Irvine, Alberta
| Irvine | |
|---|---|
| Hamlet | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: 49°57′19″N 110°16′36″W / 49.9553°N 110.2767°WCoordinates: 49°57′19″N 110°16′36″W / 49.9553°N 110.2767°W | |
| Country |
 Canada
|
| Province |
 Alberta
|
| Census division | No. 1 |
| Municipal district | Cypress County |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| • Governing body | Cypress County Council |
| Elevation | 763 m (2,503 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 291 |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| Area code(s) | 403 |
Irvine is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Cypress County. It is located approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Medicine Hat on Highway 1 and has an elevation of 763 metres (2,503 ft). The hamlet is located in census division No. 1 and in the federal riding of Medicine Hat.
The vast prairies were home to the Cree and other indigenous groups who traversed the area in and around the nearby Cypress Hills, following the routes of the bison. By 1870, the bison were all but gone. The Palliser Expedition passed through the region in 1859. Métis settled in the hills during the mid-1860s, and the Cypress Hills Massacre occurred in 1873.
A settlement developed around a trading post, and became known as 20 Mile Post - 20 miles from the next trading post at Medicine Hat. It later was renamed Irvine in honour of Colonel A. Irvine, a commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police who served with General F.D. Middleton during the North-West Rebellion of 1885.
In early May 1883, the push was on to complete the Canadian Pacific Railway line from just east of Walsh to Medicine Hat. Crews of gandy dancers worked hard, building the rail line through 20 Mile Post, and reaching Medicine Hat on May 31. Trains brought Europeans with high hopes for their futures to the area. Today, lengthy freight trains roll through Irvine in the blink of an eye.
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Wikipedia