Edmonton (ED-muhn-tuhn), city (1991 pop. 616,741), provincial central Alta., Canada, on the North Saskatchewan R.; 53°33'N 113°30'W. The largest metropolitan area in Alberta, Edmonton, known as the “Gateway to the North,” is located in the center of the prov. bet. the fertile valleys of the S and the rich resources of the N. It is a major market center for farm and petrochemical prods., and has an economy based on the production of oil, coal, and natural gas. Other industries include lumbering, meat packing, flour milling, and dairying. The dominant center for the W fur trade during the 19th cent., Edmonton grew slowly in the 20th cent., relying on its agr.-based economy. Before World War II it was only the 9th-largest city in Canada, but the discovery (1947) of petroleum at Leduc, Redwater, and Pembina transformed Edmonton into one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. Its pop. increased more than sixfold from 1941 to 1987. The city is on the site of Edmonton House, an important 19th-cent. trading post, and is also the site of the West Edmonton Mall (1981), the world’s largest. The Univ. of Alta. (1906) and Athabasca Univ. (1972) are here. Edmonton’s professional hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers, was the dominant team of the Natl. Hockey League in the 1980s, winning five championships (1984–1985, 1987–1988, 1990).
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central Alta., Canada, on the North Saskatchewan R.; 53°33'N 113°30'W. The largest metropolitan area in Alberta, Edmonton, known as the “Gateway to the North,” is located in the center of the prov. bet. the fertile valleys of the S and the rich resources of the N. It is a major market center for farm and petrochemical prods., and has an economy based on the production of oil, coal, and natural gas. Other industries include lumbering, meat packing, flour milling, and dairying. The dominant center for the W fur trade during the 19th cent., Edmonton grew slowly in the 20th cent., relying on its agr.-based economy. Before World War II it was only the 9th-largest city in Canada, but the discovery (1947) of petroleum at Leduc, Redwater, and Pembina transformed Edmonton into one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. Its pop. increased more than sixfold from 1941 to 1987. The city is on the site of Edmonton House, an important 19th-cent. trading post, and is also the site of the West Edmonton Mall (1981), the world’s largest. The Univ. of Alta. (1906) and Athabasca Univ. (1972) are here. Edmonton’s professional hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers, was the dominant team of the Natl. Hockey League in the 1980s, winning five championships (1984–1985, 1987–1988, 1990).
