Urban Settlement

The railway first arrived in Edmonton on the south side of the river, in what was then the separate town of Strathcona. Within a few years, Strathcona grew to be almost as large as Edmonton. As a response, Edmontonians moved to incorporate their settlement as a town in 1892, and began planning for a bridge to span the river and connect to Strathcona.

For a few years, Edmonton exploded with activity connected to the Klondike gold rush, though the frenzy quickly subsided. In its place, Edmonton’s agricultural reputation grew, as homesteaders arrived in droves from the crowded and increasingly competitive United States. This seemingly endless growth would lead to Edmonton being named Alberta’s capital in 1906.