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Edmonton

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Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta, Canada.

Edmonton Skyline July 2020
Edmonton Skyline July 2020

It sits right along the North Saskatchewan River.

2008-06-19 North Saskatchewan River 3
2008-06-19 North Saskatchewan River 3

This river flows through a large area called the Edmonton Metropolitan Region.

Downtown edmonton
Downtown edmonton

The city is a very important place in western Canada. It sits at the northern end of a busy area called the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor.

Edmonton River Valley and Dawson Bridge
Edmonton River Valley and Dawson Bridge

People who live in the city are known as Edmontonians.

Long ago, many different First Nations peoples lived in this area. These groups included the Cree, Nakota Sioux, Blackfoot, Tsuutʼina, Ojibwe, and Denesuline.

Larch Sanctuary bridge
Larch Sanctuary bridge

They used the river valley to find food and medicine. They also found special rocks like chert to make tools. They could knap these stones into sharp axes and knives. The Métis people also lived here and held narrow lots along the river.

North Saskatchewan River Valley Edmonton Alberta Canada 04 A
North Saskatchewan River Valley Edmonton Alberta Canada 04 A

These people used the land for many thousands of years.

Trading changed the area many years later. In 1795, a major trading post called Fort Edmonton was built.

Kane Fort Edmonton
Kane Fort Edmonton

It was named after a place in England called Edmonton. The fort became a main center for trade after two big companies merged in 1821.

Fort Edmonton 1900
Fort Edmonton 1900

Later, the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1891 brought many new people. The city grew quickly after that. Edmonton officially became a city in 1904. Just one year later, in 1905, it became the capital of Alberta.

AlbertaLegislature
AlbertaLegislature

Edmonton has grown much larger over time. It grew by joining with nearby towns and villages like Strathcona and Beverly.

City-Hall-Edmonton-Alberta-2A
City-Hall-Edmonton-Alberta-2A

In 2021, the city had a population of 1,010,899 people. The whole metropolitan area had 1,418,118 people.

Rogers Place, Edmonton, June 6, 2024
Rogers Place, Edmonton, June 6, 2024

This makes it the fifth-largest city in Canada. It is also the northernmost city in North America with over one million people. The city even took in more land from Leduc County and Beaumont in 2019.

Today, the city is a busy place for many things. People call it "Canada's Festival City" because it hosts festivals all year.

Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Edmonton Folk Music Festival

It is also known as the "Gateway to the North." This is because it helps people reach oil sands and diamond mines.

WestEdmontonMall2017
WestEdmontonMall2017

You can visit the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest mall in Canada. You can also visit Fort Edmonton Park, which is the largest living history museum in the country.

The city is a center for schools, government, and culture.

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🖼️ Images & Media (35)
File:Kane Fort Edmonton.jpg
Kane Fort Edmonton.jpg
File:LegislatureFortEd.jpg
LegislatureFortEd.jpg
File:City-Hall-Edmonton-Alberta-2A.jpg
City-Hall-Edmonton-Alberta-2A.jpg
File:2008-06-19 North Saskatchewan River 3.jpg
2008-06-19 North Saskatchewan River 3.jpg
File:Winter season in Canada - Edmonton, November 2013 (11508911505).jpg
Winter season in Canada - Edmonton,...
File:Edmonton Skyline July 2020.jpg
Edmonton Skyline July 2020.jpg
File:Victoria Promenade.jpg
Victoria Promenade.jpg
File:2008-12-27 Candy Cane Lane 013.jpg
2008-12-27 Candy Cane Lane 013.jpg
File:Row Housing Blatchford Edmonton.jpg
Row Housing Blatchford Edmonton.jpg
File:St Joseph s Basillica Compressed.jpg
St Joseph s Basillica Compressed.jpg
File:Bell Tower, Edmonton.jpg
Bell Tower, Edmonton.jpg
File:Downtown edmonton.jpg
Downtown edmonton.jpg

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