Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, 4th daughter of Queen Victoria. Alberta then was one of 4 provisional districts of the North-West Territories, and included only that part of the present province south of 55° N lat and west of 111° long. Alberta's current boundaries were determined in 1905 when it became a province. Though appearing quite homogeneous, Alberta may be divided into 2 distinct sociocultural regions - southern Alberta, with Calgary as its focal point; and central and northern Alberta, with Edmonton as the metropolitan centre.
This division has deep historic roots. Southern Alberta was once the domain of the Blackfoot nation; farther north the Cree and various woodland tribes held sway. In the early days of non-native settlement, the south welcomed the rancher, while the grain farmer opened the central agricultural region.
Calgary and southern Alberta were first linked to the east by the Canadian Pacific Railway, Edmonton and the north by the Grand Trunk Pacific and Canadian Northern railways. Later, Calgary became the administrative and financial headquarters for the province's petroleum industry, Edmonton its exploration and production centre.
Politically, both regions have consistently supported conservative parties since the 1920s, first through the Social Credit Party and then the Conservative Party; recently opposition in the north has tended to coalesce around the New Democratic Party or Liberal Party provincially, while in the south it gravitates to right-of-centre candidates.
If you remember your history... Columbus was looking for for India..hence the name Indians!!!
