Vulcan, a charming town nestled in southern Alberta, Canada, is a must-visit destination for Star Trek fans and history enthusiasts alike. Surrounded by the expansive Vulcan County, this town is conveniently located on Highway 23, midway between the bustling cities of Calgary and Lethbridge. As of 2021, Vulcan is home to 1,769 residents and boasts a unique blend of historical charm and Star Trek-themed attractions.
The town of Vulcan was named by a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway, drawing inspiration from Vulcan, the Roman God of Fire. In keeping with this theme, the streets of Vulcan were originally named after gods and goddesses of the classical world, such as Juno, Mars, and Jupiter.
Vulcan was incorporated as a village on December 23, 1912, and later as a town on June 15, 1921. The town's resilience was tested in July 1927 when a major tornado destroyed many homes and the new curling rink. This event was immortalized when a photograph of the tornado approaching Vulcan was featured in the "tornado" article in Encyclopædia Britannica.
The first newspaper to serve the area, The Vulcan Review, was established in 1912 and published for one year. It was succeeded by the Vulcan Advocate in 1913, which continues to be published today as a member of Sun Media Community Newspapers, part of the Postmedia Network.
At one point, Vulcan boasted nine grain elevators, more than any other location west of Winnipeg, making it the largest grain shipping point of its time. However, due to the changing economics of the agricultural industry, these "prairie skyscrapers" were gradually dismantled. Today, only one wooden elevator, built in the 1980s, remains.
During the Second World War, a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan air force base, RCAF Station Vulcan, was located southwest of the town. Many of the old hangars still exist, and the runways can still be seen. Today, it operates as Vulcan/Kirkcaldy Aerodrome, with some of the old runways still in use. Vulcan also has a second airport, Vulcan Airport.
In 2015, the town council voted to form the Heritage Advisory Board Committee to manage the historical sites in Vulcan County.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Vulcan had a population of 1,769 living in 806 of its 876 total private dwellings. This represented a -7.7% change from its 2016 population of 1,917. With a land area of 6.28 km2 (2.42 sq mi), Vulcan had a population density of 281.7/km2 (729.6/sq mi) in 2021.
Vulcan experiences a dry continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) characterized by long, cold winters and short, warm summers. This climate contributes to the town's unique charm and appeal.
Today, Vulcan is known as the "Official Star Trek Capital of Canada". The town features a tourism building designed to resemble a landed space station, a statue of the original series Enterprise, and other Star Trek-themed attractions. These unique features make Vulcan a must-visit destination for Star Trek fans and those seeking a unique travel experience.
