Vilna, Alberta

Vilna was founded in 1907, mostly by central European settlers. By 1918, the settlers were calling the larger district Vilna, after the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius ({{langx|la|Vilna}}).{{cite book |title=Place-names of Alberta |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015070267029&view=1up&seq=133&q1=vilna |year=1928 |publisher=Geographic Board of Canada |location=Ottawa |page=129}} The main community started to coalesce in 1919, when the railroad reached the area and the first grain elevator was built.{{cite book |title=A Century of Progress: an Historical Study of the Waskatenau, Smoky Lake, Warspite, Bellis, Vilna and Spedden School Communities |chapter=Vilna Story |quote=[note: each section of the book covers a different community/area in The County of Smoky Lake, as a 1967 Centennial Project written and edited by teachers and pupils of the schools in the county] |year=1967 |publisher=Modern Press |location=Edmonton |pages=38–39 [241–242] |url=https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=2R3BXZOYLTHC0&SMLS=1&RW=1536&RH=749&FR_=1&W=1536&H=750#/DamView&VBID=2R3BXZOYLTFNY&PN=1&WS=SearchResults |access-date=2023-08-22 |via=University of Calgary Digital Collections - Local Histories Collection}} The "Villette" post office, located two miles east, was relocated to the growing community in 1920, at which time the community was officially named Vilna. That same year, the first schoolhouse was built. Vilna was incorporated as a village on June 13, 1923.

On February 5, 1967, Vilna experienced a meteor air burst with a yield estimated at 600 tonnes of TNT (2.5 TJ).{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} Subsequently, two very small meteorite fragments were found – {{convert|48|mg|gr|abbr=off|lk=out}} and {{convert|94|mg|gr|lk=out}} which are now stored at University of Alberta, in Edmonton.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050215142023/http://www.geo.ucalgary.ca/cdnmeteorites/meteorite/vilna.html University of Calgary, Canadian Meteorite Catalogue]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Vilna had a population of 268 living in 108 of its 119 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:268-290}}|290|1}} from its 2016 population of 290. With a land area of {{cvt|0.96|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|268|0.96|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 Village of Vilna recorded a population of 290 living in 114 of its 143 total private dwellings, a {{percentage|{{#expr:290-249}}|249|1}} change from its 2011 population of 249. With a land area of {{convert|0.96|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|290|0.96|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 Village of Vilna's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 290.{{cite web | url=http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/documents/msb/2012_pop.pdf | title=2012 Municipal Affairs Population List | publisher=Alberta Municipal Affairs | date=2012-11-22 | access-date=2012-12-14}}

The town claims to be home to the world's largest metal sculpture mushroom.[http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/mushrooms.htm Roadside attractions] - Vilna mushrooms

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Category:1923 establishments in Alberta

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