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A Short History of Camrose
The area around Camrose was first settled about 1900. Prior to this, a mission
and trading post had been established by Father Bellevaire along the Battle
River about six miles South of Camrose in an area known as Duhamel. The trading
post was located on the North West Mounted Police Trail from Edmonton to Regina.
The original Mission Church, built in 1883 has been restored and preserved as
a historical site.
The City of Camrose began originally as the Hamlet of Sparling; so named after
the Reverend Dr. Sparling of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was incorporated as the
Village of Sparling on May 4, 1905. Because the name Sparling was often confused
with the towns of Sperling and Stirling in Western Canada, the Village Council,
in 1906, changed the name to Camrose.
There is no factual evidence available to indicate the reason for the selection
of the name of Camrose, but it is generally accepted that it was named after
a town in South Wales.
The village was incorporated as the Town of Camrose in December of 1906, and
into the status of a City on January 1, 1955.
The original townsite was located on the SW 1/4 of Section 2, Township 47, Range
20, West of the 4th Meridian. Stoney Creek flowed through this quarter section
of land and the natural woodland on the banks of the creek are now the center
of the City and have been developed into beautiful parks and recreation areas
for the use and enjoyment of the citizens of the City and surrounding area.
In June 1905, the Canadian Pacific Railway grade was completed, linking Edmonton
and Winnipeg, via Camrose. Today the City is fortunate in having both major
railways providing excellent rail facilities to business and industry.
In 1910, the Norwegian College Association, a voluntary association of Lutheran
congregations in Alberta, founded the Camrose Lutheran College, now known as
Augustana University College. The founders, concerned for both secular and Christian
education, originally started the college primarily as a high school.
Augustana University College, almost as old as Camrose itself, is now has degree
granting status in Arts and Sciences.
Electricity became available in 1911 from a local steam electric plant. TransAlta
Utilities took over the service in 1929, and has continued supplied electrical
power to the City through a provincial wide grid system.
Industries integral to the growth of Camrose include Byers Flour Mills, which
had its beginnings in 1926. During the 1930's Byers Flour Mills began producing
"Sunny Boy Cereal; a well known cereal product. Byers Flour Mills, now known
as Prairie Sun Grains, expanded and remains a very important agricultural industry
to Camrose.
Long established industries such as the Alberta Wheat Pool Seed Cleaning Plant,
United Feeds, Northern Alberta Dairy Pool (now Dairy World), and Stelpipe Inc.
(Now Camrose Pipe Company) have all contributed immensely to the industrial
backbone of Camrose.
We can state with great confidence that the future growth and prosperity of
the City of Camrose is assured. Our geographical location, sound agricultural
industry, retail market area, local natural resources, and our wide variety
of facility are the basis of our confidence and a guarantee of our future.