Cardston, Alberta, is a charming town nestled in the heart of Canada. Established in 1887 by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the town has a rich history and a vibrant community. The town's founder, Charles Ora Card, led the last wagon migration of the century from Utah via the Macleod-Benton Trail. The first combined church and school was completed by January 29, the year following their arrival.
Cardston, Alberta, remained a "dry" town (alcohol-free) for over a century following the 1915 Alberta liquor plebiscite. However, in 2023, the town council voted 5-2 to allow alcohol to be served in restaurants and recreational facilities, such as the local golf course, following a municipal plebiscite. Despite this change, liquor stores, lounges, nightclubs, and other alcohol-primary businesses remain prohibited. As of 2014, about 80% of Cardston's residents were members of the LDS Church, a slight increase from 75% in 1951. On August 15, 2019, the town was granted a coat of arms by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Located in the foothills of southwest Alberta, Cardston is approximately 25 km north of the American state of Montana. It borders the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) Reserve on its north side, one of the largest reserves in North America. The Rocky Mountains of Waterton Lakes National Park lie 40 km to the west of Cardston. The town is also 77 km southwest of Lethbridge and 234 km south of Calgary.
Cardston, Alberta, experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). The town is subject to chinooks, which often bring temperatures in mid-winter well above 10 °C (50 °F). This pattern results in more than 200 days of wind a year. The hottest temperature recorded was 39.0 °C (102.2 °F) on 23 July 2007, and the coldest was −41.7 °C (−43 °F) on 28 January 1929.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cardston, Alberta, had a population of 3,724 living in 1,261 of its 1,335 total private dwellings, a change of 3.9% from its 2016 population of 3,585. With a land area of 8.58 km2 (3.31 sq mi), it had a population density of 434.0/km2 (1,124.1/sq mi) in 2021.
Cardston, Alberta, boasts a variety of attractions, including a soccer park, ball parks, a golf course, an ice skating rink, a swimming pool, tennis courts, hiking trails, a skateboard park, several recreation parks, picnic areas, and playgrounds. The St. Mary's Dam reservoir northeast of Cardston supports water sports in the summer months.
The Cardston Alberta Temple, constructed by Latter-day Saint pioneers from 1913-1923, was the first temple constructed by the Church outside of the United States. The Remington Carriage Museum houses the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America, with more than 250 carriages, wagons, and sleighs.
The Carriage House Theatre, built in 1912 and renovated in 1937 and 1992, seats 350 and hosts films, community theatre, and professional summer theatre. The Card Pioneer Home, built by Cardston's founder Charles Ora Card in 1887, served as a community centre and stopping place for travellers until the first hotel was built in 1894. The Courthouse Museum, a sandstone structure built in 1907, was used longer than any other courthouse in Alberta.
