Derwent, Alberta
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Derwent
| other_name =
| native_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Hamlet
| motto =
| image_skyline =
| imagesize =
| image_caption =
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
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| image_shield =
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| city_logo =
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| pushpin_map = Canada Alberta
| pushpin_label_position = none
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Alberta
| pushpin_mapsize = 200
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Canada
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Alberta
| subdivision_type2 = Region
| subdivision_name2 = Central Alberta
| subdivision_type3 = Census division
| subdivision_name3 = 10
| subdivision_type4 = Municipal district
| subdivision_name4 = County of Two Hills No. 21
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Governing Body
| leader_name = County of Two Hills No. 21 Council
| leader_title1 = Reeve
| leader_name1 = Murray Phillips
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| leader_title4 = MLA
| leader_name4 =
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1928
| established_title2 = Incorporated
(Village)
| established_date2 = June 25, 1930{{cite web |url= http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/cfml/pdf_search/pdf/VILG/0085/Derwent_Gaz_Organization_of_Village_1930_No3.pdf |author=Government of Alberta |title=Organization of the Village of Derwent (The Alberta Gazette) |date=1930-06-25 |access-date=2010-08-31}}
| established_title3 = Dissolved
| established_date3 = September 1, 2010
| area_land_km2 = 0.37
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_note =
| population_total = 96
| population_density_km2 = 261.4
| population_blank1_title =
| population_blank1 =
| timezone = MST
| utc_offset = −7
| timezone_DST = MDT
| utc_offset_DST = −6
| coordinates = {{coord|53|39|14.9|N|110|58|01.1|W|region:CA-AB|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 617
| elevation_ft =
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| blank_name = Highways
| blank_info = Highway 45
Highway 41
| blank1_name = Waterway
| blank1_info = Lac Cote
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Derwent is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within the County of Two Hills No. 21.{{AltaML}} It is located on Highway 45, approximately {{convert|41|km|mi}} north of Vermilion.
Derwent dissolved from village status to become a hamlet on September 1, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/orders/orders_in_council/2010/710/2010_229.html |author=Alberta Queen's Printer |title=Order in Council (O.C.) 229/2010 |access-date=2010-07-15}} It originally incorporated as a village on June 25, 1930.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Derwent had a population of 96 living in 54 of its 59 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:96-85}}|85|1}} from its 2016 population of 85. With a land area of {{cvt|0.37|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|96|0.37|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=9810001201 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=February 10, 2022}}
As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Derwent had a population of 85 living in 47 of its 68 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:85-100}}|100|1}} from its 2011 population of 100. With a land area of {{convert|0.37|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|85|0.37|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=1301&SR=1&S=45&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0#tPopDwell | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=February 13, 2017}}
Location
Derwent lies 41 km north of Vermilion, 35 km south of Elk Point, 20 km east of Myrnam, and 38 km west of Dewberry on Highway 45, 7 km west of Highway 41.
History
Established in 1928 when the Canadian Pacific Railway opened a rail line through the region, it was named after Derwent, Derbyshire, England.{{Cite web| url= http://www.business.ualberta.ca/rfield/Supernet/Derwent.htm| title= Derwent - History | author= University of Alberta| author-link= University of Alberta| access-date= 2007-06-21}} Prior to this name, the community was briefly known as Monkman (purportedly after the temporary stay in the community of Albert Monkman, an important member of the 1885 Metis Provisional Government headed by Louis Riel) and, before that, the Native Americans of the region referred to it as Penguix.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} The population peaked at 301 in 1959, but declined rapidly after the construction of the bridge to Elk Point and the closure of the local grain elevator.{{Cite web| url= http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/ms_official_pop_lists.htm| title= Municipal Populations 1913-2006 | author= Government of Alberta| author-link= Government of Alberta| access-date= 2007-06-21}} The subsequent abandonment of the Lloydminster to Starr rail line in 2005 - 2007 signaled the final chapter in Derwent's rail access. Only two new homes have been built since the 1980s and the last business building permit issued was in 2001.{{Cite web| url= http://www.albertafirst.com/profiles/statspack/20525.html| title= Derwent - Community Profile | author= Alberta First| access-date= 2007-06-21}}
Education
There are no schools currently operating in Derwent. The nearest public school is [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928133000/http://www.sperd.ca/nms/index.html New Myrnam School] (K-12) in Myrnam.