Fort Macleod

File:American Hotel in Fort Macleod.JPG

The fort was built as a {{convert|70 x 70|m|ft}} square on October 18, 1874. The east side held the men's quarters and the west side held those of the Mounties. Buildings such as hospitals, stores and guardrooms were in the south end. Stables and the blacksmith's shop were in the north end.

The town grew on the location of the Fort Macleod North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) Barracks, the second headquarters of the NWMP after Fort Livingstone was abandoned in 1876.[http://www.pelly.ca/ftlivingstone.html Historic Fort Livingstone] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312142723/http://www.pelly.ca/ftlivingstone.html |date=March 12, 2007 }} Fort Macleod was originally established in 1874 on a peninsula along the Oldman River, then moved in 1884 to the present town location.[https://www.fortmacleod.com/visiting/attractions/Main%20Street%20History.cfm Fort Macleod history] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625003649/http://fortmacleod.com/visiting/attractions/Main%20Street%20History.cfm |date=2006-06-25 }} The Museum of the North-West Mounted Police is located in Fort Macleod.[https://www.nwmpmuseum.com/ Museum of the North-West Mounted Police]

Once agricultural settlement and the railway came to the region, Macleod boomed. The town became a divisional point for the Canadian Pacific Railway and frontier wood construction began to be replaced by brick and sandstone. In 1906 a fire devastated the downtown and destroyed most of the wooden buildings. From 1906 to 1912 Macleod had its greatest period of growth, as more new brick and stone building replaced the destroyed wooden ones. Then in 1912 the CPR moved the divisional point and 200 jobs to Lethbridge, devastating the local economy. Fort Macleod ceased to grow, and in 1924 was forced to declare bankruptcy. Until the 1970s, the town's economy stagnated and the buildings from the turn-of-the-century remained untouched.{{cite web |url=https://www.fortmacleod.com/visiting/attractions/Main%20Street%20History.cfm |title=Main Street History |access-date=2006-06-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625003649/http://fortmacleod.com/visiting/attractions/Main%20Street%20History.cfm |archive-date=2006-06-25 }}

In 1978 Alberta Culture started to inventory the downtown buildings, and in 1982 the downtown became Alberta's first "Provincial Historic Area". As well, Heritage Canada started a Main Street Restoration Project in 1982, aiming to preserve the sandstone and brick buildings, some dating back to 1878.Alberta First. [http://www.albertafirst.com/profiles/statspack/20418.html Fort Macleod Overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801065908/http://www.albertafirst.com/profiles/statspack/20418.html |date=2010-08-01 }}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Fort Macleod had a population of 3,297 living in 1,342 of its 1,440 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:3297-2967}}|2967|1}} from its 2016 population of 2,967. With a land area of {{cvt|22.54|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|3297|22.54|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 Fort Macleod recorded a population of 2,967 living in 1,226 of its 1,426 total private dwellings, a {{percentage|{{#expr:2967-3117}}|3117|1}} change from its 2011 population of 3,117. With a land area of {{convert|23.41|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|2967|23.41|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}}

The town is located in the Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26, at the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 3, on the Oldman River. It lies west of the larger community of Lethbridge, near the reserves of the Peigan and Kainai First Nations. It is also located close to the Waterton Lakes National Park.

The town is located {{convert|8|km|mi}} north of the McBride Lake Wind Farm, one of the largest wind farms in Alberta. The wind farm has a capacity of 75 megawatts of electricity.

Fort Macleod experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb).

The community enjoys frequent breaks from cold spells in winter when the Chinook wind blows down-slope from the Rocky Mountains. A Chinook on 27 February 1992 caused the temperature to rise to {{convert|26.5|C|0}}.Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1965-11-01%7C1994-06-30&mlyRange=1965-01-01%7C1994-12-01&StationID=2238&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=4&searchMethod=contains&Month=2&Day=2&txtStationName=fort+macleod&timeframe=2&Year=1992 Canadian Climate Data], accessed 2 August 2016

