For thousands of years, central Alberta was home to nomadic people who lived mainly by hunting bison. Then, in the 18th century, the Cree nation took over the territory. The Cree had moved west to trap beaver for the European fur trade. They were soon followed by the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, both of which built fur trading posts near present-day Edmonton in 1795. The posts were rebuilt several times, always along the North Saskatchewan River, which provided the traders' main transportation route. The last move came in 1830, when Fort Edmonton was erected on the high bluff where the Alberta Legislature now stands. For the next 50 years, the fort was the major trading center on the western plains.
The modern city began to take shape after 1900, when central Alberta was opened to European immigrants as transcontinental railways were built. The Canadian Northern Railway reached Edmonton in 1905 and the Grand Trunk Pacific in 1909. Before that, there was only a branch railway from Calgary (1891) that stopped south of the river, giving rise to the rival city of Strathcona. Edmonton was incorporated as a city in 1904. When Alberta was made a province the following year, Edmonton was chosen to be its capital, while Strathcona received the provincial university. Strathcona was merged with Edmonton in 1912.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Edmonton Information info
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