1912 Alberta Map

About the 1912 Alberta Map

This historical document is a Rand McNally New Library Atlas Map, providing a detailed snapshot of Alberta just seven years after it achieved provincial status. The map features a multi-colored regional layout that highlights early 20th-century land districts, an expanding railway network, and the locations of burgeoning settlements, many of which were fueled by the era's homesteading boom. It serves as a vital primary source for visualizing the province's transition from a territorial frontier to an organized agricultural and industrial power.

Alberta in 1912: Fast Facts

• The Birth of the Calgary Stampede: 1912 marked the very first Calgary Stampede. Organized by Guy Weadick and backed by the "Big Four" local businessmen, the event was envisioned as a "frontier days" celebration and attracted over 100,000 spectators, far exceeding expectations for the time.
• Legislative Milestone: The Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton was officially opened on September 3, 1912, by Governor General Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. This grand structure symbolized the young province's permanence and growing political influence.
• A Population Explosion: By 1912, Alberta was in the midst of a massive demographic shift. The province’s population was growing at an incredible rate, nearly doubling between 1906 and 1911, as settlers from across Europe and the United States arrived to claim quarter-sections of land for farming.