Cardston

Cardston was "dry" (alcohol free) for more than a century after the 1915 Alberta liquor plebiscite. In 2023, following a municipal plebiscite in which residents voted narrowly in favour of the measure, the town council voted 5-2 to allow alcohol to be served in restaurants and recreation facilities such as the local golf course. Liquor stores, lounges, nightclubs and other alcohol-primary businesses remain prohibited, and there are no licensed premises in which to use video lottery terminals.{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/mayor-of-cardston-alberta-says-party-animal-citizens-dont-need-alcohol-in-dry-town|title=Mayor of Cardston, Alberta, says 'party animal' citizens don't need alcohol in dry town {{!}} National Post|newspaper=National Post |date=2014-10-07|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-02-03}}

In 1951, 75% of Cardston's 3500 residents were members of the LDS Church.{{cite journal |last1=Lawrence |first1=Richard |title=The Sober Truth About the Mormons |journal=Maclean's |date=January 15, 1951 |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1951/1/15/the-sober-truth-about-the-mormons}} It remains at about 80%, as of 2014.

On August 15, 2019, the town was granted a coat of arms by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.{{Cite web|last=General|first=The Office of the Secretary to the Governor|title=Town of Cardston [Civil Institution]|url=https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project-pic.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=3173&ProjectElementID=11204|access-date=2020-12-23|website=reg.gg.ca|date=12 November 2020 |language=EN}}

Cardston is situated in the foothills of southwest Alberta, approximately {{convert|25|km|2|abbr=on}} north from the American state of Montana. On its north side, it borders the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) Reserve, one of the largest reserves in North America. {{convert|40|km|2|abbr=on}} to the west of Cardston are the Rocky Mountains of Waterton Lakes National Park. Cardston is {{convert|77|km|2|abbr=on}} southwest of Lethbridge and {{convert|234|km|2|abbr=on}} south of Calgary.

Cardston experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). Along with the rest of southern Alberta, Cardston is subject to chinooks, which often bring temperatures in mid-winter well above {{convert|10|C|0|abbr=on}}. This same pattern results in more than 200 days of wind a year.

Weather records:

• Hottest Temperature: {{convert|39.0|C|1|abbr=on}} on 23 July 2007
• Coldest Temperature: {{convert|-41.7|C|0|abbr=on}} on 28 January 1929
• Most Rain In One Day: {{convert|106.0|mm|2|abbr=on}} on 6 June 1995
• Most Snow In One Day: {{convert|63.5|cm|1|abbr=on}} on 4 May 1919
• Deepest Snow Cover: {{convert|84|cm|1|abbr=on}} on 29 April 1967

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first= yes

|single line= yes

|collapsed = yes

|location = Cardston, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1918–present

|Jan record high C = 19.0

|Feb record high C = 21.0

|Mar record high C = 24.5

|Apr record high C = 30.5

|May record high C = 33.0

|Jun record high C = 35.6

|Jul record high C = 39.0

|Aug record high C = 36.7

|Sep record high C = 34.5

|Oct record high C = 29.5

|Nov record high C = 23.9

|Dec record high C = 19.4

|year record high C = 39.0

|Jan high C = 1.4

|Feb high C = 2.5

|Mar high C = 5.9

|Apr high C = 11.5

|May high C = 16.5

|Jun high C = 20.5

|Jul high C = 24.5

|Aug high C = 24.8

|Sep high C = 19.0

|Oct high C = 12.8

|Nov high C = 4.5

|Dec high C = 1.1

|year high C = 12.1

|Jan mean C = −4.5

|Feb mean C = −3.5

|Mar mean C = −0.1

|Apr mean C = 5.1

|May mean C = 9.9

|Jun mean C = 13.8

|Jul mean C = 16.9

|Aug mean C = 16.9

|Sep mean C = 11.8

|Oct mean C = 6.3

|Nov mean C = −1.1

|Dec mean C = −4.6

|year mean C = 5.6

|Jan low C = −10.4

|Feb low C = −9.5

|Mar low C = −6.1

|Apr low C = −1.3

|May low C = 3.3

|Jun low C = 7.0

|Jul low C = 9.3

|Aug low C = 8.9

|Sep low C = 4.6

|Oct low C = −0.2

|Nov low C = −6.7

|Dec low C = −10.3

|year low C = −1.0

|Jan record low C = −41.7

|Feb record low C = −38.9

|Mar record low C = −36.7

|Apr record low C = −25.6

|May record low C = −12.8

|Jun record low C = −5.6

|Jul record low C = −0.5

|Aug record low C = −3.9

|Sep record low C = −15.6

|Oct record low C = −26.5

|Nov record low C = −35.6

|Dec record low C = −38.5

|year record low C = −41.7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 20.8

|Feb precipitation mm = 19.1

|Mar precipitation mm = 37.5

|Apr precipitation mm = 40.6

|May precipitation mm = 81.3

|Jun precipitation mm = 90.7

|Jul precipitation mm = 45.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 43.9

