| Town of Drumheller | |||
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  Town of Drumheller
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| Coordinates: 51°27′49″N 112°43′10″W / 51.46361°N 112.71944°W | |||
| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  Alberta |
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| Region | Southern Alberta | ||
| Census division | 5 | ||
| Incorporated | 1930 (city) | ||
| Re-Incorporated | 1997 (town) | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Bryce Nimmo | ||
| - Governing body | Drumheller Town Council | ||
| - MP | Kevin Sorenson (Crowfoot) | ||
| - MLA | Jack Hayden (Drumheller-Stettler) | ||
| Area [1] | |||
| - Total | 110.93 km2 (42.8 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 670 m (2,198 ft) | ||
| Population (2006)[1] | |||
| - Total | 7,932 | ||
| - Density | 73.5/km2 (190.4/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) | ||
| Postal code span | T0J | ||
| Area code(s) | +1-403 | ||
| Website | Official municipal site | ||
Drumheller is a town (formerly a city) on the Red Deer River in the Badlands of east-central Alberta, Canada. It is located 110 kilometres (68 mi) northeast of Calgary.
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The town is named for Colonel Samuel Drumheller, who bought land in 1910 and started coal mining operations here in 1911. Drumheller became a railway station in 1912, a village in 1913, a town in 1916 and a city in 1930.[2]
During the peak of the coal era (1920s) Drumheller's population exploded to more than 30,000 and it became a city in 1930. Drumheller was Western Canada's largest coal producer; now it contributes to a vibrant energy sector and can boast Alberta's second largest natural gas deposit, the West Drumheller Field. To benefit from Provincial and Federal grants, the City of Drumheller dropped its city status in favour of town status when it amalgamated with the Municipal District (M.D.) of Badlands No. 7 on January 1, 1998.[3] As a result of the amalgamation, Drumheller became Alberta’s largest town in terms of area at 111 square kilometres (43 sq mi).
The 1998 amalgamation with the M.D. of Badlands No. 7 resulted in Drumheller absorbing seven unincorporated communities that were previously under the jurisdiction of the M.D. – Aerial, Cambria, East Coulee, Lehigh, Nacmine, Rosedale and Wayne. Drumheller also previously absorbed the communities of Midlandvale, Newcastle and North Drumheller during annexations while under city status. In short, the Town of Drumheller has absorbed at least 10 other residential communities in its history, which are now neighbourhoods or districts within the town. The valley ranges from 2 kilometres (1 mi) across to 28 kilometres (17 mi) in length.
Drumheller has been the filming location for more than 50 commercials, television and cinematic productions including TNT's miniseries Into the West, Unforgiven, and ABC's miniseries Dreamkeeper.
South of the traffic bridge over the Red Deer river on Highway 9 is the World's Largest Dinosaur, a 26.2 metres (86 ft) high fiberglass Tyrannosaurus rex that can be entered for a view of the Badlands, including the adjacent 23 metre (75 ft) water fountain, again one of the largest in Canada. Tourist attractions also include the Star Mine Suspension Bridge, Atlas Coal Mine, Drumheller Valley Ski Hill, Reptile World, Canadian Badlands Passion Play, Horseshoe Canyon, Water Spray Park, Aquaplex with indoor and outdoor pools, Horse Thief Canyon, hoodoos, Midland Provincial Park, Rosedeer Hotel in Wayne, 27 kilometres (17 mi) of constructed pathways, Bleriot Ferry, East Coulee School Museum, Homestead Museum, Reptile World (the largest display of reptiles in Western Canada) and Little Church which is capable of seating only six patrons.
Next to Drumheller ski hill is the Canadian Badlands Passion Play site, where, for two weeks each July, performances are held. Companies are composed of actors from all over Alberta. The site also offers small plays throughout the summer and an interpretive centre.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is a museum that hosts Canada's largest collection of dinosaur fossils. It boasts 375,000 visitors a year, the largest of all provincial museum attractions. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is located in the northwest quadrant of the Town of Drumheller, in Midland Provincial Park.
Newspapers covering Drumheller include the weekly Drumheller Mail, which has been publishing every Wednesday for 99 years and has been owned by the Sheddy family since 1954.
Drumheller is within range of the radio and television stations in Calgary. It has no television stations of its own, but it does have a radio station of its own, as well as rebroadcast transmitters:
According to the Canada 2006 Census:[1]
| Population: | 7,932 |
| Land area: | 110.80 square kilometres (42.78 sq mi) |
| Population density: | 73.5 people/km² (190.4/sq mi) |
| Median age: | 39.7 (males: 37.0, females: 43.1) |
| Total private dwellings: | 3,244 |
| Mean household income: | $56,029 |
Following the merger with the Municipal District of Badlands, the following localities are included in the municipal incorporation of Drumheller:[4]
These localities used to be hamlets, villages or legal subdivisions of the Municipal District of Badlands.
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Three Hills | Stettler | Coronation | |
| Airdrie, Beiseker |  |
Hanna | ||
 Drumheller  |
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| Strathmore | Bassano | Brooks |
Coordinates: 51°27′49″N 112°43′10″W / 51.46361°N 112.71944°W
Drumheller [1] is a small town in the Alberta Badlands region of Alberta, Canada, famous for the rich deposits of fossils found in the area. Set in a characteristic "badlands" valley carved in the plains by the Red Deer River, Drumheller rose through coal mines — now abandoned — early in the 20th century. Now this town of 8,000 gets hundreds of thousands of visitors between May and September, making it the hub for tourism in the area.
Drumheller's tourism is strongly seasonal. Many attractions are closed or open limited hours from October through April.
The town is nestled in the Red Deer River valley. Near the bridge where the highways cross the river stands an 86' tall sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Visitor's information centre, so this makes a good reference point. Downtown Drumheller is just south and east of this bridge.
Drumheller tourist information is broadcast on FM 94.5.
The weather is usually very hot in the summer (above 30°C, 85°F). Remember to carry mosquito repellent — there are lots of mosquitoes around!
Drumheller is located at the convergence of provincial highways 9, 10, 56, 575, and 576.
Drumheller is 135km northeast of Calgary, about 1 hour 45 minutes by car. Drive north along Highway 2, then east along highway 72 and then highway 9. An alternative route is east along the Trans-Canada Highway, then north along Highway 21, and east along highway 575, approaching the town from the west.
Tour companies offer day trips to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Drumheller Valley. Call the Royal Tyrrell Museum for more information.
Drumheller is a small, rural town. The downtown is compact and easily walkable. Beyond that, you will need an automobile. A bicycle would also do, but during tourist season it is hot, and the roads don't have good bike lanes.
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