# Calgary

> largest city in Alberta, Canada

**Wikidata**: [Q36312](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q36312)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/calgary

## Summary

Calgary is a city located in Canada [1][1]. Founded in 1875, it has grown to become a significant urban center with a population of 1.3 million residents as of 2021 [1][2][3]. The city covers approximately 825.3 million in area and sits at an elevation of 1.0 kilometers . Calgary operates on Mountain Standard Time, which is UTC−07:00 .

## Summary
Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta, Canada, situated at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers. Incorporated as a town in 1884 and later as a city in 1894, it serves as a major urban center in North America with a population of 1,306,784 as of the 2021 census.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** City and large human settlement.
- **Location:** Alberta, Canada (since September 1, 1905); formerly part of the Northwest Territories.
- **Coordinates:** 51.05°N, 114.07°W.
- **Area:** 825.56 square kilometres.
- **Elevation:** 1,045 metres above sea level.
- **Population:** 
  - 2021 Census: 1,306,784 (Preferred value).
  - 2016 Census: 1,239,220.
  - 2011 Census: 1,096,835.
- **Inception:** Settled in 1875; incorporated as a town on November 7, 1884.
- **Demonym:** Calgarian.
- **Time Zone:** UTC−07:00.
- **Postal Codes:** T1, T2, T3.
- **Area Codes:** 403, 587, 825.
- **Head of Government:** Jyoti Gondek (term started in 2021).
- **Legislative Body:** Calgary City Council.
- **Significant Event:** Host of the 1988 Winter Olympics.

## FAQs
**What is the demographic breakdown of Calgary?**
According to the 2016 census, Calgary had a population of 1,239,220, comprising 618,245 males and 620,975 females. There were 466,725 households recorded at that time. By the 2021 census, the population had grown to 1,306,784.

**Where is Calgary located geographically?**
Calgary is located in North America within the province of Alberta, Canada, specifically in the Calgary Metropolitan Region. It shares borders with Rocky View County, Tsuu T'ina Nation 145, Foothills County, and Chestermere. The city is situated on the Bow River, Elbow River, and near the Glenmore Reservoir.

**What are the city's sister city relationships?**
Calgary maintains twinning relationships with eight cities globally: Phoenix (USA), Daejeon (South Korea, since 1996), Naucalpan (Mexico), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Daqing (China, since 1985), Jaipur (India), Quebec City (Canada), and Mazkeret Batya (Israel).

**How did Calgary get its name and official status?**
The city was named after Calgary in 1876. It was initially established as a human settlement in 1875 and incorporated as the "Town of Calgary" on November 7, 1884. It officially became the "City of Calgary" on January 1, 1894.

**What administrative and digital identifiers are associated with Calgary?**
The city uses the Statistics Canada geographic code 4806016 and the UN/LOCODE CACAL. Its official website domain is calgary.ca, and it is active on social media platforms, including a subreddit with 186,322 subscribers as of 2021.

## Why It Matters
Calgary holds significant importance as the largest urban center in Alberta and a key economic hub in Western Canada. Its role as the host of the 1988 Winter Olympics places it historically in the context of international sports and global recognition. The city serves as the administrative heart of the Calgary Metropolitan Region and operates under the Calgary City Council, influencing regional policy and development. Its continuous population growth—from roughly 1.1 million in 2011 to over 1.3 million in 2021—demonstrates its increasing relevance as a destination for migration and economic opportunity in North America.

## Notable For
- **Largest City in Alberta:** Holds the rank as the primary urban center in the province.
- **1988 Winter Olympics:** Hosted a significant international winter sports event.
- **Rapid Population Growth:** Grew by over 100,000 residents between 2011 and 2016.
- **High Elevation:** Located 1,045 metres above sea level.
- **International Relations:** Maintains eight active sister city agreements, including long-standing ties with Daqing (since 1985) and Daejeon (since 1996).
- **Historical Transition:** Originally located in the Northwest Territories before becoming part of Alberta in 1905.

## Body

### Governance and History
Calgary operates under the authority of the City of Calgary, with the Calgary City Council serving as its legislative body. The current head of government is Mayor Jyoti Gondek, who assumed office in 2021. The office of the head of government is designated as the "Mayor of Calgary."

The earliest written record of the settlement dates to 1875. The community was officially named "Calgary" in 1876. It achieved status as a town on November 7, 1884. A decade later, on January 1, 1894, it was officially designated as a city, changing its name from the "Town of Calgary" to the "City of Calgary."

