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Raymond, Alberta

by Brian James Erickson

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Raymond, Alberta, is located in the far south part of the Province of Alberta, Canada, approximately twenty (20) miles south of the City of Lethbridge, the regional center of the area. The Town of Raymond was founded by Jesse Knight, a Utah industrialist and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (L.D.S. or "the Mormons"). He saw the area where the Town was established as part of a vast open prairie plain with rich soil but very sparse rainfall. Because of the experiences of the Mormons in settling Utah and the widespread use of irrigation, Mr. Knight saw the potential of the land with water provided by irrigation systems. After sending his sons to investigate, he purchased a block of 30,000 acres of prairie and the first settlers arrived in Raymond in 1899. On July 10, 1901, Mr. Knight contracted with the Canadian Northwest Irrigation Company and the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company to purchase an additional 226,000 acres provided he construct and operate a sugar refinery ready to handle a sugar beet harvest in 1903 and to keep it in operation for at least twelve years.

Mormon families from the area of Utah south of Lake Utah (Spanish Fork, UT, area) were recruited to settle the land, establish a system of irrigation, and grow sugar beets for the promised factory. Following the signing of the contract, the Town area was named "Raymond" for Mr. Knight's oldest son, Raymond. The Town charter contained a forfeiture clause to the effect that if liquor, gambling or houses of ill-repute were established, their property owners would forfeit title to their individual lands. In keeping with the close ties of the Mormon Church to the settlement of Raymond and surrounding areas, the Raymond Townsite was dedicated by L.D.S. Apostle John W. Taylor together with about 150 others on