Rocky Mountain House Explained

Rocky Mountain House
Official Name:	Town of Rocky Mountain House
Settlement Type:	Town
Pushpin Map:	Canada Alberta#Canada
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location of Rocky Mountain House
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:	9
Subdivision Type4:	Municipal district
Subdivision Name4:	Clearwater County
Leader Title:	Mayor
Leader Name:	Debbie Baich
Leader Title1:	Governing body
Leader Name1:	Rocky Mountain House Town Council
Leader Title2:	MP
Leader Name2:	Gerald Soroka
Leader Title3:	MLA
Leader Name3:	Jason Nixon
Established Title:	Founded
Established Date:	1799
Established Title1:	Incorporated^[1]
Established Date1:
Established Title2:	• Village
Established Date2:	May 15, 1913
Established Title3:	• Town
Established Date3:	August 31, 1939
Area Footnotes:	(2021)
Area Land Km2:	13.05
Population As Of:	2021
Population Footnotes:	^[2]
Population Total:	6765
Population Density Km2:	518.3
Timezone:	MST
Utc Offset:	−07:00
Timezone Dst:	MDT
Utc Offset Dst:	−06:00
Coordinates:	52.3753°N -114.9217°W
Elevation Footnotes:	^[3]
Elevation M:	985
Postal Code Type:	Forward sortation area
Postal Code:	T4T
Area Code:	403 / 587 / 368 / 825
Blank Name:	Highways
Blank Info:
Blank1 Name:	Waterways
Blank1 Info:	North Saskatchewan River, Clearwater River

Rocky Mountain House is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada. It is approximately 77km (48miles) west of Red Deer at the confluence of the Clearwater and North Saskatchewan Rivers, and at the crossroads of Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail) and Highway 11 (David Thompson Highway). The surrounding Clearwater County's administration office is located in Rocky Mountain House.^[4]

History

The town has a long history dating to the 18th century with the presence of British and Canadian fur traders during the westward Canadian expansion. In 1799, the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company each established the Rocky Mountain House and Acton House fur trading posts. Trade with the local aboriginal peoples continued until 1821 when the companies merged, they continued to trade until 1875 and closed the Rocky Mountain House post. The name of the settlement however remained.^[5]

The Rocky Mountain House settlement also served as a launching point for many explorers such as David Thompson, in search for a passage west to the Pacific Ocean. Many travellers used this location as a stop on their way further west or northwest, just as they do into the 21st century.^[5]

The next wave of adventurers entered the region at the beginning of the 20th century in search of opportunities presented by lush farmland and the abundance of natural resources. Rocky Mountain House became a firmly established town by 1912. Settlers of Scandinavian origin made up a significant part of early 20th century settlement in the region.

The town was hit by a magnitude 5.0 earthquake on October 20, 2021, just after 9:20pm MDT. It was the second-strongest earthquake in the province's history.^[6]

Fur trade

Rocky Mountain House and Acton House were a pair of fur trade posts from 1799 to 1876. Rocky Mountain House belonged to the North West Company (NWC) and Acton House to the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). When the two companies merged in 1821, the name Rocky Mountain House was retained. The posts were opened and closed seven times.^[7]

Rocky Mountain House was the westernmost post on the North Saskatchewan and was within sight of the Rocky Mountains. The fort facilitated trade with the Blackfeet and Piegans as well as the Kootenays across the mountains. The Kootenays were prevented from reaching Fort Edmonton by the Blackfeet and Piegans who wanted to profit as middlemen and keep them from getting guns. The fort also served as a base for finding a pass across the Rocky Mountains. The post also produced pemmican and York boats.^[7]

The posts were built at the confluence of the Clearwater River and the North Saskatchewan River. They were on the north bank just above the Clearwater and strongly built for protection from the Blackfeet. During low water there were rapids near the post. Around 1980, only two stone chimneys were standing. An interpretive centre was subsequently developed at this location.^[7]

