Hays, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Hays is a hamlet
in southern Alberta
, Canada
within the Municipal District of Taber
. It is located at the intersection of Highway 524 and Highway 875 between Vauxhall
and Redcliff
. The Bow River
is 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) to the north of the hamlet and the Oldman River
is approximately 19 kilometres (11.8 mi) to the south. These two rivers converge to form the South Saskatchewan River
approximately 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) to the southeast.
Hays is named after David Walker Hays (1878–1958), chief engineer and manager of the Canada Land and Irrigation Company from 1911 to 1951. Hays celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2002.
, which is approximately 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) to the west via Highway 524 and Highway 36. Most students are bussed from the many farms just outside of Hays.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in southern Alberta
Southern Alberta
Southern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of the year 2004, the region's population was approximately 272,017. The primary cities are Lethbridge and Medicine Hat...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
within the Municipal District of Taber
Taber, Alberta (municipal district)
The Municipal District of Taber is a municipal district in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 2.-Demographics:The population of the Municipal District of Taber according to its 2008 municipal census is 6,714....
. It is located at the intersection of Highway 524 and Highway 875 between Vauxhall
Vauxhall, Alberta
Vauxhall is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in the Municipal District of Taber, in the prairie land between Bow River and Oldman River....
and Redcliff
Redcliff, Alberta
Redcliff is a town in southern Alberta, Canada within Cypress County. Bordering the City of Medicine Hat to the south and east, the town is bisected by Highway 1 and is located on the north bank of the South Saskatchewan River....
. The Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
is 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) to the north of the hamlet and the Oldman River
Oldman River
The Oldman River is a river in southern Alberta, Canada. It flows roughly west to east from the Rocky Mountains, through the communities of Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Taber, and on to Grassy Lake, where it joins with the Bow River to form the South Saskatchewan River, which eventually drains into...
is approximately 19 kilometres (11.8 mi) to the south. These two rivers converge to form the South Saskatchewan River
South Saskatchewan River
The South Saskatchewan River is a major river in Canada that flows through the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan....
approximately 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) to the southeast.
Hays is named after David Walker Hays (1878–1958), chief engineer and manager of the Canada Land and Irrigation Company from 1911 to 1951. Hays celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2002.
History
The area was devoted to short-grass prairie ranching during the late 1800s and early 1900s. As early as 1912, a canal and irrigation works were constructed to deliver water to the area from the Bow River at Carseland, but no land was irrigated there until 1952 after PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration), an agency of the Canada Department of Agriculture, purchased the assets of the Canada Land and Irrigation Company in 1950. It began a five year construction program to renovate and expand the existing irrigation and water delivery works, and re-settle farmers to the area. The area was administered by PFRA as part of the Bow River Irrigation Project until 1974 when the irrigation works, its operation and maintenance were taken over by the formation of the Bow River Irrigation District. Currently about 33000 acres (133.5 km²) are irrigated in the vicinity of Hays. A unique feature of the landscape is the allotment of land by irregular shaped parcels, rather than regular shaped quarter sections. This was a design feature by PFRA engineers to minimize development costs, and to integrate surface drainage with water delivery to the irrigated parcels. This feature somewhat restricted the later development of these parcels for sprinkler irrigation.Demographics
The population of Hays according to the M.D. of Taber's 2008 municipal census is 140.Education
The hamlet has a school serving 81 students from Kindergarten through Grade 9. When students reach Grade 10, they are bussed to the nearby Town of VauxhallVauxhall, Alberta
Vauxhall is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in the Municipal District of Taber, in the prairie land between Bow River and Oldman River....
, which is approximately 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) to the west via Highway 524 and Highway 36. Most students are bussed from the many farms just outside of Hays.