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Milo, Alberta

Coordinates: 50°34′20″N 112°52′58″W / 50.57222°N 112.88278°W / 50.57222; -112.88278
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Milo
Village of Milo
Milo seen from the east
Milo seen from the east
Motto: 
Making Memories in Milo
Milo is located in Alberta
Milo
Milo
Coordinates: 50°34′20″N 112°52′58″W / 50.57222°N 112.88278°W / 50.57222; -112.88278
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
RegionSouthern Alberta
Census division5
Municipal districtVulcan County
Founded1909
Incorporated[1] 
 • VillageMay 7, 1931
Government
 • MayorPatrick Weins
 • Governing bodyMilo Village Council
Area
 (2021)[3]
 • Land0.96 km2 (0.37 sq mi)
Elevation
880 m (2,890 ft)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Total111
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span
Area code403
HighwaysHighway 542
Highway 842
WaterwayMcGregor Lake
WebsiteOfficial website

Milo is a village in Vulcan County, Alberta, Canada. It is located on Highway 542, approximately 127 kilometres (79 mi) southeast of the City of Calgary and 72 kilometres (45 mi) east of the Town of High River. Milo is mainly an agricultural service community.

Demographics

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In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Milo had a population of 111 living in 51 of its 58 total private dwellings, a change of 22% from its 2016 population of 91. With a land area of 0.96 km2 (0.37 sq mi), it had a population density of 115.6/km2 (299.5/sq mi) in 2021.[4][3]

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Milo recorded a population of 91 living in 49 of its 64 total private dwellings, a -25.4% change from its 2011 population of 122. With a land area of 0.98 km2 (0.38 sq mi), it had a population density of 92.9/km2 (240.5/sq mi) in 2016.[5]

Amenities

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Grain elevator built by Alberta Wheat Pool in Milo.

Amenities include a community hall, curling rink, walking paths, hotel, library, skating area, and school. The village has a grocery, pub, and cafe. The community has an active Lions Club which maintains an attractive playground and picnic area. Other services are available in nearby Vulcan (50 km). A campground with 85 sites is located in a small park beside nearby McGregor Lake reservoir. The lake, which is a major part of an irrigation system, is popular for fishing, swimming, windsurfing, boating and birdwatching.

History

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In 1909, Milo was settled 3 kilometres northeast of its present location when Jens (Jim) and Alete Aasgard moved here from Osseo, WI and built their store and home. The town was named for Milo Munro, first postmaster - his post office was in the Aasgards' store. Nearby, a blacksmith shop and Bank of Hamilton opened. Before 1920, the Village of Milo had a telephone office, butcher, pool hall, community hall, and ice cream parlor.

A new railroad extension into the area did not reach the young community, so in 1924, Milo was moved to the side of the train tracks. Most of the buildings were pulled to the new location. The town hall was too large and was dismantled in sections and rebuilt at its new location. Village status was achieved in 1931.

A World War II Royal Canadian Air Force navigator, Harlo "Terry" Taerum, the son of a Norwegian immigrant,[6] spent his early years on a farm a few kilometers from Milo and attended school in the community. In May 1943, in Operation Chastise, commonly known as the "Dambuster Raid," he navigated the lead Lancaster bomber at very low level, at night, to the primary target, a power dam inside Germany. He was killed on a later raid in September 1943.[7]

A new community hall was built in 1985 and the curling rink expanded and renovated in 1998. Since 2000, developments along the shores of McGregor Lake have attracted cottagers and vacationers from Calgary. The original site of the village - the Aasgards' farmstead and store - are now part of Canada's largest comb honey beekeeping farm, owned by Don and Ron Miksha.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Location and History Profile: Village of Milo" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 21, 2016. p. 463. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  2. ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Population and dwelling count amendments, 2021 Census". Statistics Canada. December 1, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  6. ^ "Milo students remember one of their own 70 years later," Nov 8, 2013, Palliser Regional Schools website https://www.pallisersd.ab.ca/about-us/news/post/milo-students-remember-one-of-their-own-70-years-later
  7. ^ Dave Birrell, "My Son 'A First Class Man' - Honouring Terry Taerum" (Originally published in the Spring 2003 Edition of Air Force Magazine), reproduced at website of Bomber Command Museum, Nanton http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/taerum2.html Archived 2018-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
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