High River

High River is a city or about 13,500 people (2016) in the Calgary Region.

Understand
High River was used as a set for Smallville in Superman III, and for High River, Montana in Nickelodeon's series Caitlin's Way. Heartland, a CBC television series, used High River its main filming spot. Also, the movie Carolina Moon, based on the book by Nora Roberts, and the movie Moondance Alexander were filmed in High River.

Parts of the television series Fargo were filmed in High River. Tin Star, a British-Canadian drama series, was filmed in and around High River in 2016.


 * The High River Visitor Information Centre is in the Museum of the Highwood, 406 First St SW, M-Sa 9AM-4:30PM and Su noon-4PM.

History
The community takes its name from the Highwood River, which flows through the town. The area was first inhabited largely by the Blackfoot First Nation, who called the site Ispitzee (or the “place of high trees along running water”). By 1870, after the arrival of the North-West Mounted Police and after Treaty Number 7 had been signed in 1877, settlers began arriving into the region. High River was a convenient location for people, horses and cattle to cross the Highwood River - a location known as "The Crossing".

Development of the town was supported by the completion of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway in 1892. High River was incorporated as a village in 1901, and as a town in 1906.

Although growth slowed during the First World War, it continued after the war with the building of brick structures and a number of industries. One of Canada's first air force stations was constructed to the east of the town in 1921. The establishment of a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan elementary flying training school at the same air station helped boost High River's economy during the Second World War.

The Highwood River is subject to frequent flooding. Flood events of exceptional magnitude occurred in 1894, 1899, 1902, 1908, 1912, 1923, 1929, 1932, 1942, 1995, 2005 and 2013. During the 2013 Alberta floods, thousands of people in Alberta were ordered to evacuate their homes after the rise of the Highwood River, Bow River, Elbow River Sheep River, and numerous others. In 2013, three people died as a result of the flooding of the Highwood River.

Get in
It is south of Calgary, at the junction of Alberta Highways 2 and 23.

Get around
There is no public transit.


 * Happy Trails Pathways provide more than 19 km of paved pedestrian and cycling pathways throughout the community, connecting many of the town’s recreational facilities, set along the river and through the many parks and greenspaces found in town.

See

 * As part of High River's tourism and heritage endeavours, a number of murals illustrating High River's history were painted around town.
 * Sheppard Family Park is a historical landmark that celebrates High Rivers history from the 1880s to 1920s, at the corner of 12 Ave and 5th street SE.
 * The historic Wales Theatre retains many of its original design charms and features one of the last free-standing balconies in Canada.
 * Sheppard Family Park is a historical landmark that celebrates High Rivers history from the 1880s to 1920s, at the corner of 12 Ave and 5th street SE.
 * The historic Wales Theatre retains many of its original design charms and features one of the last free-standing balconies in Canada.

Go next
Vulcan, southeast on Highway 23, is the "Official Star Trek Capital of Canada."