Cardston

The combined church and school was completed by January 29 the year following their arrival.

• Name — Cardston • Official Name — Town of Cardston • Type — Town • Image Flag — Flag of Cardston, Alberta.svg • Image Map — 0052 Town Cardston, Alberta Locator.svg • Map Caption — Location in Cardston County • Pushpin Map — Canada Alberta • Pushpin Caption — Location of Cardston in Alberta • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Canada • Subdivision Type1 — Province • Subdivision Name1 — Alberta • Subdivision Type2 — Region • Subdivision Name2 — Southern Alberta • Subdivision Type3 — Planning region • Subdivision Name3 — South Saskatchewan • Subdivision Type4 — Municipal district • Subdivision Name4 — Cardston County • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Paula Brown (Previous: Maggie Kronen) • Leader Title1 — Governing body • Leader Name1 — Cardston Town Council • Leader Title2 — MP • Leader Name2 — Glen Motz • Leader Title3 — MLA • Leader Name3 — Joseph Schow • Established Title — Founded • Established Title1 — Incorporated • Established Title2 — • Village • Established Date2 — December 29, 1898 • Established Title3 — • Town • Established Date3 — June 2, 1901 • Area Footnotes — (2021) • Area Land Km2 — 8.58 • Population As Of — 2021 • Population Total — 3724 • Population Density Km2 — 434.1 • Population Blank1 Title — Municipal census (2018) • Population Blank1 — 3909 • Time Zone — Alberta Time • Utc Offset — −06:00 • Elevation M — 1130 • Postal Code Type — Postal code span • Area Codes — 403, 587, 825 • Custom Label Sec1 — Highways • Custom Label1 Sec1 — Waterway • Custom Data1 Sec1 — Lee Creek St. Mary River St Mary Reservoir • Website — www.cardston.ca Cardston is a town in Alberta, Canada. It was first settled in 1887 by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who travelled from Utah, via the Macleod-Benton Trail, to present-day Alberta in one of the century's last wagon migrations. The founder of the town was Charles Ora Card. The combined church and school was completed by January 29 the year following their arrival.

Cardston was first settled in 1887 by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints travelling from Utah via the Macleod-Benton Trail. Settlers were trying to escape anti-polygamy laws in the United States enacted during the late 1880s. Cardston was "dry" (alcohol free) for more than a century after the 1915 Alberta liquor plebiscite. In 2023, following a municipal plebiscite in which residents voted narrowly in favour of the measure, the town council voted 5-2 to allow alcohol to be served in restaurants and recreation facilities such as the local golf course. Liquor stores, lounges, nightclubs and other alcohol-primary businesses remain prohibited, and there are no licensed premises in which to use video lottery terminals. In 1951, 75% of Cardston's 3,500 residents were members of the LDS Church. In the 1990s some estimates put the number of LDS members at above 90%. It remains at about 80%, as of 2014. On August 15, 2019, the town was granted a coat of arms by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Cardston is situated in the foothills of southwest Alberta, approximately north from the American state of Montana. On its north side, it borders the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) Reserve, one of the largest reserves in North America. 40 km to the west of Cardston are the Rocky Mountains of Waterton Lakes National Park. Cardston is southwest of Lethbridge and south of Calgary.

Cardston experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). Along with the rest of southern Alberta, Cardston is subject to chinooks, which often bring temperatures in mid-winter well above 10 C. This same pattern results in more than 200 days of wind a year. Weather records: • Hottest temperature: 39.0 C on 23 July 2007 and 9 August 2018 • Coldest temperature: -41.7 C on 28 January 1929 • Most rain in one day: on 6 June 1995 • Most snow in one day: on 4 May 1919 • Deepest snow cover: on 29 April 1967

