Viking, Alberta

Viking (/ˈvaɪkɪŋ/) is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is at the intersection of Highway 14 (Poundmaker Trail) and Highway 36 (Veterans Memorial Highway), approximately 121 km (75 mi) east of Edmonton.

Viking
Town
Town of Viking
Main Street
Viking Location of Viking in Alberta
Coordinates: 53°5′43″N 111°46′37″W
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Central Alberta
Census division	10
Municipal district	Beaver County
Incorporated[1]
• Village	5 February 1909
• Town	10 November 1952
Government [2]
• Mayor	James Buttner
• Governing body	Viking Town Council
Area  (2021)[3]
• Land	3.45 km2 (1.33 sq mi)
Elevation [4]	691 m (2,267 ft)
Population  (2021)[3]
• Total	986
• Density	285.9/km2 (740/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code	T0B 4N0
Area codes	+1-780, +1-587
Highways	Highway 14 Highway 36
Railway	Canadian National Railway
Waterway	Thomas Lake
Website	www.viking.ca

The town also lends its name to the Viking Formation, an oil bearing stratigraphical unit.

History

Viking was settled in 1909 by Scandinavian settlers Sivert Hafso and Ole Sorenson, from Norway.

On 7 July 2005, the community ice arena was severely damaged by fire.^[5] Construction began on a new arena, called the "Viking Carena Complex" and was completed on 17 August 2007.

Viking celebrated its centennial in 2009.

Geography

Climate

Viking experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). Summers are warm with moderate rainfall while winters are long and bitterly cold.

Climate data for Viking Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 11.1 (52.0) 12.8 (55.0) 18.9 (66.0) 32.8 (91.0) 34.4 (93.9) 37.2 (99.0) 39.4 (102.9) 36.7 (98.1) 35 (95) 29.4 (84.9) 20.6 (69.1) 14.4 (57.9) 39.4 (102.9) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −8.1 (17.4) −5.1 (22.8) 1.2 (34.2) 11.3 (52.3) 17.9 (64.2) 21.6 (70.9) 23.6 (74.5) 23.1 (73.6) 17.8 (64.0) 10.8 (51.4) −1.2 (29.8) −6.5 (20.3) 8.9 (48.0) Daily mean °C (°F) −13.4 (7.9) −10.7 (12.7) −4.2 (24.4) 4.9 (40.8) 11 (52) 15 (59) 16.9 (62.4) 16 (61) 11.1 (52.0) 4.7 (40.5) −6 (21) −11.6 (11.1) 2.8 (37.0) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −18.7 (−1.7) −16.3 (2.7) −9.6 (14.7) −1.6 (29.1) 4 (39) 8.4 (47.1) 10.2 (50.4) 8.8 (47.8) 4.4 (39.9) −1.5 (29.3) −10.8 (12.6) −16.6 (2.1) −3.3 (26.1) Record low °C (°F) −50 (−58) −56.2 (−69.2) −41.1 (−42.0) −31.1 (−24.0) −12.2 (10.0) −3.3 (26.1) −1.1 (30.0) −4.4 (24.1) −26.7 (−16.1) −25.6 (−14.1) −38.3 (−36.9) −46.1 (−51.0) −56.2 (−69.2) Average precipitation mm (inches) 17.9 (0.70) 9.6 (0.38) 14.6 (0.57) 23.1 (0.91) 44.1 (1.74) 78.9 (3.11) 81.1 (3.19) 68.1 (2.68) 42.5 (1.67) 16.5 (0.65) 16.6 (0.65) 18.3 (0.72) 431.3 (16.98) Source: Environment Canada[6]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Viking had a population of 986 living in 432 of its 490 total private dwellings, a change of -9% from its 2016 population of 1,083. With a land area of 3.45 km² (1.33 sq mi), it had a population density of 285.8/km² (740.2/sq mi) in 2021.^[3]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Viking recorded a population of 1,083 living in 460 of its 505 total private dwellings, a 4% change from its 2011 population of 1,041. With a land area of 3.7 km² (1.4 sq mi), it had a population density of 292.7/km² (758.1/sq mi) in 2016.^[7]

Economy

The majority of economic activity is in the agriculture, oil and gas, textile, and manufacturing industries.

Alberta Farmers Cooperative Elevator company elevator, Viking, Alberta 1913.

Arts and culture

Viking won the national Communities in Bloom contest in 2000.^[8]

Attractions

The Viking Carena Complex

Many parks and flower gardens are maintained throughout the town. One of the most notable parks is Troll Park, which celebrates Vikings's rich Scandinavian history with native plants, trolls hidden throughout the park, and a giant troll mountain.

Infrastructure

Viking airport

Viking Railway Station turned tea house

The Viking Airport is a small airport owned by the Town of Viking 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) west of the townsite, with the Transport Canada airport identifier of CEE8.^[9]

As a flag stop, Via Rail's The Canadian calls at the Viking railway station.

Notable people

• Cory Clouston, former hockey coach
• Murray Dorin, Canadian politician, Progressive Conservative MP (1984–1993)
• Don Mazankowski, former politician
• Donald Sanderlin, Olympian
• Sutter family, a hockey family that includes Brent, Brian, Duane, Rich, Ron, and Darryl, all of whom formerly played professional hockey in the NHL
• Carson Soucy, professional NHL ice hockey player

See also

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta