker Darcy Tucker (born March 15, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played most of his National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. A sixth round draft choice, Tucker began his NHL career with the Mon ...

, former professional hockey player

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1909 establishments in Alberta County of Paintearth No. 18 Towns in Alberta