|Sep precipitation mm = 53.1

|Oct precipitation mm = 31.6

|Nov precipitation mm = 29.6

|Dec precipitation mm = 21.5

|year precipitation mm = 515.0

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 0.4

|Feb rain mm = 0.0

|Mar rain mm = 1.5

|Apr rain mm = 10.8

|May rain mm = 66.7

|Jun rain mm = 90.7

|Jul rain mm = 45.5

|Aug rain mm = 43.7

|Sep rain mm = 49.2

|Oct rain mm = 9.9

|Nov rain mm = 2.1

|Dec rain mm = 0.1

|year rain mm = 320.6

|Jan snow cm = 20.4

|Feb snow cm = 19.1

|Mar snow cm = 36.0

|Apr snow cm = 29.7

|May snow cm = 14.6

|Jun snow cm = 0.0

|Jul snow cm = 0.0

|Aug snow cm = 0.1

|Sep snow cm = 3.6

|Oct snow cm = 21.7

|Nov snow cm = 27.4

|Dec snow cm = 21.4

|year snow cm = 194.2

|source 1 = Environment Canada{{cite web

|url =http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=2211&lang=e&dCode=0&province=ALTA&provBut=Go&month1=0&month2=12| title = Cardston, Alberta| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010| publisher = Environment Canada| language = en, fr| access-date = March 10, 2014| date = 2013-09-25}}{{cite web

|url= http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1994-05-30%7C2016-05-19&dlyRange=1994-07-06%7C2016-05-18&mlyRange=1996-04-01%7C2007-11-01&StationID=26971&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&Month=7&Day=19&txtStationName=cardston&timeframe=2&Year=2007

| title = July 2007

| work = Canadian Climate Data

| publisher = Environment Canada

| language = en, fr

| access-date = 20 May 2016| date = 2011-10-31

}}{{cite web

|url= http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1994-05-30%7C2016-05-19&dlyRange=1994-07-06%7C2016-05-18&mlyRange=1996-04-01%7C2007-11-01&StationID=26971&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&Month=1&Day=19&txtStationName=cardston&timeframe=2&Year=2015

| title = January 2015

| work = Canadian Climate Data

| date = 31 October 2011

| publisher = Environment Canada

| language = en, fr

| access-date = 20 May 2016}}

|date=August 2010

}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Cardston had a population of 3,724 living in 1,261 of its 1,335 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:3724-3585}}|3585|1}} from its 2016 population of 3,585. With a land area of {{cvt|8.58|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|3724|8.58|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000248 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=February 9, 2022}}

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Cardston recorded a population of 3,585 living in 1,175 of its 1,270 total private dwellings, a {{percentage|{{#expr:3585-3580}}|3580|1}} change from its 2011 population of 3,580. With a land area of {{convert|8.59|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|3585|8.59|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=February 8, 2017}}

Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census

{{Update section|date=December 2024|reason=Prohibition was recently repealed}}

Cardston's primary industries are education, health care, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and tourism.{{Cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E|title=Statistics Canada. 2017. Cardston County, MD [Census subdivision]|date=November 29, 2017|website=Census Profile. 2016 Census.|access-date=February 3, 2020}} Cardston is one of the few communities in Canada where alcohol cannot be sold or purchased.{{Cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/10/07/mayor-of-cardston-alberta-says-party-animal-citizens-dont-need-alcohol-in-dry-town/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141020143725/http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/10/07/mayor-of-cardston-alberta-says-party-animal-citizens-dont-need-alcohol-in-dry-town/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2014|title=Mayor of cardston Alberta says party animal citizens don't need alcohol in dry town|website=nationalpost.com}} {{cite web | title=CBC News | website=CBC | date=2014-10-06 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cardston-holds-plebiscite-on-lifting-ban-on-alcohol-in-mostly-mormon-town-1.2788673 | access-date=2020-07-30}} The Cardston Airport is located to the south-east of the town.{{CFS}}

{{unreferenced section|date=June 2011}}

File:Cardston, Alberta (circa 1914).jpg

Cardston has a soccer park, ball parks, a golf course, an ice skating rink, a swimming pool, tennis courts, hiking trails, a skateboard park, a hockey stadium, several recreation parks, picnic areas and playgrounds. St. Mary's Dam reservoir northeast of Cardston supports water sports in the summer months.

The Cardston Alberta Temple was constructed by Latter-day Saint pioneers from 1913-1923, and was the first temple constructed by the Church outside of the United States.[https://digitallibrary.uleth.ca/digital/collection/cardston Cardston], ULethbridge Digital Collection It remained the only temple in Canada until the Toronto Ontario Temple was built in 1990.

The Remington Carriage Museum is the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America, with more than 250 carriages, wagons and sleighs. The {{convert|63000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility features video displays, a fire hall, carriage factory, restoration shop, working stable, carriage rides, carriage rentals, a restaurant, guided tours, and a gift shop.

