Nestled in southern Alberta, Three Hills takes its name from a trio of hills situated just to the north of the community. The town traces its postal history back to 1904, and was incorporated as a village in 1912 – the same year it was relocated to its present site along the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway corridor connecting Tofield and Calgary. Its earliest residents were ranchers and farmers, and it quickly established itself as a hub for the surrounding wheat-growing region. A defining moment in the town’s development came in 1922 with the founding of Prairie Bible Institute – now known as Prairie College – with L. E. Maxwell serving as its inaugural principal. The college’s presence contributed meaningfully to population growth in both the town and its neighbouring settlements. By the mid-1980s, the college’s 0.53 km² campus along with the nearby hamlets of Grantville and Ruarkville had been annexed into the town.
Three Hills covers a land area of 6.74 km², and the 2021 Census recorded a population of 3,171 residents living in 1,220 of its 1,290 private dwellings – a modest decline of 1.3% from the 3,212 counted in 2016. The town’s population density sits at approximately 470.5 people per km². One of the community’s most notable landmarks was the Maxwell Memorial Tabernacle, once considered Canada’s largest religious auditorium, which seated 4,200 people and operated from 1953 until it was decommissioned and demolished in 2005. It served as a chapel, concert venue, and convocation hall for Prairie College, Prairie Christian Academy, and Three Hills High School. A newer 1,600-square-metre facility opened in 2020 and now stands near Prairie Christian Academy, continuing that tradition of community worship. In 1998, Three Hills hosted the Alberta Seniors Games, with the college’s well-equipped facilities – including the Maxwell Tabernacle – serving as the venue for opening and closing ceremonies. Local amenities include the Three Hills Municipal Library, an Aquatic Centre, Centennial Place hockey arena, and a curling rink, while the growth of nearby methane fields has also contributed to expansion in the town’s food and lodging sectors.