The town was named for the Beaverlodge River, which was known as Uz-i-pa ("temporary lodge") by members of the Beaver First Nation. The first European-Canadian settlers arrived in 1909.[5]
In 1953, a Specialized Canadian Forces Station was build 5 miles northeast of the town. It was a General Surveillance Radar Station build as part of the NORAD pact with U.S.[6] The buildings were operated by U.S military members, until the mid 60's when control was handed back to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Operations at the base ceased on the first of April, 1988, when the threat of the Cold War decreased. The buildings were all eventually demolished in the mind 1990's.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Beaverlodge had a population of 2,271 living in 923 of its 1,022 total private dwellings, a change of -7.9% from its 2016 population of 2,465. With a land area of 5.38 km2 (2.08 sq mi), it had a population density of 422.1/km2 (1,093.3/sq mi) in 2021.[2]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Beaverlodge recorded a population of 2,465 living in 953 of its 1,024 total private dwellings, a 4.2% change from its 2011 population of 2,365. With a land area of 5.73 km2 (2.21 sq mi), it had a population density of 430.2/km2 (1,114.2/sq mi) in 2016.[16]
Attractions
Beaver statue
In 2004, a Giant Beaver statue was unveiled in the town's park, which can be seen from Highway 43.[17]
The town has an arena, a public library, an indoor swimming pool and play parks.[18]
Education
There is an elementary school, grade K-6, Junior High students are bused to Hythe for grades 7–9, St. Mary's Catholic School is available for students attending grades 1–9. The high school, Beaverlodge Regional High School (BRHS), is attended by students from Wembley, Valhalla, Hythe, Horse Lakes No. 152B (Indian reserve), Kelly Lake (Metis settlement), Elmworth and St. Mary's in addition to the local Beaverlodge students.
^"Beaverlodge CDA". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
^"Table 5: Population of urban centres, 1916-1946, with guide to locations". Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1946. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1949. pp. 397–400.
^"Table 6: Population by sex, for census subdivisions, 1956 and 1951". Census of Canada, 1956. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1958.
^"Table 9: Population by census subdivisions, 1966 by sex, and 1961". 1966 Census of Canada. Western Provinces. Vol. Population: Divisions and Subdivisions. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1967.
^"Table 3: Population for census divisions and subdivisions, 1971 and 1976". 1976 Census of Canada. Census Divisions and Subdivisions, Western Provinces and the Territories. Vol. Population: Geographic Distributions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1977.
^"Table 2: Census Subdivisions in Alphabetical Order, Showing Population Rank, Canada, 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Vol. Census subdivisions in decreasing population order. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. ISBN0-660-51563-6.
^"Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data". 91 Census. Vol. Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1992. pp. 100–108. ISBN0-660-57115-3.
