Buffalo Lake, Alberta

This article is about the hamlet. For the large lake in Central Alberta, see Buffalo Lake (Alberta). For other uses, see Buffalo Lake (disambiguation).
Buffalo Lake
Hamlet
Girls smiling while child looks on in front of Buffalo Lake General Store
Girls smiling while child looks on in front of Buffalo Lake General Store
Buffalo Lake, Alberta is located in County of Grande Prairie
Buffalo Lake, Alberta
Location of Buffalo Lake in the County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Buffalo Lake, Alberta is located in Alberta
Buffalo Lake, Alberta
Buffalo Lake, Alberta (Alberta)
Coordinates: 55°06′44″N 119°31′24″W / 55.112321°N 119.523415°W / 55.112321; -119.523415
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionNorthern Alberta
Census divisionNo. 19
Municipal districtCounty of Grande Prairie No. 1
Settled1913
Government
 • TypeUnincorporated
 • ReeveLeanne Beaupre
 • Governing body
  • Leanne Beaupre
  • Corey Beck
  • Daryl Beeston
  • Harold Bulford
  • Peter Harris
  • Bob Marshall
  • Karen Rosvold
  • Ross Sutherland
  • Linda Dianne Waddy
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)

Buffalo Lake or Buffalo Lakes is a hamlet in northwest Alberta, Canada that is under the jurisdiction of the County of Grande Prairie No. 1.[1] It is located approximately 22 km (14 mi) northwest of Grande Prairie. The locality is on Highway 59 within proximity of Buffalo Lake, for which it is named. Buffalo Lake is one of a group of lakes referred to as Buffalo Lakes (other lakes named are Jones Lake and Gummer Lake).[2] Bison were known to use the lakes as a watering hole and to wallow in the shallow waters as a respite from heat and insects.[3] Many buffalo skulls were found in the area by early settlers.[4]

The first public building in Buffalo Lake was the Anglican Church, built in 1913. In 1918, the United Farmers of Alberta Hall was built a half-mile east of the church. In 1917, the Buffalo Lake post office was established. Businesses in the community included a blacksmith shop, a livery stable, a café and two garages. A curling rink was built in the mid-1930s across the road west of the store. The present hall was built in about 1950.[5] Buffalo Lakes School District was established in 1914.

The post office closed in 1952. The hall closed circa 2010, but the building remains on site.[6]

  1. ^ "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Aubrey, Merrily K. (1996). Place Names of Alberta Volume 4. Calgary, Alberta: University of Calgary Press. p. 28. ISBN 1-895176-59-X.
  3. ^ Aubrey, Merrily K (1996). Place Names of Alberta Volume 4. Calgary: University of Calgary Press. p. 28. ISBN 1-895176-59-X.
  4. ^ Buffalo Trails - Tales of the Pioneers. Buffalo Lake, Alberta: Buffalo Lake Community Society. 1978. p. 3. ISBN 0-920564-14-3.
  5. ^ Buffalo Trails Tales of the Pioneers. Buffalo Lake: Buffalo Lake Community Society. 1978. p. 3. ISBN 0-920564-14-3.
  6. ^ Buffalo Trails - Tales of the Pioneers. Buffalo Lake, Alberta: Buffalo Lake Community Society. 1978. p. 3. ISBN 0-920564-14-3.