Kelsey, Alberta Explained

Kelsey
Settlement Type:Hamlet
Pushpin Relief:yes
Pushpin Map:Canada Alberta#Canada
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Kelsey
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Canada
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Alberta
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Central Alberta
Subdivision Type3:Census division
Subdivision Name3:10
Subdivision Type4:Municipal district
Subdivision Name4:Camrose County
Government Type:Unincorporated
Leader Title1:Governing body
Leader Name1:Camrose County Council
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1902
Area Footnotes: (2021)
Area Land Km2:0.45
Population As Of:2021
Population Total:15
Population Density Km2:33.1
Timezone:MST
Utc Offset:−07:00
Timezone Dst:MDT
Utc Offset Dst:−06:00
Coordinates:52.846°N -112.549°W
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Area Code:780, 587, 825
Blank Name:Highways
Blank1 Name:Waterways

Kelsey is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Camrose County. It is located off Highway 850, approximately 125km (78miles) southeast of Edmonton and 30km (20miles) southeast of Camrose, Kelsey's closest major trading centre.

Kelsey is home to several local businesses, a community hall, and a post office. Both school and fire services are provided by the nearby villages of Rosalind and Bawlf.

History

In 1902, Mr. and Mrs. Moses Kelsey and their son Earl, arrived in the area from Milbank, South Dakota, and filed on the S.E. 4–45–18. The southeast corner of this quarter of land was later chosen as the site for the community. Milton Zimmerman settled in the area in the same year and suggested the community be named after Kelsey.[1]

In 1915, the Canadian National Railway began laying steel in a south-easterly direction from Camrose. It passed through what a few weeks later became the town of Kelsey. This stretch of railroad is noted for being the longest stretch of straight railway in North America... "if not in the world," some people add.

In 1916, a station house was built in Kelsey and Charlie Cooper, with his wife Anne and family, took up residence in it. The first grain elevator, and two stores were also constructed in the growing town.

By 1920 telephone service had been installed in the Kelsey district and the next few years saw the Kelsey Union Church, a dance hall, and a one-room school.

The first power line to reach Kelsey was constructed in 1951.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Kelsey had a population of 15 living in 8 of its 9 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 15. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2021.[2]

As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Kelsey had a population of 15 living in 7 of its 7 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2011 population of 15. With a land area of 0.45km2, it had a population density of in 2016.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: As the Wheels Turn : a history of Rosalind, Kelsey and districts. 1982. Rosalind and District History Book Committee. Rosalind, Alberta. 243.
  2. Web site: Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places . . February 9, 2022 . February 10, 2022.
  3. Web site: Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) . . February 8, 2017 . February 13, 2017.