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History of Devon

The discovery that changed Alberta

On February 13, 1947, Imperial Oil stuck oil at the Leduc Number 1 Discovery Well, located south of present-day Devon. Needing to find living quarters for the oil workers, Imperial Oil chose a picturesque spot on the North Saskatchewan River to build a new, well-planned town, and Devon was created. The name was chosen for the Devonian Reef formation in which the oil at Leduc #1 was discovered.

Drilling Success

February 13, 1947, After drilling 133 dry holes, Imperial Oil Resources Ltd. makes one of the biggest oil discoveries in the world.

Building a Town

"Starting from nothing and with nothing, they built up not the body, but the soul of the town, making it a model town not only in its physical aspects but even more so in its spirit" - Mrs. V. Hunter

Theatre and Drugstore

Athabasca Avenue - Devonian Theatre and Rexall drugs by January of 1948 houses were being built. The first residents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Dingman, moved into town in May of 1948. By July 25 houses were occupied and by the end of January 1949 there were one hundred and twenty-three homes finished and occupied.

Disaster

Atlantic #3 blew wild from March 8 - September 9, 1948"Devon was a town gone mad. The fire (burnt for three days) was clearly visible from Edmonton twenty miles away.

Incorporation

Athabasca Avenue - Pagoda Dine and Dance, opened July 5, 1949. In January of 1950, Devon was incorporated as a Village and in March of the same year, it became a Town. Devon was labeled as Canada's Model Town since it was the first community in all of Canada to be approved by a Regional Planning Commission.

Old Bridge

Old Bridge (built in 1951) and the location of present-day Voyageur Park

An Urban County

Athabasca Ave. Devon quickly grew over the years and in the early 1960s became the only Urban County in the Province of Alberta. This is a system of government that administers both the municipal and school operations. This system operated until the mid-1990s when the school division was separated from the Town and consolidated with the Black Gold Regional School District.

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Town of Devon Municipal Office
1 Columbia Avenue West
Devon, AB T9G 1A1

 Phone: 780-987-8300
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