The Carriage House Theatre was constructed in 1912, and underwent renovations in 1937 and 1992. It seats 350 and hosts films, community theatre and professional summer theatre.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

The Card Pioneer Home was built by Cardston's founder Charles Ora Card in 1887, and served as a community centre and stopping place for travellers until the first hotel was built in 1894. The log structure stands in its original location and is open for public visits. It is a registered provincial historic site.{{cite web | url=http://www.cardstonhistoricalsociety.org/card_home.htm | title=Card Home }}

The Courthouse Museum is a sandstone structure built in 1907 from stone quarried near Cardston. It was used longer than any other courthouse in Alberta. The building displays the judge's bench, witness box, and jail cells. It is a registered provincial historic site.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardstonhistoricalsociety.org/|title=Cardston & District Historical Society|website=Cardston & District Historical Society|accessdate=25 April 2024}}

Schools include the Cardston High School, the Cardston Jr. High School (formerly Eastridge Elementary School), and Cardston Elementary School which are all under the Westwind School Division.

Former schools include Leeside (grades 1 and 2 - torn down in the late 1980s to make way for the Remington-Alberta Carriage Centre) and Westside. The building that housed many of the junior high facilities, E.J. Wood School (including the gymnasium near the current high school), Parkland School, and John S. Smith Schools were torn down in 1993 as the junior high moved to the former Eastridge building. The Cardston High School underwent extensive renovations in the early 2000s, including an expansion to its gymnasium, much-improved fitness and weight room facilities, wider hallways, and a new cafeteria.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

The Cardston News was first published in 1924, and was a weekly until 1925. During 1924–1925, the newspaper was edited and published by Fred Burton. It was later taken over by D.O. Wight, editor and managing director from September 17, 1925 until June 9, 1936. Fred Burton took over as publisher on June 16, 1936. The Cardston News was taken over by Gordon F. West On May 7, 1964.{{cite book |last=Strathern |first=Gloria M. |date=1988 |title=Alberta Newspapers, 1880-1982: An Historical Directory |publisher=University of Alberta Press |page=56 |isbn=0-88864-137-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FRDFGO1LqgsC&pg=PA56}}{{cite web |url=http://www.uleth.ca/lib/digitized_Collections/sanews.asp |title=UofL Library Digitized Collections - Southern Alberta Newspaper Collection |website=www.uleth.ca |access-date=14 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417160748/http://www.uleth.ca/lib/digitized_Collections/sanews.asp |archive-date=17 April 2010 |url-status=dead}} The Cardston Record began publication on August 6, 1898, and was published weekly until September 1901.

File:Fay-Wray-Fountain.jpg

• Victor L. Brown, world leader in the LDS Church[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1996/05/news-of-the-church/elder-victor-l-brown-dies-at-81 "Elder Victor L. Brown Dies at 81,"] Ensign, May 1996, 105.
• Ben Cahoon, CFL slotback who won three Grey Cup championships with the Montreal Alouettes.
• Grant Hunter, UCP MLA for Taber-Warner
• Elaine L. Jack, world leader in the LDS Church*[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1987/05/news-of-the-church/elaine-l-jack-second-counselor-in-the-young-women-presidency “"Elaine L. Jack, Second Counselor in the Young Women Presidency,"] Ensign, May 1987, 100.
• Merlin R. Lybbert, world leader in the LDS Church[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/05/news-of-the-church/elder-merlin-r-lybbert-of-the-second-quorum-of-the-seventy "Elder Merlin R. Lybbert of the Second Quorum of the Seventy,"] Ensign, May 1989, 98.
• Shawna Molcak, basketball player who played for Canada in the 1996 Summer Olympics[https://olympic.ca/team-canada/shawna-molcak "Shawna Molcak,"] Olympic.ca/athletes, Retrieved July 27, 2020.
• Grant Strate, dancer and choreographer[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/grant-strate/ "Strate, Grant"], The Canadian Encyclopedia, accessed 2007-12-17.
• Elle-MáijáTailfeathers - Blackfoot and Sámi filmmaker, actor, and producer born in Cardston
• Frank Weiss, racing driver
• Edward J. Wood, leader in the LDS ChurchJay M. Todd, [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1988/09/edward-j-wood-faith-personified "Edward J. Wood: 'Faith Personified',"] Ensign, September 1988, 50.
• George Woolf, jockey
• Fay Wray, King Kong actressWilliam Addams Reitwiesner, [http://www.wargs.com/other/wrayf.html Ancestry of Fay Wray], accessed 2007-12-17.

• Cardston (provincial electoral district)
• Cardston-Chief Mountain
• CFSO-TV
• James Gladstone
• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta
• Police Outpost Provincial Park

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Cardston

| North = Fort Macleod

| Northeast = Lethbridge
Magrath

| East = Milk River

| Southeast = Coutts

| South = Carway

| Southwest = Waterton Lakes National Park

| West = Hill Spring

| Northwest = Pincher Creek
Glenwood

}}

{{Subdivisions of Alberta|towns=yes}}

{{Alberta Regions South Saskatchewan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1887 establishments in the Northwest Territories

Category:Cardston County

Category:Latter-day Saint settlements in Canada

Category:Towns in Alberta

Category:1887 establishments in Alberta