About Nanton

(all of this information was taken directly from the Town of Nanton's official website)

"History lives here..."

Pioneers first settled in the Mosquito Creek Community (Nanton area) in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. On June 22, 1903, a village was formed and named Nanton, after the late Sir Augustus Nanton (1860 – 1925). Sir Augustus Nanton was a partner in the financial firm, Osler, Hammond and Nanton, of Ontario. He was sent by the firm to the west to investigate investment in farm mortgages. Renowned for his sound judgment, he became a director for many companies, including the Canadian Pacific Railway, Hudson’s Bay Company, Great West Life and the Dominion Bank. He arranged financing of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, sold subsequently to the C.P.R. It was his close association with these two companies that led the community to name the village, “Nanton”. Nanton was incorporated as a Town in the summer of 1907.

Town of Nanton Crest and Nanton Family

The Nanton Family history dates back to the 1500’s. The Town crest was recognized by the College of Arms, London, England, as a true crest of William Naunton, of Naunton Hall, Suffolk, England, in 1553. Another ancestor, Sire Robert Naunton, had the same Coat of Arms. He was a member of the Court of Queen Elizabeth I. Later, Naunton was the Secretary of State to King James I.

The Town of Nanton officially adopted the Nanton Coat of Arms in 1983, with the consent of the Nanton family. Some changes were required to allow the Town use of the crest as opposed to its use by a knight. The bird on top of the helmet is known as “Wyvern”, a winged two-legged dragon with a barbed tail. On the shield below are three birds known as “Martlets”, a Heraldic bird with no feet.

Location

Nestled between the breathtaking beauty of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains and a spacious prairie landscape, Nanton and area offers small town charm, safety and opportunity. The Town is located just 40 minutes south of Calgary, one of Canada’s major and most modern cities. It is linked to its trading areas by way of two major highways, #2 and #533. Highway #2, located within the Town limits, offers direct access to American and provincial markets. Nanton provides a rural lifestyle close to urban facilities and conveniences. On its own, it provides excellent business and lifestyles advantages.

View The Region Around Nanton, Alberta in a larger map

District:	Municipal District of Willow Creek
Longitude:	113 deg. 46 min
Latitude:	50 deg. 21 min
Elevation:	1008 metres (3306 ft.)
Closest major city:	Calgary: 75 km or 44 miles North
U.S. Border:	Coutts/Sweetgrass:  170 km or 106 miles South
Edmonton:	375 km or 232 miles North
Lethbridge:	155 km or 96 miles Southeast

Climate
Nanton experiences warm summers with traditionally mild fall and winter temperatures. During the winter months, Chinook winds blow warm air in from the mountains, sometimes raising temperatures as much as 20 degrees Celsius in a day.  Click here for current weather conditions

Seasonal Average Temperatures
Summer	17.1 C	62.8 F
Fall	5.1 C	41.2 F
Winter	-16.6 C	2.1 F
Spring	4.2 C	39.6 F

Annual Average Precipitation
Rain	32. 5cm	12.8 in.
Snow	99.7 cm	39.3 in.
Frost-free days		109
Hours of sunshine		2,314

Alberta has a moderate climate that enjoys four distinct seasons, including warm summers and mild Canadian winters. Precipitation averages 425 millimeters (16.7 inches) of which 150 millimeters (5.9 inches) falls as snow. From May to September the mean rainfall averages 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) and is sufficient to assure a good crop. Individual snowfalls rarely exceed 15 millimeters (6 inches) and snow depth of 30 centimeters (12 inches) occurs on average of once in ten years.

Nanton experiences warm summers with traditionally mild fall and winter temperatures. Warm Chinook winds often blow in from the mountains, sometimes raising temperatures in the winter months by as much as 20 degrees Celsius in a day.
Population

According to the last official Municipal Census of 2009, the general population of the Town of Nanton was 2,124. Please visit Statistics Canada for further federal population statistics.


Sister Cities
The Town of Nanton is pleased to have been twinned with the Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley and the City of Cutbank, Montana, U.S.A., by Council Resolution, in December of 1991. An official “Sister Cities” document was signed between the four cities on June 6, 2004, in Black Diamond, Alberta. Nanton has also been twinned with Charny, Quebec and Oguni, Japan. A beautiful souvenir statue from Oguni, Japan was generously donated to the Town and is on display in the Nanton Thelma Fanning Library.


In 2009, the Nanton Lancaster Society officially twinned with Senantes, France, as this small village is historically linked to the Lancaster aircraft. Visit the Bomber Command Museum of Canada's website at www.bombercommandmuseum.ca for further information!