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Drumheller () is a town on the Red Deer River in the badlands of Central Alberta, Canada. It is located northeast of Calgary and south of Stettler. The Drumheller portion of the Red Deer River valley, often referred to as Dinosaur Valley, has an approximate width of and an approximate length of .
Drumheller was named after Samuel Drumheller, who, after purchasing the homestead of Thomas Patrick Greentree, had it surveyed into the original Drumheller townsite and put lots on the market in 1911. Also in 1911, Samuel Drumheller started coal mining operations near the townsite.
Drumheller got a railway station in 1912. It was then incorporated as a village on May 15, 1913, a town on March 2, 1916, and a city on April 3, 1930. Over a 15-year period, Drumheller's population increased from 312 in 1916 to 2,987 in 1931 shortly after becoming a city.
Drumheller boomed until the end of the Second World War when coal lost most of its value.
The City of Drumheller amalgamated with the Municipal District of Badlands No. 7 on January 1, 1998, to form the current Town of Drumheller. Some of the reasons the two municipalities amalgamated included Badlands No. 7 having more in common with Drumheller than other surrounding rural municipalities and both were experiencing similar planning and development issues due to their locations within the Red Deer River valley. The amalgamated municipality opted for town status rather than city status so that highways within would remain the responsibility of the Province of Alberta. As a result of the amalgamation, Drumheller became Alberta's largest town in terms of land area at .
The 1998 amalgamation resulted in Drumheller absorbing six hamlets that were previously under the jurisdiction of the Municipal District of Badlands No. 7—Cambria, East Coulee, Lehigh, Nacmine, Rosedale and Wayne. Drumheller also previously absorbed the hamlets of Bankview, Midlandvale (Midland), Newcastle and North Drumheller during annexations while under city status. Bankview and Midland were annexed in 1964 and 1972 respectively, while Newcastle and North Drumheller were both annexed in 1967. Other localities within Drumheller, either absorbed through past annexations or its eventual amalgamation with Badlands No. 7, include Aerial, Eladesor, Kneehill, Rosedale Station, Western Monarch (Atlas) and Willow Creek.
In total, Drumheller has absorbed at least 13 other communities in its history, some of which are now recognized as neighbourhoods or districts within the town.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Drumheller recorded a population of 7,982 living in 3,164 of its 3,471 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 8,029. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016.
Currently, tourism is Drumheller's main industry. A federal prison and regional medical complex also contribute to the economy. Agriculture is also quite important.
Tourist attractions also include the Star Mine Suspension Bridge, Atlas Coal Mine, Canadian Badlands Passion Play, Horseshoe Canyon, Rotary Spray Park, Aquaplex (with indoor and outdoor pools), Horse Thief Canyon, Hoodoos, Midland Provincial Park, the Rosedeer Hotel in Wayne, of constructed pathways, Bleriot Ferry, East Coulee School Museum, the Homestead Museum, Barney's Adventure Park, and the Little Church, which is capable of seating only six patrons.
Next to the now-closed Drumheller ski hill is the Canadian Badlands Passion Play site where performances are held for two weeks each July. The Badlands Amphitheatre began hosting the Passion Play in 1991. Companies are composed of actors from all over Alberta. The site also offers small plays throughout the summer and an interpretive centre.
Drumheller was also home to the Valley Doll Museum and Gifts, where it displayed over 700 dolls.
Passenger rail service ran from 1912 up until 1981 but freight continued on the through lines up until 2014.
The railway was decommissioned and demolished in 2014, and replaced by the Rails To Trails project to allow for better pedestrian travel throughout the valley.
Geography
Climate
Drumheller experiences a semi-arid climate (BSk) with very cold winters and hot summers. The highest temperature ever recorded in Drumheller was on July 18, 1941. The coldest temperature ever recorded was on January 29, 1996.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Drumheller had a population of 7,909 living in 3,198 of its 3,557 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 7,982. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
Economy
Drumheller was once the largest coal producing city in Western Canada, with the Atlas Coal Mine. Now, coal mining has been replaced by natural gas and oil. Drumheller has Alberta's second largest natural gas field, the West Drumheller Field. However, Drumheller is planning to transition away from fossil fuels and emphasize renewable energy sources, such as wind power, in its economy.
Attractions
South of the traffic bridge over the Red Deer river on Highway 9 is the World's Largest Dinosaur, a 26.2-metre (86 ft) high fiberglass Tyrannosaurus that can be entered for a view of the Badlands, including the adjacent 23 metre (75 ft) water fountain, again one of the largest in Canada. It was announced in March 2025 that the dinosaur will close in December 2029 at the end of the current lease term.
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is a museum that hosts Canada's largest collection of dinosaur fossils. It boasts 500,000 visitors a year, the largest of all provincial museum attractions. It opened on September 25, 1985. The museum is located in the northwest quadrant of the Town of Drumheller, in Midland Provincial Park and is operated by the Government of Alberta under the Alberta Culture.
Media
Digital
DrumhellerOnline.com is Drumheller's local news portal.
Radio
Newspapers
Newspapers covering Drumheller include the weekly Drumheller Mail, which has been publishing every Wednesday since 1911 and has been owned by the Sheddy family since 1954.
Television
All stations are analogue relays of stations from Calgary.
Transportation
Drumheller/Ostergard's Airport and Drumheller Municipal Airport are in the vicinity of Drumheller. None have regular passenger flights.
Notable people
See also
External links
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