Clairmont, Alberta is a quaint hamlet nestled in the northern part of the province, within the County of Grande Prairie No. 1. Previously an independent municipality, Clairmont dissolved its village status on January 1, 1946, to become part of the Municipal District of Bear Lake No. 740. The hamlet is strategically located in the Peace Country, along Highway 2, approximately 10 km north of Grande Prairie and 9 km south of Sexsmith.
Clairmont is situated at an elevation of 685 m, on the western shore of Clairmont Lake. Initially, the area was commonly known as Twin Lakes. The name "Clairmont" was first used in 1907 by the earliest surveyor of the township boundaries, JB Saint Cyr.
The development of the townsite gained momentum after it was surveyed and following the arrival of the Edmonton, Dunvegan & British Columbia Railway in 1916. By the end of that year, the townsite boasted a railway station, two or three grain elevators, an agent's house, the Buffalo Lakes Lumber Yard, Clairmont Hotel, a Union Bank, a butcher shop, several stores, a Baptist church, and a handful of residences.
On September 10, 1915, the Clairmont Lake School District was established, and a post office was set up the following year. In 1922, a large fire consumed many Clairmont businesses, but the community rebounded with the construction of a new train station in 1923.
Clairmont was incorporated as a village in 1917, but renounced this status in 1946 due to an economic downturn caused by the Great Depression. It eventually became the location of the County of Grande Prairie No. 1's municipal office. A new school was built with municipal funding in 2007 and opened in 2008, marking a new chapter in Clairmont's history.
As of the 2021 Census of Population, the Hamlet of Clairmont had a population of 5,135. This vibrant community continues to grow and thrive, offering a unique blend of historical charm and modern amenities.
