Alderson, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alderson Carlstadt (1911–1916)
Locality
Motto(s):  "Star of the Prairies"
Alderson Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Southeast Alberta
Census division	1
Municipal district	Cypress County
Founded	1909
Elevation	760 m (2,490 ft)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Railways	Canadian Pacific Railway

Alderson is a locality in Alberta, Canada within Cypress County. Now a ghost town, it previously held village status until January 31, 1936, and was known as the Village of Carlstadt from 1911 to 1916. The name was changed during the First World War when many other settlements in Canada and Australia changed German place names.

Alderson is located approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Suffield along the Canadian Pacific Railway main line. The City of Brooks is approximately 50 km (31 mi) to the northwest and the City of Medicine Hat is approximately 55 km (34 mi) to the southeast. It has an elevation of 760 metres (2,490 ft).

History

"When settlers came to southeast Alberta during the great land rush of the early years of the 20th century, the village of Carlstadt was born. There was abundant hope of prosperity, and the new settlement, formerly a train whistle stop named Langevin, came to be known as the “Star of the Prairies.” But Carlstadt, later to be known as Alderson, was to become the centre of one of Canada’s worst agriculture disasters; victim of just about every imaginable calamity, including drought, fires, flies, grasshoppers and even marauding rabbits."

• Empire of dust: Settling and abandoning the Prairie dry belt