Cadomin /ˈkædəmɪn/ is a hamlet in west-central Alberta, Canada, within Yellowhead County.[2] It is along the McLeod River in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Hinton near the Bighorn Highway. It is served by a spur of the Canadian National Railway.[3]

Cadomin
Cadomin's fire hall in 2011
Cadomin's fire hall in 2011
Cadomin is located in Yellowhead County
Cadomin
Cadomin is located in Alberta
Cadomin
Coordinates: 53°01′57″N 117°19′35″W / 53.03246°N 117.32652°W / 53.03246; -117.32652
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Census division14
Municipal districtYellowhead County
Government
 • TypeUnincorporated
 • MayorJim Eglinski
 • Governing body
  • Shawn Brian Berry
  • Sandra Cherniawsky
  • Anthony Giezen
  • Dawn Mitchell
  • Fred Priestley-Wright
  • David Russell
  • William Velichko
  • Jack Williams
Area
 (2021)[1]
 • Land1.02 km2 (0.39 sq mi)
Elevation
1,520 m (4,990 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
54
 • Density52.8/km2 (137/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)

Statistics Canada recognizes Cadomin as a designated place.[4] It is in Census Division No. 14 and in the riding of Yellowhead. It is administered by Yellowhead County.[5]

The scenery of Cadomin

History

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Cadomin's name is an acronym for 'Canadian Dominion Mining',[6][7] and the community gives its name to the Cadomin Formation, which forms a nearby prominent outcrop.

 
Cadomin Recreation Centre 2011

Cadomin is one of many communities in the Alberta Coal Branch area that thrived from the 1920s to the 1950s. During the early 1930s, Cadomin's population peaked at 1,800.[8] Other Coal Branch communities included Mountain Park, Luscar, Mercoal, and farther to the east, Robb, Embarras, Coalspur, Coal Valley, Lovett, and Foothills.[9]

Mining

The Cadomin Coal Company began operations in 1917 and four underground mines were eventually developed, as well as a surface mine that operated from 1944 to 1950. The main coal seam, called the No. 1 Seam, averaged 33 feet (10 m) in thicknesses. The strata in the area are strongly folded and faulted, and the seam is strongly inclined to overturned, so a variety of methods were employed to work it.[10] The coal was sold primarily as steam coal for railroad use, and the Cadomin coal mines closed in 1952 due to declining markets as the railroads replaced steam locomotives with diesel.[11]

Cadomin Quarry, operated by the Lehigh Cement Company (formerly Inland Cement), continues to employ a small number of local residents.[12]

Demographics

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Population history
of Cadomin
YearPop.±%
19411,053—    
1951947−10.1%
1956109−88.5%
1961106−2.8%
196680−24.5%
1971109+36.3%
1976129+18.3%
1981157+21.7%
1986107−31.8%
199186−19.6%
1991A87+1.2%
199686−1.1%
200164−25.6%
200656−12.5%
201136−35.7%
201640+11.1%
202154+35.0%
Source: Statistics Canada
[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][4][1]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cadomin had a population of 54 living in 27 of its 93 total private dwellings, a change of 35% from its 2016 population of 40. With a land area of 1.02 km2 (0.39 sq mi), it had a population density of 52.9/km2 (137.1/sq mi) in 2021.[1]

As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cadomin had a population of 40 living in 21 of its 92 total private dwellings, a change of 11.1% from its 2011 population of 36. With a land area of 1.02 km2 (0.39 sq mi), it had a population density of 39.2/km2 (101.6/sq mi) in 2016.[4]

Attractions

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One of the many caves of Cadomin

Cadomin Cave, located several kilometres to the south, used to attract a number of tourists during the summer months, although it remains undeveloped. The caves have been closed since 2010 due to the fungus growth the bats developed.[26]

In the area around Cadomin, there are extensive trails for horse back riding, all-terrain vehicles and dirt biking. Mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular as well. Bird watching is a popular hobby, and there are also regular butterfly counts every year.

The scientific and naturalist communities spend a great deal of time studying the extensive wildlife including bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, moose, elk, and other mountain species.

The fall provides numerous big game hunting opportunities for deer, moose and bighorn sheep.

 
Cadomin Legion in 2011

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Atlas of Alberta Railways. The Coal Branch
  4. ^ a b c "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  5. ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Yellowhead County - Municipal district Profile". Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2008.
  6. ^ Temple, Robert D. Edge Effects: The Border-Name Places, (2nd edition, 2009), iUniverse, page 324.
  7. ^ Alberta Speleological Society, Cadomin Cave Archived 2009-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Ghost Towns. Cadomin
  9. ^ When Coal Was King: Coal Mining in Western Canada Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Melnyk, N. 1942. Lower level operations in a thick steeply pitching seam at Cadomin Coal Mine, Cadomin, Alberta. Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Transactions, vol. XLV, p. 208-223.
  11. ^ Kyba, Daniel and Jane Ross (2001). Exploring the historic Coal Branch. Calgary, Alberta: Rocky Mountain Books, 336 p. ISBN 0-921102-83-6.
  12. ^ Alberta Source. Rockies, Coal Branch and Nordegg: Overview
  13. ^ Ninth Census of Canada, 1951 (PDF). Vol. SP-7 (Population: Unincorporated villages and hamlets). Dominion Bureau of Statistics. March 31, 1954. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Census of Canada, 1956 (PDF). Vol. Population of unincorporated villages and settlements. Dominion Bureau of Statistics. October 25, 1957. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  15. ^ 1961 Census of Canada: Population (PDF). Series SP: Unincorporated Villages. Vol. Bulletin SP—4. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. April 18, 1963. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  16. ^ Census of Canada 1966: Population (PDF). Special Bulletin: Unincorporated Places. Vol. Bulletin S–3. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1968. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  17. ^ 1971 Census of Canada: Population (PDF). Special Bulletin: Unincorporated Settlements. Vol. Bulletin SP—1. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1973. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "Geographical Identification and Population for Unincorporated Places of 25 persons and over, 1971 and 1976". 1976 Census of Canada (PDF). Supplementary Bulletins: Geographic and Demographic (Population of Unincorporated Places—Canada). Vol. Bulletin 8SG.1. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1978. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  19. ^ 1981 Census of Canada (PDF). Place name reference list. Vol. Western provinces and the Territories. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1983. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  20. ^ 1986 Census of Canada (PDF). Population. Vol. Unincorporated Places. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1988. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  21. ^ 91 Census (PDF). Population and Dwelling Counts. Vol. Unincorporated Places. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1993. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  22. ^ 96 Census (PDF). A National Overivew: Population and Dwelling Counts. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1997. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  23. ^ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. August 15, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  24. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. July 20, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  25. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  26. ^ "Cadomin Cave | Alberta Speleological Society". www.caving.ab.ca. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

53°01′57″N 117°19′35″W / 53.03246°N 117.32652°W / 53.03246; -117.32652