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Alberta Online Encyclopedia


Airdrie

Category : City
 

According to the official Tourist Guide of Airdrie, Scotland, the Alberta city got its name as follows: "There is an Airdrie in Canada founded in 1889 between Edmonton and Calgary, and we have it on good authority that this settlement was named by William Mackenzie, a Scot by birth and a contracting engineer by profession—after one situated a few miles north-east of Glasgow, in a quarry and mining section." The precise origin of the name Airdrie is lost in history but many possibilities have been the subject of considerable discussion. One theory suggests that the name comes from the atmospheric condition "air-dry." This is suggested by Mr. James Knox who wrote a history of Airdrie, Scotland. He further dismisses another theory that the origin of the name is Celtic and means "high level" for although Airdrie may "stand high" it has no level part. A third interpretation of the name suggests that it means "high pasture run."

Historians of the town are now satisfied that the true meaning of the name is "The King's Height." A British historian, Chalmars, accepts this view and considers that the rising ground upon which the modern Scottish town now stands was the scene of the Battle of Arderytn fought in 577 between Aeddan, King of Kintire and Rydderich the Bountiful, King of Strathclwyd.

Approximately 25 km north of Calgary.

Location Name : Crossfield
National Topographic System (NTS) : 82 O/8
 
Sub Section | Section | Township | Range | Meridian
12-27-1-W5
 
Latitude (N) | Longitude (W)
51° 18' N 114° 02' W
 
The content above is directly derived from :
Place Names of Alberta - Volume II
Southern Alberta

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