Grande Prairie

Grande Prairie
City of Grande Prairie
Skyline of Grande Prairie viewed from the northeast
Skyline of Grande Prairie viewed from the northeast
Official seal of Grande Prairie
Nickname: 
Swan City[1]
City boundaries
City boundaries
Grande Prairie is located in Canada
Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie
Location in Canada
Grande Prairie is located in Alberta
Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie
Location in Alberta
Grande Prairie is located in County of Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie
Location in Grande Prairie County
Coordinates: 55°10′15″N 118°47′46″W / 55.17083°N 118.79611°W / 55.17083; -118.79611[2]
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionNorthern Alberta
Planning regionUpper Peace
Municipal districtCounty of Grande Prairie No. 1
Federal electoral districtGrande Prairie-Mackenzie
Provincial electoral districtsGrande Prairie
Grande Prairie-Wapiti
Incorporated[3] 
 • VillageApril 30, 1914
 • TownMarch 15, 1919
 • CityJanuary 1, 1958
Government
 • MayorJackie Clayton
 • Governing body
  • Chris Thiessen
  • Grant Berg
  • Dylan Bressey
  • Kevin O'Toole
  • Wendy Bosch
  • Wade Pilat
  • Gladys Blackmore
  • Mike O'Connor
 • City ManagerRobert Nicolay (Interim)
 • MPChris Warkentin (Conservative)
 • MLANolan Dyck (UCP) Ron Wiebe (UCP)
Area
 (2021)[5]
 • Land132.71 km2 (51.24 sq mi)
Elevation650 m (2,130 ft)
Population
 (2021)[5]
 • Total64,141
 • Density483.3/km2 (1,252/sq mi)
 • Municipal census (2018)
69,088
 • Estimate (2020)
69,355[7]
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Forward sortation areas
Area code(s)780, 587, 825, 368
Highways40, 43, 43X
WaterwaysWapiti River Bear River (Bear Creek)
Websitecityofgp.com

Grande Prairie is a city in northwestern Alberta, Canada, within the southern portion of an area known as Peace River Country. It is located at the intersection of Highway 43 (part of the CANAMEX Corridor) and Highway 40 (the Bighorn Highway), approximately 456 km (283 mi) northwest of Edmonton. The city is surrounded by the County of Grande Prairie No. 1.

Grande Prairie was the seventh-largest city in Alberta in 2016, with a population of 63,166,[8] and was one of Canada's fastest growing cities between 2001 and 2006,[9] and Canada's northernmost city with more than 50,000 people.

The city has adopted the trumpeter swan as its official symbol due to its proximity to the bird's migration route and its summer nesting grounds. For that reason, Grande Prairie is sometimes nicknamed the "Swan City". The dinosaur has also emerged as an unofficial symbol of the city due to paleontology discoveries in the areas north and west of Grande Prairie.

  1. ^ "History of Grande Prairie". City of Grande Prairie. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  2. ^ "Grande Prairie". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  3. ^ "Location and History Profile: City of Grande Prairie" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 17, 2016. p. 57. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  4. ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2021census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "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). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  7. ^ "Census Subdivision (Municipal) Population Estimates, July 1, 2016 to 2020, Alberta". Alberta Municipal Affairs. March 23, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2016censusABmunis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities) with 5,000-plus population, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data". Statistics Canada. January 6, 2010. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2012.