1906 Alberta Map

Map Description

This historical document is a two-page spread from The Victoria Regina Atlas (Second Edition, 1906), published by W. & A.K. Johnston, Ltd. in Edinburgh and London. The map provides a detailed topographical and political overview of British Columbia (left page) and the newly formed province of Alberta (right page). It features intricate hand-colored borders, detailed river systems, and early railway lines, capturing the region during a period of rapid westward expansion and settlement.

Alberta in 1906: Historical Facts

• The First Provincial Census: Following Alberta's entry into Confederation in late 1905, the first "Census of the Northwest Provinces" was conducted in June 1906. It recorded Alberta's population at 185,412 people—a massive jump from the roughly 73,000 recorded just five years prior.
• The Great Road Trip: In 1906, the very first car trip between Edmonton and Calgary was completed by H.G. White. The journey took two full days, with the vehicle reaching "daring" speeds of over 30 mph.
• A Provincial Phone System: Alberta became the first province to establish its own government-owned telephone system in 1906 (Alberta Government Telephones), which eventually evolved into what we know today as Telus.