Valhalla Centre Explained

Valhalla Centre
Settlement Type:Hamlet
Pushpin Map:Canada Alberta
Pushpin Label Position:none
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Valhalla Centre in Alberta
Pushpin Mapsize:220
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Canada
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Alberta
Subdivision Type2:Census division
Subdivision Name2:No. 19
Subdivision Type3:Municipal district
Subdivision Name3:County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Government Type:Unincorporated
Leader Title:Reeve
Leader Title1:Governing body
Area Footnotes: (2021)
Area Land Km2:1.22
Population As Of:2021
Population Total:40
Population Density Km2:32.7
Timezone:MST
Utc Offset:−7
Timezone Dst:MDT
Utc Offset Dst:−6
Coordinates:55.4036°N -119.3819°W
Elevation M:735

Valhalla Centre is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the County of Grande Prairie No. 1.

It is located in the Peace River Country at the junction of Highway 59 and Highway 723, northeast of the Village of Hythe and west of the Town of Sexsmith. It is approximately 40km (30miles) east of the British Columbia border and has an elevation of 735m (2,411feet).

The hamlet is located in Census Division No. 19 and in the federal riding of Peace River.

History

The hamlet was founded in 1912 by Scandinavians that moved north from Edson. It was named by Reverend Halvar N. Ronning after Valhalla, Odin's hall in Norse mythology. The first post office was established in 1916. The settlement grew around a creamery until 1945. The Melsness Mercantile building was built in 1925, and functioned as a store and post office until 1951.[1] Today it hosts a museum dedicated to the Scandinavian heritage of the area, and was declared a Provincial Historic Site.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Valhalla Centre had a population of 40 living in 19 of its 22 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, Valhalla Centre had a population of 15 living in 9 of its 9 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2011 population of 45. With a land area of 1.22km2, it had a population density of in 2016.[3]

Economy

The economy is centred on farming and stock raising.

Amenities

The hamlet has a church (Valhalla Lutheran Church), curling rink, skating rink, museum and K-8 school (Valhalla Community School). The school is one of 13 publicly funded Alberta Chartered Schools.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Valhalla Centre. Discover the Peace Country. 2008-02-14.
  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.