The highest temperature ever recorded at Fort Macleod was {{convert|102|F|1}} on 7 July 1896, 18 July 1910, and 17 July 1919.Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1876-06-01%7C1988-03-31&mlyRange=1877-01-01%7C1988-12-01&StationID=2243&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=fort+macleod&timeframe=2&Year=1896&Month=7# Canadian Climate Data], accessed 2 August 2016Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1876-06-01%7C1988-03-31&mlyRange=1877-01-01%7C1988-12-01&StationID=2243&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=fort+macleod&timeframe=2&Year=1910&Month=7# Canadian Climate Data], accessed 2 August 2016Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1876-06-01%7C1988-03-31&mlyRange=1877-01-01%7C1988-12-01&StationID=2243&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=fort+macleod&timeframe=2&Year=1919&Month=7# Canadian Climate Data], accessed 2 August 2016{{efn|A temperature of {{convert|109|F|1}} was recorded on 21 July 1877, but this value appears to be incorrect given the elevation of Fort Macleod and the irregularity of observations in that year.}} The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-49|F|1}} on 2 February 1905, 17 December 1924, and 28 January 1929.

{{Weather box

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Fort Macleod, 1971–2000 normals, extremes 1876–present

| Jan record high C = 19.8

| Feb record high C = 26.5

| Mar record high C = 27.8

| Apr record high C = 32.2

| May record high C = 34.5

| Jun record high C = 38.3

| Jul record high C = 38.9

| Aug record high C = 37.2

| Sep record high C = 36.7

| Oct record high C = 31.0

| Nov record high C = 26.1

| Dec record high C = 25.0

| year record high C = 38.9

| Jan high C = −1.3

| Feb high C = 1.9

| Mar high C = 6.7

| Apr high C = 12.7

| May high C = 18.0

| Jun high C = 22.4

| Jul high C = 25.6

| Aug high C = 24.8

| Sep high C = 19.1

| Oct high C = 14.3

| Nov high C = 4.2

| Dec high C = −0.2

| year high C = 12.4

| Jan mean C = −7.1

| Feb mean C = −4.3

| Mar mean C = 0.4

| Apr mean C = 6.0

| May mean C = 11.1

| Jun mean C = 15.4

| Jul mean C = 18.0

| Aug mean C = 17.2

| Sep mean C = 11.8

| Oct mean C = 7.2

| Nov mean C = −1.2

| Dec mean C = −5.8

| year mean C = 5.7

| Jan low C = −13.0

| Feb low C = −10.4

| Mar low C = −5.9

| Apr low C = −0.8

| May low C = 4.1

| Jun low C = 8.3

| Jul low C = 10.4

| Aug low C = 9.5

| Sep low C = 4.4

| Oct low C = 0.0

| Nov low C = −6.7

| Dec low C = −11.5

| year low C = −1.0

| Jan record low C = −45.0

| Feb record low C = −45.0

| Mar record low C = −36.7

| Apr record low C = −23.3

| May record low C = −15.0

| Jun record low C = −10.0

| Jul record low C = 0.0

| Aug record low C = −2.2

| Sep record low C = −17.8

| Oct record low C = −28.0

| Nov record low C = −38.9

| Dec record low C = −45.0

| year record low C = −45.0

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 21.0

| Feb precipitation mm = 17.8

| Mar precipitation mm = 27.5

| Apr precipitation mm = 37.7

| May precipitation mm = 57.2

| Jun precipitation mm = 61.2

| Jul precipitation mm = 46.5

| Aug precipitation mm = 50.0

| Sep precipitation mm = 46.2

| Oct precipitation mm = 18.9

| Nov precipitation mm = 20.2

| Dec precipitation mm = 20.9

| year precipitation mm = 425.0

| source 1 = Environment CanadaEnvironment Canada—[http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=ALTA&StationName=&SearchType=&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=2243& Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131130065605/http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=ALTA&StationName=&SearchType=&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=2243& |date=2013-11-30 }}, accessed 3 April 2010Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_stations_e.html?searchType=stnName&timeframe=1&txtStationName=fort+macleod+north&searchMethod=contains&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&Year=2016&Month=8&Day=2&selRowPerPage=25 Canadian Climate Data], accessed 2 August 2016Environment Canada—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=2008-01-09%7C2016-08-01&dlyRange=2007-09-01%7C2016-08-01&mlyRange=2007-09-01%7C2007-11-01&StationID=46734&Prov=AB&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=1&searchMethod=contains&Month=1&Day=2&txtStationName=fort+macleod&timeframe=2&Year=2015 Canadian Climate Data], accessed 2 August 2016Environment Canada—[https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?StationID=2243&timeframe=2&Day=22&Year=1903&Month=12# Canadian Climate Data], accessed 23 April 2022

| date = August 2010

| source =

| width = auto

}}

File:Fort Macleod & District Community Hall.JPG

The town is home to the Fort Macleod Mustangs, Senior AA men's hockey team of the Ranchland Hockey League.{{cite web | url=http://www.ranchlandhockey.com/about-us-s12467 | title=RHL – About Us | publisher=Ranchland Hockey League | access-date=2011-03-09 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210113/http://www.ranchlandhockey.com/about-us-s12467 | archive-date=2016-03-04 }}

