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Alberta
is located in western North America, and borders the Northwest Territories
(north), British Columbia (west), Montana (south) and Saskatchewan
(east). Alberta is a land of wheat fields, rolling plains, foothills
and the Rocky Mountains. When Alberta became a province in 1905,
most of its 75,000 people lived on the prairie wheat farms and foothill
ranches. With the widespread discoveries of oil and natural gas
deposits, industrialization began and the small frontier towns became
thriving cities. Alberta is still a leading producer of livestock,
grain and farm products. Alberta produces most of Canada’s crude
oil and natural gas. In addition, manufacturing plays an important
role in the economic life of Alberta.
Population & Geography
Total
Area: 661,848 sq km / 255,541 sq mi1
Population:
3,474,000 (2007)1
Capital
City: Edmonton
Largest
Metro Areas: Calgary: 1,139,100; Edmonton: 1,081,300 (2007)1
Economy
GDP
per capita: $60,922
USD (2006)1
Unemployment
rate: 3.5% (2007)1
Government
Premier:
Edward M. Stelmach (PC) (2007)2
Legislative
Assembly: 72 Progressive Conservatives (including Premier),
9 Liberals, 2 New Democrats (2007)2
Other Information
Federal Representation:
28 Conservatives (2007)3
Origin
of Name: The Marquess of Lorne, Governor General of Canada
from 1878 until 1883, visited Calgary and Banff in 1881, and the
territory was named after his wife Princess Louise Caroline Alberta,
daughter of Queen Victoria of Britain.4
If Alberta were to become the 51st state today...
Area
Rank: 3rd
biggest State (bigger than California, smaller than Texas)5
Population
Rank: 30th
most populous State (bigger than Iowa, smaller than Connecticut)5
GDP
Rank: 23rd biggest economy in US (bigger than Connecticut,
smaller than Missouri)6
Congressmen:
5 House Representatives and 2 Senators.
Electoral
Votes:
7
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