History of Vulcan

Vulcan, Alberta est 1913

“The history of Vulcan and district is a story of the transformation of grass covered plains to a world famous wheat growing and shipping centre.

It is the saga of progress involving pioneers who, starting as ranchers, took up farming and discovered that that the fertile soil would yield abundant crops.

The stage was the vast prairie over which thousands of buffalo roamed. The actors were a handful of ranchers who were dedicated to the land and who had faith in the future.

Our story begins at the turn of the 20th century when the west was settling down after several decades of restlessness and violence…” (Wheat County, Vol. 1, 1972, pg9)

Important Dates: In the History of Vulcan

1898 - First ranchers came to the area.

1903 - First homesteaders settled in the area.

1904 - Several large ranches operated in the area surrounding what is now Vulcan.

1905 - More ranching families arrived. Fences were seldom used, and cattle roamed the prairie at will. Building materials and lumber were hauled by wagon train over long distances from High River and Nanton.

1906/1907 - The long harsh winter killed thousands of heads of cattle. Many ranchers went bankrupt, those who survived turned to farming.

1907 - Hailstorms and an August snow storm played havoc with the crops.

1910 - The Canadian Pacific Railway surveyed for a town site. Vulcan was named after the Roman God of Fire and Blacksmithing by a CPR surveyor.

1911 - Rails were laid and the first grain elevator built. First train comes through Vulcan in October, 1911. Vulcan’s population was 28 people.

1913 - Vulcan becomes incorporated as a village. Population 500 – one of the most thriving towns in Southern Alberta.

In spite of early challenges and setbacks, the dedicated farmers kept faith with their community and today, the Town of Vulcan stands as memorial to their determination. (Wheat County Vol.1, Pgs 9-10)

Credits for History of Vulcan: The Historic Walking Tour of Vulcan was created as a project of the Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station, with the assistance of the Vulcan District Historical Society.

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