Jasper, Alberta, is a specialized municipality and townsite nestled in the western part of the province within the breathtaking Canadian Rockies. The townsite, located in the Athabasca River valley, serves as the commercial centre of Jasper National Park.
Jasper's history dates back to 1813 when Jasper House was established as a fur trade outpost of the North West Company, and later Hudson's Bay Company. The outpost was part of the York Factory Express trade route to what was then known as "New Caledonia" (now British Columbia) and Fort Vancouver on the lower Columbia River. Jasper House was situated 35 km north of today's town of Jasper.
In 1907, Jasper Forest Park was established. The railway siding at the location of the future townsite was established by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1911 and originally named Fitzhugh. The Canadian Northern Railway began service to its Jasper Park station in 1912. The townsite was surveyed in 1913 by H. Matheson and renamed Jasper after the former fur trade post.
Jasper Forest Park was renamed Jasper National Park in 1930. By 1931, Jasper was accessible by road from Edmonton. In 1940, the scenic Icefields Parkway opened, connecting Jasper to Lake Louise and Banff in Banff National Park.
The first step towards the incorporation of Jasper occurred on August 31, 1995, when the Jasper Improvement District was formed. The improvement district was subsequently incorporated as a specialized municipality under the name of the Municipality of Jasper on July 20, 2001.
The Municipality of Jasper is located in the western portion of Alberta within Jasper National Park. It borders the province of British Columbia to the west and Improvement District No. 12 to the north, east, and south. The Athabasca River, which originates from the Columbia Icefield, meanders northward through the municipality.
The Jasper townsite is approximately 362 kilometres (225 mi) west of Edmonton, 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Banff, and 28 kilometres (17 mi) east of the Yellowhead Pass. It is near the confluence of the Athabasca River and Miette River and is surrounded by the Victoria Cross Ranges, Pyramid Mountain, Maligne Range, and Trident Ridge. Lakes near the Jasper townsite include Pyramid Lake, Patricia Lake, Lake Annette, Lake Edith, Lac Beauvert, Maligne Lake, and Medicine Lake.
Jasper experiences a borderline Humid Continental/Subarctic climate. Summers in Jasper are pleasant, with daily highs usually around 21.1 °C (70 °F) and lows around 7.2 °C (45 °F). Winters are cold, with daily highs around −2.2 °C (28 °F) and lows around −11.7 °C (11 °F).
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Municipality of Jasper had a population of 4,738 living in 1,674 of its 1,910 total private dwellings, a change of 3.2% from its 2016 population of 4,590.
Jasper, Alberta, is home to several attractions including the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, the Marmot Basin ski resort, and the Jasper Skytram, which carries visitors to The Whistlers' summit. Within the Jasper townsite are the heritage building of the Jasper Visitor Centre, the heritage building St. Mary & St. George Anglican Church, and the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives.
Jasper railway station is served by Via Rail with two passenger services. The Canadian and the Jasper–Prince Rupert train both operate three times per week. Jasper Airport is located 7.2 nautical miles (13.3 km; 8.3 mi) north of Jasper.
Jasper, Alberta, has been twinned with Hakone, Kanagawa, since July 4, 1972.