Fort Macleod's local weekly newspaper is the Fort Macleod Gazette.[https://www.fortmacleodgazette.com/ Fort Macleod Gazette]

;Historical newspapers{{cite book |last=Strathern |first=Gloria M. |date=1988 |title=Alberta Newspapers, 1880-1982: An Historical Directory |publisher=University of Alberta Press |pages=125–126 |isbn=0-88864-137-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FRDFGO1LqgsC&pg=PA125}}

• Macleod Advertiser — published May 25, 1909, through September 11, 1913
• Macleod Chronicle — in print approximately July 1908 through June 1909
• Macleod Gazette — early issues were entitled The Macleod Gazette and Alberta Stock Record
• Macleod News — ran from November 2, 1916, through to June 1919
• Macleod Spectator — lasted from April 30, 1912, until October 26, 1916

• Henrietta Muir Edwards (1849–1931), women's rights activist
• Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey (1888–1980), Irish-Canadian soldier and rugby union athlete
• Sir Frederick Haultain (1857–1942), former premier of the North-West Territories
• Joni Mitchell (born 1943), musician
• Ryland Moranz (born 1986), musician
• Constantine Scollen (1841–1902), missionary
• John Wort Hannam (born 1968), musician

{{More citations needed|section|date=April 2021}}

The 2005 romantic drama film Brokeback Mountain was filmed in part in Fort Macleod. The laundry apartment is located at 2422 Third Avenue, where a sign is posted marking the "passionate reunion" of Jack and Ennis. Passchendaele was also filmed in Fort Macleod's historic downtown, which acted as a stand-in for Calgary circa 1915. Scenes involving the dust storm and Matthew McConaughey's character were also filmed in Fort Macleod in Christopher Nolan's 2014 film Interstellar, where the giant dust clouds were created on location using large fans to blow cellulose-based synthetic dust through the air.{{cite news | author=Frank McTighe | newspaper=Macleod Gazette |url=https://www.fortmacleodgazette.com/2013/hollywood-star-matthew-mcconaghey-in-fort-macleod/ | date=August 28, 2013 | access-date=January 9, 2015 | title=Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey in Fort Macleod to film scene from 'Interstellar'}} Francesco Lucente's motion picture drama Badland was filmed mostly in Fort Macleod. Francesco Lucente lived in Fort Macleod from 1974 to 1978. His father Salvatore Lucente owned the American and Queens Hotels during that time.

The downtown historic buildings were also used in the 2021 film Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

This site was also used as a filming location for 2023 TV Series The Last of Us.

• Alberta Police and Peace Officer Training Centre
• Fort Macleod Airport
• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta
• RCAF Station Fort Macleod

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607012429/http://www.famous5.ca/f5w.php?w_id=4 Famous Five Foundation biography of Henrietta Muir Edwards]
• http://www.usask.ca/history/buffalo/About%20Buffalo.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111235129/https://www.usask.ca/history/buffalo/About%20Buffalo.htm |date=2020-11-11 }}

{{Notelist}}

{{Commons category|Fort Macleod}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

• {{official website}}

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Fort Macleod

| North = Granum

| Northeast = Nobleford

| East = Coalhurst

| Southeast = Magrath

| South = Glenwood

| Southwest = Pincher Creek

| West = Cowley

| Northwest = Claresholm

}}

{{Subdivisions of Alberta|towns=yes}}

{{Coord|49|43|32.1|N|113|23|51.1|W|scale:60000_type:city_region:CA-AB|name=Fort Macleod|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1892 establishments in the Northwest Territories

Category:Forts or trading posts on the National Historic Sites of Canada register

Category:Hudson's Bay Company forts

Category:Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26

Category:National Historic Sites in Alberta

Category:North-West Mounted Police forts

Category:Provincial Historic Areas of Alberta

Category:Towns in Alberta