Vulcan is a town located midway between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge, in the prairies of southern Alberta, Canada. The population of the town was 1,940 in 2006, and the population of the county, which is also named Vulcan, was 3,718. The town's economy is mainly agriculture-based. Wheat, canola and barley are the main crops grown in the Vulcan area.

History

Centre Street

An air force training base, RCAF Station Vulcan, was located a few kilometers southwest of the town during the Second World War. Many of the old hangars still exist and the runways can still be seen.

Tourism

Enterprise replica in Vulcan

The town's name has brought some attention that has helped it become a tourist attraction.^[1] In the Star Trek television and feature film series it is the name of the fictional homeworld of the alien Vulcans.

Capitalizing on this coincidence, the town has built a Star Trek-themed tourist station (the Tourism and Trek Station), which provides tourist information, displays Star Trek memorabilia, and where visitors may participate in a space virtual reality game. Nearby, a replica based on the starship Enterprise-A from Star Trek V has been mounted on a pedestal. The town has also created space-themed murals and signs, and hosts the annual Star Trek convention known as Galaxyfest/Spock Days (formerly VulCon). This convention attracts hundreds of Star Trek fans from around the world.

Demographics

In 2006, Vulcan had a population of 1,940 living in 814 dwellings, a 10.1% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of and a population density of .^[2]

See also

• Towns of Alberta
• Vulcan: The Making of a Prairie Community (book)

References

External links

• The Town of Vulcan
• Vulcan & District Chamber of Commerce
• Vulcan Business Development Society Website

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