Bezanson, Alberta
| Bezanson | |
|---|---|
| Hamlet | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: 55°13′43″N 118°21′39″W / 55.2286°N 118.3608°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Alberta |
| Census division | No. 19 |
| Municipal district | County of Grande Prairie No. 1 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| • Reeve | Leanne Beaupre |
| • Governing body |
County of Grande Prairie No. 1 Council
|
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 1.17 km2 (0.45 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 121 |
| • Density | 100/km2 (270/sq mi) |
| • Dwellings | 62 |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| Area code(s) | 780- |
Bezanson is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the County of Grande Prairie No. 1.[2] It is located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Grande Prairie on Highway 43, west of the Smoky River.
History[edit]
Born near Halifax, Nova Scotia September 1, 1878, A. M. Bezanson (Ancel Maynard) had come to the Peace River Country in 1906. On returning to Edmonton he published a pamphlet, 'The Peace River Trail', in May 1907 in an effort to increase interest in the area. He settled near the junction of the Wapiti, Smoky, and Simonette rivers in 1908 and started a settlement there. Bezanson was established in 1910, when it was expected that the Grande Prairie-Grande Cache Railway would pass through the region. The settlement grew until 1914,[3] when it was found that the railway would pass to the north through Rycroft. The townsite was moved to be near the highway. A campsite and historical markers are at the original townsite 6 miles (9.7 km) to the southeast.
A ferry was opened in 1915 across the Smoky River. The first bridge over the river was built in 1949, near where the highway from Grande Prairie to Edmonton passed through the settlement. It was detoured in 2001, with the twinning of Highway 43 and the opening of the new Smoky River bridge.
Geography[edit]
The nearby Kleskun Hills (55.26 -118.51) are the northernmost badlands in Canada and contain one of the few unbroken areas of the original prairie.
Demographics[edit]
As a designated place in the 2011 Census, Bezanson had a population of 121 living in 57 of its 62 total dwellings, a -11.7% change from its 2006 population of 137. With a land area of 1.17 km2 (0.45 sq mi), it had a population density of 103.4/km2 (267.9/sq mi) in 2011.[1]
The population of Bezanson according to the County of Grande Prairie No. 1's 2006 municipal census is 155.[4]
As of 2006, Bezanson had a total population of 137 living in 60 dwellings. With a land area of 1.17 km2 (0.45 sq mi), it has a population density of 117.2/km2 (304/sq mi).[5]
See also[edit]
- Besançon, a city in France
- Kleskunsaurus
- List of communities in Alberta
- List of designated places in Alberta
- List of hamlets in Alberta
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs (2010-04-01). "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ^ Discover the Peace Country. "Bezason". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ^ County of Grande Prairie No. 1. "Economic Profile" (PDF). Retrieved January 10, 2010.
- ^ Statistics Canada (2007). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2006 and 2001 censuses". Retrieved 2010-01-29.
External links[edit]
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Sexsmith Clairmont |
Wanham Teepee Creek |
Falher | |
| Grande Prairie |  |
Debolt Crooked Creek |
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| Grande Cache | Valleyview |
Coordinates: 55°13′43″N 118°21′39″W / 55.22861°N 118.36083°W
