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Lacombe - Profile

Population: 7,580

Lacombe is located 118 km. (65 miles) south of Edmonton, and 161 km. (100 miles) north of Calgary, and 25 km. (14 miles) north of Red Deer.

The community was named after Father Albert Lacombe, a missionary who served among the Blackfoot Indians and the Cree tribes, during the 1850's. Lacombe is believed to have been founded in 1883, by Ed Barnett, a former North West Mounted Police constable.

The area became flooded with settlers looking for good farming land when the railroad came through in 1891. By 1896, Lacombe had become incorporated as a village and was larger than Red Deer. It became a town in 1905, the same year that Alberta became a province.

In 1907, the Dominion Government chose Lacombe as a site for an Agricultural Research Station which is still in operation today. The Federal Agricultural Research Station does research in: beef cattle, swine breeding, meat research, cereal and forage crops, crop management and soils. Tours are arranged by appointment only, call (403) 782-3316.

Lacombe hosts a Music Festival in April, as well as a Trade Show. If you are able to visit in July, you may chance upon the Lacombe Days celebrations.

While in Lacombe, be sure to visit some of the attractions in the area, such as: the Roland Michener House Museum (a former Governor General of Canada), Doug's Exotic Animal Farm, the Historic Downtown (a special walking tour booklet is available), and the Blacksmith Shop.