The community was named in and remained a hamlet for the next 45 years. Settlement in the area was scattered along a line some twelve kilometres 7. A site along Hardisty Creek, is where an aboriginal group from the Jasper area had left members stricken with smallpox while the rest of the group travelled to Lac Ste. Anne to find medical aid for the smallpox epidemic which was ravaging the indigenous population in Alberta. The area was thus dubbed Cache Picote Smallpox Camp in In Jack Gregg established a trading post at Prairie Creek to serve travellers along the Jasper trail.
The creek is now known as Muskuta Creek after an incorrect interpretation of the Cree name by white settlers. The construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway saw the establishment of a construction camp at the mouth of Prairie Creek at the Athabasca River in A trestle was built over the creek and is still in use by CN today.
In the Grand Trunk Pacific built a station house at mile west of Winnipeg. The station was named Hinton, and the community was born. The Canadian Northern Railway also established a station called Bliss in In when the Grand Trunk Pacific rail line was temporarily closed, Dalehurst became the postal station for Hinton.
Switzer was elected mayor by acclamation. He would serve three terms as the mayor of Hinton before entering provincial politics. Many landmarks in Hinton, including a provincial park, bear his name. While Switzer has long since passed, his family members remain in the area. Other families that were there as Hinton became a village also still have present-day descendants in town. The Woodley brothers, for example, came to town in The two would meet the train every day, and welcome visitors to the community.
Another common name is Berry. The family arrived in as well. The Moberly family still has relatives in Hinton. They homesteaded along what is now Hwy Several businesses in the area remain as staples of the community, such as the IGA, which was owned by the Freson brothers.
It arrived in the area in the s, and is still owned by the family. It began as a small butcher shop and grew into the Freson Markets. The local pharmacy, Switzer Drugs, which was run by William A. Switzer, just recently changed into a Rexall Drugs.
With more new businesses arriving over the years, the town boasts a few different shopping complexes, and over the years Hinton has even served to alleviate overcrowding in Jasper during peak tourism season. Though industry is the main economic driver for the town, over the recent years Hinton has also gained accolades for the outdoor activities it provides. Coal has also remained a cornerstone of the community's economy. However, of 3 mines in operation in the s and s, only one is in operation today.
Tourism has increased in importance with the town capitalizing on its many outdoor attractions including a championship cross-country ski trail and the Beaver Boardwalk, featuring Hinton's wetlands and wildlife. The town is located 27 km east of Jasper National Park. Hinton's history is rich and includes a memorable tragedy. In February , 23 people died in a collision between a passenger train and a freight train 10 km east of here.
The town's history is showcased in many different areas including storyboards, a forestry museum and the Natural Resources Interpretive Park.
Hinton The official web site of the Town of Hinton, Alberta. Search The Canadian Encyclopedia.
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