Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta.

It is located in the center of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. This region is surrounded by the central region of Alberta. The city sits along the North Saskatchewan River.

It also anchors the northern end of the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor. This is a specific area defined by Statistics Canada. Edmonton is situated within Treaty 6 territory. Residents of the city are known as Edmontonians.

The history of the area began long before the modern city existed. The earliest known inhabitants arrived around 3,000 BC. Some evidence suggests people may have arrived as early as 12,000 BC. This happened when an ice-free corridor opened after the last glacial period ended.

The North Saskatchewan River valley provided essential resources for these early people. They found fish, medicine, and materials for making tools. They used abundant rocks like chert or quartzite. These stones could be knapped into axes, knives, and arrowheads. Several First Nations peoples inhabited the area. These included the Cree, Nakota Sioux, Blackfoot, Tsuutʼina, Ojibwe, and Denesuline. The Métis also held narrow lots along the river for resources.

European influence arrived through the fur trade. An explorer named Anthony Henday may have been the first European to enter the area in 1754. By 1795, trading posts were established in the region. Fort Edmonton was built on the north bank of the river.

It was located near the mouth of the Sturgeon River. The fort was a major center for the Hudson's Bay Company. It was named after Edmonton, Middlesex, in England. William Tomison chose this name for the fort. He named it after the hometown of the Lake family. At least five members of that family were influential in the Hudson's Bay Company. The fort was also called Fort-des-Prairies by French-Canadians and trappers.

Trade and transportation changed the region's development. In 1821, the Hudson's Bay Company merged with the North West Company. This merger made Fort Edmonton the main trade center for the area. The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1891 helped the local economy.

This led to the emergence of a railway townsite called Strathcona. Strathcona was located on the south side of the river. Many settlers arrived from Europe, the United States, and eastern Canada. They were attracted by the cheap land and fertile soil. Some people even passed through the area during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897.

Edmonton grew through official incorporation and expansion. It was incorporated as a town in 1892. It became a city in 1904.

One year later, in 1905, it was named the capital of Alberta. The city grew by absorbing five nearby urban municipalities. These included Strathcona, North Edmonton, West Edmonton, Beverly, and Jasper Place. This means the city is a combination of two cities, two towns, and two villages. The city also annexed land from Leduc County and the City of Beaumont in 2019.

Today, Edmonton is a major urban center with a large population. As of 2021, the city population was 1,010,899. The metropolitan population reached 1,418,118.

This makes it the fifth-largest city in Canada. It is also the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the country. Edmonton is the northernmost city in North America with over one million people. It is known as the "Gateway to the North." This nickname refers to its role as a staging point. It supports oil sands projects in northern Alberta and diamond mining in the Northwest Territories.

The city is a hub for culture and education. It is often called "Canada's Festival City" because of its many year-round festivals.

Visitors can find large landmarks like the West Edmonton Mall.

This mall was the world's largest from 1981 until 2004. The city also hosts Fort Edmonton Park. This is the largest living history museum in Canada.

Edmonton serves as a vital center for government and many different social systems.