Sundre takes its name from a town in Norway, the original home of Nels T. Hagen, the town's first postmaster.
History
Sundre's first postmaster, Nels T. Hagen, arrived in 1906. Sundre incorporated as a village in 1950 and then as a town in 1956.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Sundre had a population of 2,672 living in 1,187 of its 1,270 total private dwellings, a change of -2.1% from its 2016 population of 2,729. With a land area of 10.84 km2 (4.19 sq mi), it had a population density of 246.5/km2 (638.4/sq mi) in 2021.[2]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Sundre recorded a population of 2,729 living in 1,188 of its 1,256 total private dwellings, a 4.6% change from its 2011 population of 2,610. With a land area of 11.11 km2 (4.29 sq mi), it had a population density of 245.6/km2 (636.2/sq mi) in 2016.[5]
The Town of Sundre's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 2,695.[6]
Economy
Main industries in the area are petroleum production, forestry, agriculture, and ranching. The combined service, hospitality and tourism sector constitutes a major employment base within the community, as well. With two public schools, a public hospital, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, three municipalities in close proximity (Town of Sundre, Mountain View County, and Clearwater County), the public sector also represents a substantial employment area.[7]
Arts and culture
Cultural venues within Sundre include the Sundre Municipal Library[8] and the Sundre & District Pioneer Village Museum, which features "Chester Mjolsness' World of Wildlife" natural history exhibit of 150 taxidermy animals from across the world.[9] The Sundre Arts Development Centre is also a prominent cultural venue located with Sundre; the building is operated by the non-profit Sundre Allied Arts Society, as a venue to host live music, theatre productions, dance, and other performing arts.[10]
