Hanna, Alberta

History

The town was first settled in 1912 and was incorporated in 1914. The Canadian Northern Railway's Goose Lake line running between Saskatoon to Calgary was built there at that time. Hanna was named after David Blyth Hanna, the third vice president of the Canadian Northern Railway. It was a division point of the Canadian Northern Railway and had a 10-stall railway roundhouse.

The Depression-era drought hurt the area. In 1939 the Alberta government established a Special Area to provide additional support for residents in that part of the province.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Hanna had a population of 2,394 living in 1,100 of its 1,257 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 2,559. With a land area of 8.4 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Hanna recorded a population of 2,559 living in 1,149 of its 1,246 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 2,673. With a land area of 8.81 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

Economy

The town's main industries are agriculture, oil production, power generation, tourism, and coal mining. It is the centre of a large trading area called Short Grass County and is the home of approximately 200 businesses. Natural resources in the Hanna area are coal, petroleum, natural gas, and bentonite.

Notable people

• Robert Raymond Cook, mass murderer, last person to be executed in Alberta.
• Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Brandon Kroeger, and Ryan Peake, members of the rock band Nickelback. The music video for the band’s song “Photograph” was filmed in Hanna, which features Chad Kroeger singing about his upbringing in the town.
• Shirley McClellan, former provincial politician
• Lanny McDonald, former professional hockey player, chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and a Stanley Cup trustee.
• Glen Motz, Conservative MP for Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner
• Blake Nill, college football coach and former professional football player
• Jim Nill, general manager of the Dallas Stars and former professional hockey player
• Milt Pahl, former provincial politician
• Dave Ruhl, former professional wrestler
• Marjorie Willison, author and radio personality

Sister town

• Wake, Okayama is the sister town of Hanna.

References

References

1. {{AMOS. iso
2. Irwin, Jackie. (2021-09-27). "Povaschuk elected by acclimation". Postmedia.
3. (October 7, 2016). "Location and History Profile: Town of Hanna". [[Alberta Municipal Affairs]].
4. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". [[Statistics Canada]].
5. (January 2012). "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)". Safety Codes Council.
6. "Former Canadian Northern Railway station" https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=6708#:~:text=and%20environmental%20significance.-,The%20former%20Canadian%20Northern%20Railway%20(CNoR)%20station%20at%20Hanna%2C,Line%20from%20Saskatoon%20to%20Calgary. accessed May 7, 2025
7. Pannekoek, Frits. "Hanna".
8. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". [[Statistics Canada]].
9. (February 8, 2017). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". [[Statistics Canada]].
10. "Business Listings {{!}} Hanna, Alberta".