| Bentley | |
| Official Name: | Town of Bentley |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | Canada Alberta |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Bentley in Alberta |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Alberta |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Central Alberta |
| Subdivision Type3: | Census division |
| Subdivision Name3: | 8 |
| Subdivision Type4: | Municipal district |
| Subdivision Name4: | Lacombe County |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Greg Rathjen |
| Leader Title1: | Governing body |
| Leader Name1: | Bentley Town Council |
| Leader Title3: | MP |
| Leader Name3: | Jason Nixon |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Title1: | Incorporated[1] |
| Established Date1: | |
| Established Title2: | • Village |
| Established Date2: | March 17, 1915 |
| Established Title3: | • Town |
| Established Date3: | January 1, 2001 |
| Area Footnotes: | (2021) |
| Area Land Km2: | 2.24 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Total: | 1042 |
| Population Density Km2: | 464.4 |
| Timezone: | MST |
| Utc Offset: | −7 |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −6 |
| Coordinates: | 52.465°N -114.0497°W |
| Elevation M: | 910 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code span |
| Postal Code: | T0C 0J0 |
| Area Code: | 403 |
| Blank Name: | Highways |
| Blank Info: | Highway 20 Highway 12 |
| Blank1 Name: | Waterway |
| Blank1 Info: | Blindman River Gull Lake |
Bentley is a town in central, Alberta, Canada within Lacombe County. It is located on Highway 12, approximately 28km (17miles) northwest of Red Deer.
The first settlers came from the U.S. in 1888-1890 and either walked or drove oxen from Lacombe, which was the closest railroad station at that time. Post office opened in 1901.[2] The first church was built in 1890 by the Methodists, and a schoolhouse was built in 1903. Bentley was incorporated as a village on March 17, 1915.[3]
A disastrous fire destroyed all buildings on the south side of the community in 1916. The centre roadway was made 36m (118feet) wide and new buildings could not be constructed inside that area. In 1930, a centre boulevard was constructed for fire protection and street lights installed.
Bentley was incorporated as a town on January 1, 2001.[3]
Bentley was named in honour of George Bentley, an early homesteader and sawyer,[4] however at the time it was a controversial choice. When Major William B. McPherson, a U.S. Civil War veteran, opened a post office, settlers preferred McPherson's name, but they were outnumbered by the sawmill employees, who wanted Bentley.[5] Prior to 1915, a petition was formed regarding the naming of the village. The original names of Oxford and Springdale were turned down as these two names had been frequently used across Canada.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bentley had a population of 1,042 living in 451 of its 471 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 1,078. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2021.[6]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bentley recorded a population of 1,078 living in 441 of its 463 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 1,073. With a land area of 2.24km2, it had a population density of in 2016.[7]
Bentley has one public school, Bentley School (Pre-K to grade 12), administered by Wolf Creek Public Schools.[8]