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Cardston had a population of 3,724 living in 1,261 of its 1,335 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 3,585. With a land area of, it had a population density of sqmi in 2021. In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Cardston recorded a population of 3,585 living in 1,175 of its 1,270 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 3,580. With a land area of sqmi, it had a population density of sqmi in 2016. Population by age and gender, 2001 • Age — Male — Female — Total • 0–4 — 115 — 140 — 255 • 5–14 — 335 — 310 — 645 • 15–19 — 175 — 180 — 355 • 20–24 — 105 — 100 — 205 • 25–34 — 125 — 160 — 285 • 35–44 — 175 — 210 — 385 • 45–54 — 165 — 200 — 365 • 55–64 — 125 — 155 — 280 • 65–74 — 135 — 170 — 305 • 75+ — 150 — 260 — 410 • Totals — 1600 — 1870 — 3470 Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding) Family income, 1996 and 2001 • 1996 — 2001 • Total number of families — 730 — 760 • Average family income — $53,750 — $52,939 • Median family income — $46,503 — $48,004 Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census

Cardston's primary industries are education, health care, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and tourism. Alcohol became legally available in Cardston for purchase in 2023, after over 100 years of ban. The Cardston Airport is located to the south-east of the town.

• Illustration — Cardston, circa 1914 Cardston has a soccer park, ball parks, a golf course, an ice skating rink, a swimming pool, tennis courts, hiking trails, a skateboard park, a hockey stadium, several recreation parks, picnic areas and playgrounds. St. Mary's Dam reservoir northeast of Cardston supports water sports in the summer months. The Cardston Alberta Temple was constructed by Latter-day Saint pioneers from 1913-1923, and was the first temple constructed by the Church outside of the United States. It remained the only temple in Canada until the Toronto Ontario Temple was built in 1990. The Remington Carriage Museum is the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America, with more than 250 carriages, wagons and sleighs. The sqft facility features video displays, a fire hall, carriage factory, restoration shop, working stable, carriage rides, carriage rentals, a restaurant, guided tours, and a gift shop. The Carriage House Theatre was constructed in 1912, and underwent renovations in 1937 and 1992. It seats 350 and hosts films, community theatre and professional summer theatre. The Card Pioneer Home was built by Cardston's founder Charles Ora Card in 1887, and served as a community centre and stopping place for travellers until the first hotel was built in 1894. The log structure stands in its original location and is open for public visits. It is a registered provincial historic site. The Courthouse Museum is a sandstone structure built in 1907 from stone quarried near Cardston. It was used longer than any other courthouse in Alberta. The building displays the judge's bench, witness box, and jail cells. It is a registered provincial historic site.

Schools include the Cardston High School, the Cardston Jr. High School (formerly Eastridge Elementary School), and Cardston Elementary School which are all under the Westwind School Division. Former schools include Leeside (grades 1 and 2 - torn down in the late 1980s to make way for the Remington-Alberta Carriage Centre) and Westside. The building that housed many of the junior high facilities, E.J. Wood School (including the gymnasium near the current high school), Parkland School, and John S. Smith Schools were torn down in 1993 as the junior high moved to the former Eastridge building. The Cardston High School underwent extensive renovations in the early 2000s, including an expansion to its gymnasium, much-improved fitness and weight room facilities, wider hallways, and a new cafeteria.

The Cardston News was first published in 1924, and was a weekly until 1925. During 1924–1925, the newspaper was edited and published by Fred Burton. It was later taken over by D.O. Wight, editor and managing director from September 17, 1925 until June 9, 1936. Fred Burton took over as publisher on June 16, 1936. The Cardston News was taken over by Gordon F. West On May 7, 1964. The Cardston Record began publication on August 6, 1898, and was published weekly until September 1901.

• Illustration — Fay Wray Fountain, Cardston • Victor L. Brown, world leader in the LDS Church • Ben Cahoon, CFL slotback who won three Grey Cup championships with the Montreal Alouettes. • Grant Hunter, UCP MLA for Taber-Warner • Elaine L. Jack, world leader in the LDS Church • Merlin R. Lybbert, world leader in the LDS Church • Shawna Molcak, basketball player who played for Canada in the 1996 Summer Olympics • Grant Strate, dancer and choreographer • Elle-MáijáTailfeathers - Blackfoot and Sámi filmmaker, actor, and producer born in Cardston • Frank Weiss, racing driver • Edward J. Wood, leader in the LDS Church • George Woolf, jockey • Fay Wray, King Kong actress