Calgary, Alberta

:This page refers to the city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. For other places with the name Calgary, see Calgary (disambiguation)

History

First settlement

Before the Calgary area was settled by Europeans, it was the domain of the Blackfoot people whose presence has been traced back at least 11,000 years. In 1787 cartographer David Thompson spent the winter with a band of Peigan Indians encamped along the Bow River. He was the first recorded European to visit the area. By 1860 settlers began arriving to hunt buffalo and sell illegal whiskey.

Related Topics:
Blackfoot - David Thompson - Peigan - 1860

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The first recorded settler in Calgary was rancher Sam Livingston in the early 1870s, and in 1875 the site became a post of the North West Mounted Police (now the RCMP). Originally named Fort Brisebois, after NWMP officer Éphrem-A Brisebois, it was renamed Fort Calgary in 1876 because of questionable conduct on the part of that officer. The NWMP detachment was assigned to protect the western plains from US whiskey traders. Fort Calgary was named by Colonel James Macleod after Calgary (Cala-ghearraidh, Beach of the pasture) on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. When the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the area and a rail station was constructed, Calgary began to grow into an important commercial and agricultural centre. The Canadian Pacific Railway headquarters are located in Calgary today. Calgary was officially incorporated as a town in 1884 and elected its first mayor, George Murdoch. In 1894, Calgary became the first city in what was then, the Northwest Territories.

Related Topics:
Sam Livingston - 1870s - 1875 - North West Mounted Police - RCMP - Éphrem-A Brisebois - Fort Calgary - 1876 - US - Colonel James Macleod - Calgary - Isle of Mull - Scotland - Canadian Pacific Railway - 1884 - George Murdoch - 1894 - Northwest Territories

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The oil boom

Oil was first discovered in Alberta in 1914, but it didn't become a significant industry in the province until the 1960s when huge reserves of it were discovered. Calgary quickly found itself at the centre of the ensuing oil boom. The city's economy grew when oil prices increased with the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973. The population grew from 325,000 in 1974 to 647,000 in 1987. During this time, Calgary skyscrapers were constructed at a pace seen by few cities anywhere. The relatively low-rise downtown quickly became dense with tall buildings: a trend that continues to this day.

Related Topics:
Alberta - Arab Oil Embargo - Calgary skyscrapers - Downtown

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Calgary's economy was so closely tied to the oil industry that the city's boom peaked with the average annual price of oil in 1981.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://inflationdata.com/inflation/Inflation_Rate/Historical_Oil_Prices_Table.asp

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The subsequent drop in oil prices and the introduction of National Energy Program, were cited by industry as reasons for a collapse in the oil industry, and consequently the overall Calgary economy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The NEP was cancelled in the mid-1980s by the Brian Mulroney federal government. But, continued low oil prices, prevented a full recovery until the 1990s.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Recent history

With the energy sector employing a huge number of Calgarians, the fallout from the economic slump of the early 1980s was understandably significant. The unemployment rate soared. By the end of the decade, however, the economy was in recovery. Calgary quickly realized that it could not afford to put so much emphasis on oil and gas, and the city has since become much more diverse, both economically and culturally. The period during this recession marked Calgary's transition from a mid-sized and relatively nondescript prairie city into a major cosmopolitan and diverse centre. This transition culminated in February of 1988, when the city hosted the XV Olympic Winter Games. The success of these games essentially put the city on the world stage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The economy in Calgary and Alberta is now booming, and the city of over a million people is still among the fastest growing in the country. In fact, Calgary is now second only to Toronto for its concentration of corporate head offices. While the oil and gas industry and agriculture still comprise a huge part of the economy, the city has invested a great deal into other areas. Tourism is perhaps one of the fastest growing industries in the city. Over 4.5 million people now visit the city on an annual basis for its many festivals and attractions, as well as the Calgary Stampede. The nearby mountain resort towns of Banff, Lake Louise, and Canmore are also becoming increasingly popular with tourists, and are bringing people into Calgary as a result. Other modern industries include light manufacturing, high-tech, film, transportation, and services. Calgary now boasts a higher GDP per capita than any other major Canadian city. The city has also ranked high in quality of life surveys.

Related Topics:
Alberta - Toronto - Calgary Stampede - Banff - Lake Louise - Canmore

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~