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Milk River
Town
Town of Milk River
Grain elevators in Milk River
Motto: Under Eight Flags
Milk River
Coordinates: 49°9′0″N 112°5′12″W / 49.15000°N 112.08667°W / 49.15000; -112.08667
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Southern Alberta
Census division	2
Municipal district	County of Warner No. 5
Incorporated
• Village	July 11, 1916
• Town	February 7, 1956
Government
• Mayor	Dusten Bianchi
• Governing body	Milk River Town Council
Area
• Land	2.42 km (0.93 sq mi)
Elevation	1,059 m (3,474 ft)
Population
• Total	824
• Density	340.9/km (883/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span	T0K 1M0
Highways	Highway 4 Highway 501
Waterway	Milk River
GNBC Code	IAJZQ
Website	www.milkriver.ca

Milk River is a town in Alberta, Canada that is named after the Milk River which flows immediately to its south. This location results in Milk River being one of the few Canadian communities within the Mississippi River drainage system. It is 70 kilometres (43 mi) south of Lethbridge, and 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the Canada–United States border. It is primarily a service centre for the many farms and cattle ranches which surround it.

History

The Milk River area was first settled around the beginning of the 20th century. Milk River was incorporated as a village on July 31, 1916, and then a town on March 15, 1956.

The town's motto, "Under Eight Flags", refers to the area having been under the flags of seven governments as well as the Hudson's Bay Company. Including the Hudson's Bay Company's flag (1818–1869), the eight flags are France (1682–1760), the Spanish Empire (1769–1801), the French Republic (1801–1803), the United States (1803–1818), the British Empire (1869–1945), the Canadian Red Ensign (1945–1965), and the current Canadian Maple Leaf (1965–present).

Geography

Climate

The nearest weather station is in Masinasin, Alberta, which is approximately 36 km (22 mi) away.

Milk River has a humid continental climate (Dfb) and enjoys some of the warmest summers in Alberta, along with milder winters.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Milk River had a population of 824 living in 383 of its 436 total private dwellings, a change of -0.4% from its 2016 population of 827. With a land area of 2.42 km (0.93 sq mi), it had a population density of 340.5/km (881.9/sq mi) in 2021.

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Milk River recorded a population of 827 living in 375 of its 420 total private dwellings, a 2% change from its 2011 population of 811. With a land area of 2.33 km (0.90 sq mi), it had a population density of 354.9/km (919.3/sq mi) in 2016.

Attractions

Recreation venues in Milk River include a nine-hole golf course, curling rink, and swimming pool.

Rafting and canoeing the Milk River is possible in the spring months; in summer and fall river flow levels drop such that reliable canoeing and rafting cannot be had. River access can be found at Under 8 Flags Campground within the Town of Milk River, Goldsprings Park to the south of Milk River, and various bridges to the east of Milk River.

Attractions within the surrounding region that are proximate to Milk River include the following.

Devil's Coulee Dinosaur Heritage Museum

The Devil's Coulee Dinosaur Heritage Museum features a Hadrosaur (duck-billed dinosaur) nest and embryo, ancient fossils, dinosaur models.

Writing On Stone Provincial Park

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, is one of the largest areas of protected prairie in the Alberta park system, and serves as both a nature preserve and protection for the largest concentration of rock art, created by Plains People. There are over 50 rock art sites, with thousands of figures, as well as numerous archeological sites. The park is located approximately 40 km east of Milk River.

Government

The town is governed by a town council composed of a mayor and four councillors. Municipal elections are held every four years.

Infrastructure

The town is connected to two highways: Highway 4, which heads south to Interstate 15 and north to Lethbridge, and Highway 501, which heads west to Cardston and east to Saskatchewan. Air service is provided by Milk River Airport and rail service is offered through Canadian Pacific Kansas City.

Milk River Health Centre

Health services are provided by the Milk River and District Health Centre. The hospital offers 24/7 emergency department services with on call laboratory and diagnostic imaging services. Between 2005 and 2008, the emergency department averaged 1,351 visits per year. The tertiary referral centre for the hospital is Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge.

Education

Milk River has two schools – Milk River Elementary School and Erle Rivers High School.

Media

The Milk River Review was a weekly newspaper that was published between November 11, 1948 and May 27, 1954. It continued as a weekly throughout its run as The Review from June 17, 1954 to August 21, 1958, and again under the title of County of Warner Review and Advertiser between September 1, 1958 and March 30, 1961. Finally, the weekly newspaper returned to its original name, running as the Milk River Review from June 1, 1961 through to November 16, 1961.

See also

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta

References

1. "Location and History Profile: Town of Milk River" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 400. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
2. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
3. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
4. "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved October 8, 2013.
5. "Milk River". Natural Resources Canada. October 6, 2016.
6. ^ "Eight Flags Under the Prairie Sun". Town of Milk River Alberta. Milk River. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
7. Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2013-09-25). "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada". climate.weather.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
8. Environment Canada—. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
9. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
10. "Recreation Facilities | Town of Milk River". Retrieved 2020-02-03.
11. "Milk River Watershed Council Canada :: Canoe the Milk River".
12. "Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Milk River)". Elections Canada. April 7, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
13. "Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Milk River)". Elections Alberta. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
14. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-27. Retrieved 2014-11-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
15. "Page Error | Alberta Health Services".
16. "Educational Facilities | Town of Milk River". Retrieved 2020-02-03.
17. "CONTENTdm".

External links

• Official website

v t e Places adjacent to Milk River, Alberta
Magrath Warner Foremost Cardston Milk River Allerston Del Bonita Coutts Aden

• 1916 establishments in Alberta
• County of Warner No. 5
• Towns in Alberta