### Geography and Location
Calgary is located in North America within the country of Canada. It sits at coordinates 51.05° latitude and -114.07° longitude. The city covers a total area of 825.56 square kilometres. It is located within the Calgary Metropolitan Region and shares borders with several jurisdictions, including Rocky View County, Tsuu T'ina Nation 145, Foothills County, and Chestermere. The city landscape is defined by its position next to the Bow River, Elbow River, and the Glenmore Reservoir.

Historically, the location of the city shifted jurisdictions; it was originally located in the Northwest Territories until September 1, 1905, when it became part of the province of Alberta.

### Demographics
The city has a distinct demographic profile recorded through census data:
- **Population:**
  - 2021: 1,306,784 (Preferred value).
  - 2016: 1,239,220.
  - 2011: 1,096,835.
- **Gender (2016 Census):**
  - Male: 618,245.
  - Female: 620,975.
- **Households (2016 Census):** 466,725.
- **Demonym:** Residents are known as Calgarians.

### Infrastructure and Telecommunications
Calgary utilizes the postal code prefixes T1, T2, and T3. For telecommunications, the city uses area codes 403, 587, and 825. The city's official domain name is calgary.ca. Its location is mapped on the National Topographic System (NTS) under sheets 82O and 82O01. The city is categorized under the UTC−07:00 time zone.

### Twin Towns and Sister Cities
Calgary is twinned with several international cities:
- **Phoenix**, United States
- **Daejeon**, South Korea (Alliance since March 4, 1996)
- **Naucalpan**, Mexico
- **Sarajevo**, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- **Daqing**, China (Alliance since May 16, 1985)
- **Jaipur**, India
- **Quebec City**, Canada
- **Mazkeret Batya**, Israel

### Digital and Academic Identifiers
Calgary is indexed and identified by numerous global systems:
- **Library & Archives:** Library of Congress Authority ID (n79034973), VIAF ID (127786184), GND ID (4085122-9), BNF ID (12000676b).
- **Geographic Databases:** GeoNames ID (5913490), Who's On First ID (890458845), Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID (7013012).
- **Statistics:** Statistics Canada Geographic Code (4806016).
- **Online Encyclopedias:** Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID (place/Calgary), Canadian Encyclopedia Article ID (calgary), Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID (2034922).
- **Social & Web:** Reddit Subreddit (/r/Calgary, 186,322 subscribers in 2021), Facebook Location ID (111983945494775), Tripadvisor ID (154913).
- **Knowledge Graphs:** Wikidata, Freebase ID (/m/01r32), BabelNet ID (00014728n).

## References

1. Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
2. [Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data. 2019](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=25&PR=48&CMA=0&CSD=0&TABID=1)
3. [Source](https://www.daejeon.go.kr/english/EngSisterCities.do?menuSeq=7028)
4. [Source](https://www.daejeon.go.kr/drh/DrhContentsHtmlView.do?menuSeq=1738)
5. [Source](https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/china-chine/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/twinning_relationships_relations_jumelage.aspx?lang=eng#cn-nav)
6. [Source](http://hlj.sina.com.cn/news/b/2018-06-20/detail-ihefphqk1691433.shtml)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. BnF authorities
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. Czech National Authority Database
11. MusicBrainz
12. [Canada 2016 Census](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4806016&Geo2=CD&Code2=4806&SearchText=Calgary&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Population&TABID=1&type=0)
13. [2016 Calgary Profile: Chapter 1. 2017](https://www.calgary.ca/content/dam/www/csps/cns/documents/social-research-policy-and-resources/calgary-profile-chapter-1.pdf)
14. Canada 2021 Census
15. [Source](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=F&SearchText=Calgary&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&DGUIDlist=2021A00054806016&HEADERlist=1)
16. Who's On First
17. GeoNames
18. BBC Things
19. BabelNet
20. [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=2768934980356847162)
21. Open Library
22. [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Calgary/)
23. Wolfram Alpha
24. Canadian Geographical Names Database
25. Google News
26. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
27. General Finnish Ontology
28. iNaturalist
29. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Calgary-3DNGKP)
30. KBpedia
31. [Global Administrative Areas](https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/map?advanced=1&gadm_gid=CAN.1.16.4_1)
32. museum-digital
33. [Internet Domains Wikibase](https://domains.wikibase.cloud/entity/Q143301)