Timeline

• 1790: Peter Pangman of the North West Company marked the site for the future company fort.^[8]
• 1799 - 1802: In September 1799, a group of Nor'Westers (North West Company employees) under John McDonald of Garth travelled upstream of Fort Augustus by canoe and horseback and established Rocky Mountain House. James Bird of the HBC followed and built Acton House. David Thompson and Duncan McGillivray of the NWC were wintering partners at their House. The Kootenays did not cross the mountains in significant numbers and attempts to find a pass failed. Therefore, both posts were closed in 1802.^[7]
• 1805 - 1807: The two posts were reopened without much success. In 1807, David Thompson of the NWC went up the North Saskatchewan, found Howse Pass and built Kootenay House on the Columbia River. The new post made Rocky Mountain House unnecessary and the posts were closed again in 1807.^[7]
• 1810 - 1812: Reopened in 1810, Alexander Henry 'The Younger' of the NWC found that the route over the mountains was blockaded by the Piegans. He and David Thompson set out overland north to the Athabasca River. After ascending it for five days, they abandoned their horses for snowshoes to cross Athabasca Pass for the first time and reached the Columbia River at Boat Encampment. Athabasca Pass was clearly superior and attempts to reach the Columbia shifted north. In 1811, a group of Gros Ventres planned to attack the fort but were threatened away by the Piegans who preferred to trade at Rocky Mountain House rather than at Fort Edmonton near their Cree enemies. The two posts were then closed to consolidate trade at Fort Edmonton.^[7]
• 1819 - 1823: Attempts to get the Blackfeet to trade at Fort Edmonton failed so the forts were reopened. With John Rowland in charge for the NWC, the two companies were merged in 1821 and the combined fort was called Rocky Mountain House. In 1823, George Simpson decided to close the post since there were few beaver and the post was losing money.^[7]
• 1825 - 1832: The post was reopened at Piegan request, and it prospered due to a new source of beaver. In the winter of 1830–31, a group of Piegans were attacked by the Crows, who killed 57 Piegans and stole all their furs. After this disaster and the opening of a closer American post, the Piegans stopped trading and the post was closed again in 1832.^[7]
• 1835 - 1861: A new post was built to the south somewhere on the Bow River in the Piegan country, which failed after two years. In 1835, J. E. Harriott built a new post down the river but in sight of the old post, where it remained as a wintering post for 26 years. The Piegan trade having been lost to the Americans, the HBC tried to concentrate the Blackfoot trade at Rocky Mountain House away from their enemies at Fort Edmonton. With the escalating violence on the frontier, the HBC decided to stop the liquor trade. In retaliation, the Blackfeet refused to trade and prevented buffalo hunters from leaving the fort. With starvation a real possibility, no one was sent upriver in the fall of 1861 to trade. Finding the fort empty, the Blackfeet burnt it to the ground.^[7]
• 1864 - 1876: Gold was discovered in Montana and the American traders shifted their attention from Indians to prospectors. The HBC reasoned that this made a new opportunity for the Indian trade and a new Rocky Mountain House was built next to the ruins of the old one. The trade did not prosper because the Blackfeet preferred the Americans' whiskey which they got from places like Fort Whoop-up. Arriving in 1874, the North-West Mounted Police drove out the American whiskey traders, and the HBC built a new post somewhere to the south making Rocky Mountain House redundant. It was closed permanently in 1876.^[7]

Geography

The North Saskatchewan River borders Rocky Mountain House to the west where the Clearwater River flows into the North Saskatchewan River.

Crimson Lake is a lake approximately 17km (11miles) northwest of town. Crimson Lake is home to Crimson Lake Provincial Park.^[9]

Climate

Rocky Mountain House has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc) that borders on a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). Daytime temperatures are in general representative for the latter, but the larger diurnal temperature variation with the high elevation ensures frequent frosts. The January average high of around is actually much milder than clear continental areas further east in Canada on similar and lower parallels.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Rocky Mountain House was 35C on 23 July 1928.^[10] The coldest temperature ever recorded was -55.6C on 12 February 1936.^[11]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Rocky Mountain House had a population of 6,765 living in 2,693 of its 3,075 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 6,635. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2021.^[12]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Rocky Mountain House recorded a population of 6,635 living in 2,599 of its 2,954 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 6,933. With a land area of 12.71km2, it had a population density of in 2016.^[13]

