Sitting along the Trans-Canada Highway roughly 50 kilometres east of Calgary, Strathmore is a growing community in southern Alberta, nestled within the boundaries of Wheatland County. Its location makes it a natural stopping point between Calgary and the rural prairies to the east, and many of its residents make the daily commute into the city while enjoying the smaller-town atmosphere that Strathmore offers.
A Railway Town With Royal Connections
Strathmore’s origins trace back to 1883, when the Canadian Pacific Railway extended its lines through the region and established a hamlet to support railway operations. The CPR chose to name the community after one of its benefactors, Claude Bowes-Lyon, the Earl of Strathmore. That aristocratic connection took on additional historical significance in late May 1939, when the Earl’s granddaughter – Queen Elizabeth, consort to King George VI – passed through the community aboard the Royal Train. During the construction of the railway, a remarkable record was set between Strathmore and Cheadle: workers laid one mile of steel track in a single hour, and by the end of a ten-hour workday, the rails had reached Cheadle, covering 9 miles in total. The passage of Canada’s Dominion Lands Act in 1872 had already begun encouraging settlement in the area, boosting Strathmore’s role as an important rail supply stop. The town’s first school opened in 1908, and in 2011, Strathmore marked its centennial with local celebrations and the publication of 100 Years of Memories: Celebrating Strathmore’s Centennial, released through Polished Publishing Group in early 2012. The CPR tracks themselves are long gone, with the former rail land having since been subdivided.
Population Growth and Community Life
Strathmore has seen steady population growth over the past decade. The 2021 federal census recorded 14,339 residents living across a land area of 26.98 square kilometres, yielding a population density of approximately 531.5 people per square kilometre. This represented a 4.2% increase from the 2016 census figure of 13,756, which had itself grown by 11.8% from the 2011 count of 12,305. At its current size, Strathmore is among the largest towns in Alberta and technically qualifies for city status under the province’s Municipal Government Act, which sets the threshold at 10,000 residents. The town serves as the headquarters of Golden Hills School Division No. 75 and supports a growing commercial sector, including franchise restaurants and big-box retailers. Agriculture and oil and gas exploration both contribute to the local economy, while the town’s proximity to Calgary continues to attract commuters seeking more affordable living outside the city. For residents without personal vehicles, a local taxi service and the Strathmore Handi-Bus provide on-demand transportation options.