Carstairs, Alberta

The origins of the Town of Carstairs dates back centuries to a network of trails collectively known as the Ancient Trail (also referred to as The Old North Trail and the Wolf Track). This important transportation corridor passed through the Carstairs area. Several prominent rock formations along river and creek beds were found in the district, and these were known resting and stopping sites for First Nations people as they moved up-and-down this corridor.{{Cite book|title=THE OLD NORTH TRAIL|last=McCLINTOCK|first=WALTER|publisher=London: Macmillan and Co|year=1910|isbn=0-8032-8258-3|url=http://sacred-texts.com/nam/pla/ont/index.htm}}

As the fur trade developed and settlement grew, the newcomers to the region adopted the same network of trails that had been used for centuries. In 1883, one of those newcomers, Sam Scarlett, set up a Stopping House at one of the prominent rock formations along the Rosebud River.{{Cite news|title=Edmonton Bulletin|date=December 8, 1883}} "Scarlett's" became an important and popular stop along the Calgary and Edmonton Trail - frequented by freighters, the NWMP, military and the various stage coach lines.{{Cite news|title=Edmonton Bulletin|date=1883}}

When the Calgary and Edmonton Railway arrived in 1890, the surveyors made an allotment for a siding, station house, and townsite to be built in relative proximity to Scarlett's Stopping House. However, to avoid crossing the Rosebud River at that point, the rail line was laid approximately 4 km west of Scarlett's.{{Cite news|title=Calgary Herald|date=August 27, 1890}}

Named 'Carstairs' the new townsite's development started off slowly, but by the turn of the 20th century, the area began a steady growth pattern that allowed it to be officially recognized as Carstairs, NWT on May 15, 1903. The name changed to Carstairs, Alta in 1905 when Alberta received official Provincial status.{{Cite news|title=Alberta Gazette|date=June 15, 1903}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Carstairs had a population of 4,898 living in 1,837 of its 1,883 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:4898-4077}}|4077|1}} from its 2016 population of 4,077. With a land area of {{cvt|11.77|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|4898|11.77|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 Carstairs recorded a population of 4,077 living in 1,544 of its 1,590 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:4077-3442}}|3442|1}} from its 2011 population of 3,442. With a land area of {{convert|11.92|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|4077|11.92|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}}

First Student Canada provides commuter bus service to Calgary from Didsbury and Carstairs.{{Cite web|date=November 2018|title=Didsbury/Carstairs Commuter|url=https://firststudentinc.com//wp-content/uploads/DidsburyCarstairs-Commuter.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722022956/https://firststudentinc.com//wp-content/uploads/DidsburyCarstairs-Commuter.pdf |archive-date=2021-07-22 }} The service loads commuters at the Carstairs Curling Club.{{cite web | url=http://www.carstairs.ca/en/livingincarstairs/transportation.asp | title=Transportation | publisher=Town of Carstairs | access-date=January 4, 2013}}

{{Stack|File:Alberta mainstreet Carstairs 015.jpg}}

Carstairs is home to an 18-hole golf course, a Memorial Complex with abundant parks and playgrounds, and Tourist Information Center. Carstairs has historically been an agricultural community, as it once had seven grain elevators. It celebrates each year with the CARA Rodeo in July,{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.carstairsrodeo.com/|access-date=2021-07-22|website=Carstairsrodeo|language=en}} Beef & Barley Days,{{Cite web|title=Beef and Barley Days – Carstairs Agricultural Society|url=http://www.carstairsagsociety.ca/beef-barley-days/|access-date=2021-07-22|language=en-US}} the High School Rodeo in September, 4-H Calf Show and Sale, Bull-A-Rama, Horticultural Show, and Pumpkin Festival.

There are seven churches in the town, including the Carstairs Church of God, St. Agnes Catholic Church, and the Carstairs Bancroft United Church. One of the churches is being used as a museum that often has religious services.

• Tony Stiles former professional hockey player and member of Canadian Olympic Hockey team

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta

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{{Geographic location

| Centre = Carstairs

| North = Didsbury

| Northeast = Three Hills

| East = Acme

| Southeast = Beiseker

| South = Crossfield

| Southwest = Cochrane

| West = Cremona

| Northwest = Sundre

}}

{{Subdivisions of Alberta|towns=yes}}

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Category:1903 establishments in the Northwest Territories

Category:Populated places established in 1903

Category:Mountain View County

Category:Towns in Alberta