The Town of Rocky Mountain House's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 7,300,^[14] a 1.0% increase over its 2007 municipal census population of 7,231.^[15]

Economy

The economy of the Rocky Mountain House area is driven by petroleum, agriculture, and forestry.^[16] Tourism also plays a role in its economy^[16] due to its location at the crossroads of Highway 22 and Highway 11, and its location midway between Red Deer and the scenic Alberta's Rockies region.

Transportation

On the road, Rocky Mountain House is served by Highway 22 and Highway 11.

In the air, Rocky Mountain House is served by its airport.

Sports

The Recreation, Parks & Community Services Department hosts five annual sports tournaments. They include two slo-pitch, a sno-pitch, a volleyball and a hockey/slo-pitch combined tournament.

Government

Rocky Mountain House's town council consists of Mayor Debbie Baich and councillors Dave Auld, Marley Capraro, Ken Moesker, Len Phillips, Dale Shippelt, and Tina Hutchinson .^[17]

Rocky Mountain House is located within the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre provincial electoral district, which is represented by Jason Nixon of the United Conservative Party.^[18]

Twin town

Rocky Mountain House is twinned with Kamikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.^[19]

See also

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta
• Saskatchewan River fur trade

Notes and References

1. Web site: Location and History Profile: Town of Rocky Mountain House. Alberta Municipal Affairs. 541. June 17, 2016. June 20, 2016.
2. Web site: Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres . . February 9, 2022 . February 13, 2022.
3. Web site: Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town). Safety Codes Council. PDF. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). January 2012. October 9, 2013. October 16, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016085027/http://www.safetycodes.ab.ca/Public/Documents/PSSSOP_Handbook_Version_12_Online_Feb_21_2012b.pdf. dead.
4. Web site: Contact Directory. Clearwater County. 2012-05-21.
5. Web site: Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site of Canada. Canada's Historic Places . June 13, 2014.
6. Web site: 2021-10-21. 5.0 magnitude: Rocky Mountain House earthquake upgraded, 2nd largest in Alberta history. 2021-10-22. Edmonton. en.
7. Book: Elizabeth Losey . Let Them be Remembered: The Story of the Fur Trade Forts . 1999 . 250–261.
8. Book: Rocky Mountain House Reunion Historical Society. Days Before Yesterday : History of Rocky Mountain House district. 1977. Rocky Mountain House Reunion Historical Society. Rocky Mountain House. 0-88925-003-0. 2.
9. Web site: Crimson Lake Information and Facilities . . 2013. Alberta Tourism, Parks, and Recreation. Government of Alberta . 4 February 2014.
10. Environment Canada - Canadian Climate Data—Daily Data Report for July 1928, accessed 19 September 2016
11. Environment Canada - Canadian Climate Data—Daily Data Report for February 1936, accessed 19 September 2016
12. Web site: Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities) . . February 9, 2022 . February 9, 2022.
13. Web site: Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) . . February 8, 2017 . February 8, 2017.
14. Web site: Council Newsletter . Town of Rocky Mountain House . 2012-07-15 . 2012-07-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120524002255/http://www.rockymtnhouse.com/pdf/newsletter.pdf . 2012-05-24 .
15. Web site: Alberta 2009 Official Population List . Alberta Municipal Affairs . 2009-09-15 . 2010-09-14.
16. Web site: Rocky Mountain House (Alberta First Community Profile) . Alberta First . 2011-03-20.
17. Web site: 19 August 2022. Meet your current council.
18. Web site: Honourable Jason Nixon . Legislative Assembly of Alberta . 6 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210327025446/https://www.assembly.ab.ca/members/members-of-the-legislative-assembly/member-information?mid=0892&legl=30&from=mla_home . 27 March 2021.
19. Web site: Rocky Mountain House. Alberta/Japan Twinned Municipalities Association. 30 November 2014.