1910 Alberta Map

About the 1910 Map of Western Canada

This historical map, published by the Railway Lands Branch of the Department of the Interior, provides a detailed visual record of land distribution across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta in 1910. Known as a "special edition," its primary purpose was to illustrate lands finally disposed of—essentially highlighting areas that had been transitioned from federal control to private ownership, railway companies, or other entities.

The map features an intricate grid system based on the Dominion Land Survey, showing townships and ranges. It serves as a crucial primary source for understanding the rapid pace of settlement and the geographical footprint of the railway expansion that defined the Canadian Prairies at the turn of the 20th century.

Alberta in 1910: Fast Facts

• The University of Alberta's First Move: While the university was founded in 1908, it wasn't until 1910 that the first building on the current Edmonton campus, Athabasca Hall, began construction. Before this, classes were held in a local high school.
• The "Boom" Period: In 1910, Alberta was in the midst of a massive population explosion. Having only become a province five years prior (1905), the population was growing so fast that many "towns" on this map were little more than a collection of tents and a newly laid railway siding.
• The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway: By 1910, the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was aggressively pushing westward through Alberta toward the Rockies, fueling the creation of dozens of new settlements along its path.