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Thursday 26 July 2012

Raymond, Alberta

Raymond is a town in Warner CountyAlbertaCanada. It is located in southern Alberta south of Lethbridge on Highway 52. Raymond is known for its annual rodeo and its large Mormon population.[2] The sole high school in the town, Raymond High School, is known for its sports achievements in basketball, Canadian football, and women's rugby union.[citation needed]
Raymond
—  Town  —
Town of Raymond
Former sugar beet processing factory, converted into a grain storage when acquired by Parrish & Heimbecker
Nickname(s): Sugar City
Motto: Home of the First Stampede

Location of Raymond in Alberta
Coordinates: 49°27′57″N 112°39′03″WCoordinates49°27′57″N 112°39′03″W
Country Canada
Province Alberta
RegionSouthern Alberta
Census division2
Municipal districtCounty of Warner No. 5
Government
 • MayorGeorge Bohne
 • Governing body
Area (2011)[1]
 • Total6.85 km2 (2.64 sq mi)
Elevation960 m (3,150 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total3,743
 • Density546.1/km2 (1,414/sq mi)
Time zoneMST (UTC-7)
Postal code spanT0K 2S0
Area code(s)+1-403
HighwaysHighway 52
Highway 845
WaterwaysMilk River Ridge Reservoir
WebsiteTown of Raymond

History

Raymond was founded in 1901 by mining magnate and industrialist Jesse Knight. Knight named the town after his son Raymond.
Raymond was incorporated as a village in the Northwest Territories (NWT) on May 30, 1902.[3][4] It incorporated as a town in the NWT 13 months later on July 1, 1903.[5][4]

[edit]Demographics

The Town of Raymond's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 3,892,[6] a 0.7% increase over its 2011 municipal census population of 3,864.[7]
In the 2011 Census, the Town of Raymond had a population of 3,743 living in 1,165 of its 1,235 total dwellings, a 16.1% change from its 2006 adjusted population of 3,225. With a land area of 6.85 km2 (2.64 sq mi), it had a population density of 546.4/km2 (1,415.2/sq mi) in 2011.[1]
In 2006, the town had a population of 3,205 living in 1,085 dwellings, a 0.2% increase over its population of 3,200 in 2001. The town had a land area of 4.75 km2 (1.83 sq mi) and a population density of 674.1 /km2 (1,746 /sq mi).[8]

[edit]Visible minorities

As of 2006, approximately 3.0% of the town's population were visible minorities. Of those minorities, 50 people identified themselves as Japanese, 40 as Black, and 10 as South Asian.[8]

[edit]Aboriginals

In 2006, there were 110 Aboriginal Canadians resident in the town.[8]

[edit]Religion

A majority of Raymondites are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[9] In the town, there are three LDS Church chapels and nine separate congregations, composing one stake.[2] (The closest LDS Church temple, the Cardston Alberta Temple, is located 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest in Cardston.) Raymond also has BaptistMennonite, and United Church of Canada congregations. Until its temple was relocated to Lethbridge in 2006, the Raymond Buddhist Church was the oldest continually used Buddhist sanctuary in Canada.[10]

[edit]Charitable giving

Statistics Canada has reported that Raymond ranks among the top five communities in Canada for the highest level of charitable donations per capita, which is partially due to the town population's high rate of tithes given to the LDS Church.[9]

[edit]Attractions

In 1902, one year after it was founded, Raymond held an outdoor rodeo and called it a stampede; this was Canada's first organized rodeo event.[citation needed] Since the inaugural event, the Raymond Stampede has been held on June 30 or July 1 every summer.[citation needed]
Raymond Heritage Days is held annually during the first week of July to celebrate the founding of Raymond. Events and activities include family softball, fireworks, midnight golfing, downtown games with bounce houses, a pancake breakfast, and a Canada Day parade, in addition to the Raymond Stampede.[citation needed]
Raymond is home to the Raymond Judo Club, the first Judo club in Alberta. The club was formed by Yoshio Katsuta in 1943.[citation needed]
The Raymond Aquatic Centre opened in 2010. It features two small waterslides, a junior Olympic-sized pool for lane swimming, diving boards, a climbing wall, a baby pool, and an eating area. The aquatic centre holds 1,000,000 litres of water during the summer and attracts up to 500 visitors a day.[citation needed]
The Raymond Buddhist Church is the oldest building in Raymond and the only remaining structure from the town's pioneer days.[10]

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