Cardston, Alberta

From Freepedia

Cardston is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. Cardston was settled by Mormon pioneers in 1887. It was named after the founder Charles Ora Card. Attractions in Cardston include the Alberta Temple (the first Mormon temple outside the United States) and the Remington-Alberta Carriage Centre.

The population of Cardston in 2001 was 3475 according to the Town of Cardston website. Many of the residents are still members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormon).

It borders on its north side the reservation of the Blood Tribe, one of the largest reservations in North America. Cardston is situated in the low foothills of the Alberta Prairie, approximately 35 km north of the border between the U.S.A and Canada.

Primary industries are agriculture, service, and tourism.

Schools include the following: the Cardston High School, located near the center of town; the Cardston Jr. High School (formerly Eastridge Elementary School), located on the extreme east side of town; and Cardston Elementary School, located in the western part of town.

Former schools include Leeside (grades 1 and 2 - torn down in the late 1980's to make way for the Remington-Alberta Carriage Centre) and Westside. The building that housed much of the junior high facilities, including the gymnasium (near the current high school) was torn down in the early 2000's as the junior high moved to the former Eastridge building.

Along with the rest of southern Alberta, Cardston is subject to the weather pattern known as a chinook wind, which can often bring temperatures in mid-winter well above ten degrees Celsius. This same pattern results in more than 200 days of wind a year.

Table of Geographical Facts

• Elevation: 3677 ft (1121 m)
• Coordinates: 49°12′ N 113°18′ W

Climate Table

• Annual rain: 320 mm (12.62 in)
• Annual snow: 229 cm (90.0 in)
• Annual frost free days: 111
• Annual hours of sunshine: 2370

Weather Records

• Hottest Day: July 28, 1939 (38.9 C)
• Coldest Day: January 28, 1929 (-41.7 C)
• Most Rain In One Day: June 6, 1995 (106 mm)
• Most Snow In One Day: May 4, 1919 (63.5 cm)
• Deepest Snow Cover: April 29, 1967 (84 cm)

Famous people From Cardston

• Fay Wray - actress in original King Kong (there is a fountain on Main Street named in her honour, which Fay Wray herself dedicated.)

• Herman Linder - all-around champion rodeo star, dominating the Calgary Stampede in the 1930's

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