Bowden is a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

central Alberta Central Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta. Central Alberta is the most densely populated rural area in the province. Agriculture and energy are important to the area's economy. Geography Central Alberta is bordere ...

, Canada. It is located in

Red Deer County Red Deer County is a List of municipal districts in Alberta, municipal district in central Alberta, Canada within Division No. 8, Alberta, Census Division No. 8 and surrounding the Red Deer, Alberta, City of Red Deer. The neighbouring municipali ...

on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, approximately south of

Red Deer The red deer (''Cervus elaphus'') is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or hart, and a female is called a hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Iran, and parts of wes ...

. The community may take its name from

Bowdon, Greater Manchester Bowdon is a suburb and electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. History Within the boundaries of the historic county of Cheshire, both Bowdon and Dunham Massey are mentioned in the Domesday Book, citi ...

, 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 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 ...

an area of land 4 kilometres north of the town was appropriated by the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

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 Bowden Institution is a medium security prison operated by Correctional Services Canada. It was built on an ''"open campus"'' model. In an adjoining minimum security annex prisoners live in ordinary houses. The facility is located on Alberta's ...

, originally as a provincial facility. In 1974 it was converted to a

Corrections Canada The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC; french: Service correctionnel du Canada), also known as Correctional Service Canada or Corrections Canada, is the Canadian federal government agency responsible for the incarceration and rehabilitation of ...

medium security penitentiary. The town describes itself as a

bedroom community A commuter town is a populated area that is primarily residential rather than commercial or industrial. Routine travel from home to work and back is called commuting, which is where the term comes from. A commuter town may be called by many o ...

, 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 Olds may refer to: People * The olds, a jocular and irreverent online nickname for older adults * Bert Olds (1891–1953), Australian rules footballer * Carl D. Olds (1912–1979), New Zealand-born American mathematician * Chauncey N. Olds (181 ...

to the south.

Climate

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 Bowden had a population of 1,280 living in 584 of its 622 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 1,240. 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 Bowden recorded a population of 1,240 living in 524 of its 581 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 1,241. With a land area of , it had a population density of 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 Neil MacGonigill (born 1949, Bowden, Alberta) is a Calgary-based music promoter, manager and record label owner. History Neil MacGonigill was born in the farming community of Bowden, Alberta in 1949.Heath McCoyof dreamers ''Calgary Herald'' via Can ...

, music manager and producer, was raised in Bowden

References

External links

* {{Subdivisions of Alberta, towns=yes 1904 establishments in Alberta Towns in Alberta