Three Hills | |
---|---|
Town | |
Town of Three Hills | |
Location of Three Hills in Alberta | |
Coordinates: 51°42′26″N 113°15′53″W / 51.70722°N 113.26472°WCoordinates: 51°42′26″N 113°15′53″W / 51.70722°N 113.26472°W | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Alberta |
Region | Central Alberta |
Census division | 5 |
Municipal district | Kneehill County |
Incorporated | |
• Village | June 14, 1912 |
• Town | January 1, 1929 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Timothy J. Shearlaw |
• Governing body | Three Hills Town Council |
Area (2016) | |
• Land | 6.75 km2 (2.61 sq mi) |
Elevation | 896 m (2,940 ft) |
Population (2016) | |
• Total | 3,212 |
• Density | 475.7/km2 (1,232/sq mi) |
Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
Highways |
Highway 21 Highway 583 |
Waterway | Threehills Creek |
Website | Official website |
Three Hills is a town located in the southern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It takes its name from the three highly visible hills that are situated to its north.
Three Hills was incorporated as a village in 1912, the year it was moved to its current location on the Canadian Northern Railway. With ranchers and farmers constituting its first residents, it soon became a centre for the surrounding wheat-growing area.
In 1922, the Prairie Bible Institute was established in Three Hills with L.E. Maxwell as its founding principal. This occurrence helped to increase the population of the town proper and its adjacent settlements. By the mid 1980s, the 130-acre (0.53 km2) Bible College campus and the nearby hamlets of Grantville and Ruarkville were annexed to the town.
Although a relatively small community, Three Hills had the distinction of hosting the Alberta Seniors Games in the summer of 1998. The town was chosen to host this event because of its ability to utilize large and well equipped facilities at the college. This included the opening and closing ceremonies which took place in the 4,300 seat Maxwell Memorial Tabernacle, located on the Bible College campus.
The Maxwell Tabernacle was Canada's largest religious auditorium before it was demolished in 2005. It operated from 1954 to 2005 as a local church, concert hall, and graduation auditorium for Prairie Bible Institute and Three Hills School high school classes.
Because of development regarding the nearby methane fields, the food and lodging industries in Three Hills have grown considerably over the past few years.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Three Hills recorded a population of 3,212 living in 1,232 of its 1,306 total private dwellings, a 0.4% change from its 2011 population of 3,198. With a land area of 6.75 km2 (2.61 sq mi), it had a population density of 475.9/km2 (1,232.5/sq mi) in 2016.
The Town of Three Hills' 2012 municipal census counted a population of 3,230, a 2.8% decrease from its 2008 municipal census population of 3,322.