Penhold

Penhold is a town in central Alberta, Canada. Penhold is surrounded by Red Deer County, 16 km south of Red Deer at the junction of Highway 2A and Highway 42. It is located 128 km north of Calgary, east of the Red Deer River.

History
Originally, Penhold was one of the many whistle stops along the Canadian Pacific Railway. It incorporated as the Village of Penhold in 1904. The origin of the name "Penhold" appears to have been around the time that the railroad siding named "Penhold" was established. Research has found no earlier instances of that name.

In 1981, the Village of Penhold incorporated as a town as a result of large population growth in the late 1970s.

RCAF Penhold
During the second world war a Royal Canadian Air Force Station was established near the community. The station was closed in 1994.

Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Penhold had a population of 3,484 living in 1,325 of its 1,396 total private dwellings, a change of NaN% from its 2016 population of 3,287. With a land area of 11.2 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

The population of the Town of Penhold according to its 2019 municipal census is 3,563, a change of NaN% from its 2014 municipal census population of 2,842.

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Penhold recorded a population of 3,277 living in 1,235 of its 1,300 total private dwellings, a NaN% change from its 2011 population of 2,375. With a land area of 5.29 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

Attractions
Attractions in Penhold include a museum, a recreation centre with an indoor arena, a baseball diamond, library, a splash park, a campground, an outdoor ice rink, and a skate park/pump track. Two more ball diamonds, walking trails, and 2 soccer fields are in development.

Education
The town is home to three public schools of the Chinook's Edge School Division: Jessie Duncan (Pre-Kindergarten-Grade 3), Penhold Elementary (Grade 4–6), and Penhold Crossing Secondary (Grade 7–12).