Wanham () is a
hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
in
northern Alberta, Canada within
Birch Hills County. It is located east of
Rycroft along
Highway 49 and approximately north of
Grande Prairie, in the farmlands of
Peace River Country. Saddle River, a tributary of
Peace River, flows immediately north of the community. The origin of the name Wanham could have come from Wanham in
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
.
The local economy is based on
agriculture
Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...
and
ranching, the settlement being an agricultural service centre for the surrounding farms. A wood products plant, Newpro, was previously the largest employer in the settlement. It was announced it was closing in January 2006.
History
It was established in 1916 as a station on the
Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway. The first post office was built in 1918.
It was incorporated as a
village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
, but dissolved and merged with Birch Hills County in 1999 by
Order in Council
An Order in Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom, this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council ('' ...
458/99.
Birch Hills County's
municipal office is in Wanham.
Demographics
In the
2021 Census of Population conducted by
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada (StatCan; ), 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 culture. It is headquartered in ...
, Wanham had a population of 141 living in 58 of its 76 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 124. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
As a designated place in the
2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Wanham had a population of 124 living in 62 of its 78 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2011 population of 127. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016.
Attractions
A yearly
plowing competition takes place in Wanham since 1971. It is currently named Alberta Provincial and Canadian Plowing Match and includes a horse drawn antique parade, live music and fashion show.
The Grizzly Bear Prairie Museum is seasonally opened in Wanham. It was founded in 1979 by a group called the Community of Cooperating Organization (COCO for short). It was officially opened in 1981.
Climate
See also
*
List of communities in Alberta
*
List of former urban municipalities in Alberta
*
List of hamlets in Alberta
Hamlet (place), Hamlets in the Canadian province of Alberta are Unincorporated area, unincorporated communities administered by, and within the boundaries of, Specialized municipalities of Alberta, specialized municipalities or List of communit ...
References
Birch Hills County
Designated places in Alberta
Former villages in Alberta
Hamlets in Alberta
Populated places disestablished in 1999
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