As a rail station on the Calgary to Edmonton (C&E) line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Crossfield was founded in 1892. Crossfield was named after an engineer with the Canadian Pacific Railway survey crew. By 1904, the community had a post office, a general store, a hotel and a school. In 1906, the first grain elevator opened and Crossfield was incorporated as a village the following year in 1907.[6] In 1980, Crossfield was incorporated as a town.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Crossfield had a population of 3,599 living in 1,326 of its 1,381 private dwellings, a change of 20.7% from its 2016 population of 2,983. With a land area of 11.89 km2 (4.59 sq mi), it had a population density of 302.7/km2 (784.0/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Crossfield recorded a population of 2,983 living in 1,101 of its 1,168 private dwellings, a 4.6% change from its 2011 population of 2,853. With a land area of 11.96 km2 (4.62 sq mi), it had a population density of 249.4/km2 (646.0/sq mi) in 2016.[9]
Economy
The primary economic base of the Crossfield area is agriculture, agricultural services and natural gas processing. The Crossfield Gas Plant located south of the town, currently owned by TAQA North, has been in operation since 1965.[citation needed]
Education
Crossfield has two schools: Crossfield Elementary School, which teaches children from kindergarten to grade five, and WG Murdoch School, which teaches children from grades six to 12.
The town also has a preschool that is situated on the property of Crossfield Elementary School.