1948 Alberta Map

About the 1948 Alberta Details Map

This historical cartographic file provides an intricate look at the provincial geography of Alberta as it stood in 1948. Produced during the immediate post-WWII era, detailed maps from this year document a landscape undergoing massive transformation. They capture the finer details of municipal boundaries, expanded section grids, regional roadways, and specialized infrastructure. Free from the influence of later decades, this map serves as a vital geographic snapshot of a province shifting its economic and physical focus toward modernization and unprecedented industrial expansion.

Alberta History Spotlight: 1948

• The Wild Atlantic No. 3 Oil Fire: Following the legendary 1947 Leduc No. 1 strike, the nearby Atlantic No. 3 well blew out of control in March 1948. It ran wild for months before catching fire in September, producing massive smoke plumes that could be seen for hundreds of kilometers. It was finally tamed in November by legendary oilfield firefighters.
• The Great Electrification Referendum: Along with the provincial election in August 1948, Albertans voted on a historic plebiscite regarding power generation. The public was deeply and evenly divided on whether the government should take over the electricity system or leave it to private utilities—the private system won by a razor-thin margin of just 151 votes.
• A Historic Grey Cup Party: In November 1948, the undefeated Calgary Stampeders won their first-ever Grey Cup by defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders. Calgary fans traveled to Toronto by train and famously turned the game into a massive, city-wide festival—essentially inventing the modern, party-filled Grey Cup tradition.
• The Birth of Counties: Post-war growth prompted a re-evaluation of rural governance. The legislative groundwork laid down around this time eventually allowed the Municipal District of Grande Prairie and Vulcan to formalize into Alberta's very first "Counties," streamlining how rural schools and infrastructure were funded.