Entwistle, Alberta

Entwistle (/ˈɛntwɪsəl/) is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada, within Parkland County. It is at the Yellowhead Highway's intersection with Highway 22/Highway 16A, approximately 95 kilometres (59 mi) west of Edmonton. It sits on the east banks of the Pembina River near the halfway point between Edmonton and Edson.

Entwistle has grown to become a staging area for the oil and gas industry. It has an annual rodeo, the Pembina River Provincial Park, and calls itself the Diamond Capital of Canada.

It is within the federal riding of Yellowhead, provincial electoral district of Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland and Parkland County's Division 6.

Entwistle was founded by James Entwistle, an employee of the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR). Entwistle knew that construction of the railway would be halted on the east banks of the Pembina River for a few years as a bridge was built over the river. A boomtown would most certainly spring up. Seizing the opportunity, Entwistle staked a claim on a section of land very close to the Pembina River and the surveyed line for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1907. In 1908, as the railway construction camps drew closer to the Pembina River, Entwistle built a general store on his land, and left it in the care of his wife and children. The railway soon arrived, construction on the railway bridge started, and the boomtown formed around Entwistle's store.

Soon, there were enough people living in the boomtown to warrant a post office. But, to get a post office, they needed a name for the town. The town was informally known as "Pembina", after the river, but that name was rejected by the federal government, citing duplication. The names "Burke" and "Harmer" were also proposed, and again, each one rejected on the grounds of duplication. Entwistle was quite embarrassed when people started suggesting that he name the town after himself. Entwistle was fairly certain that 'Entwistle' was already the name of a town, as he knew of at least one town called Entwistle in England. But, Entwistle's wife Mary went and submitted the name 'Entwistle,' and it was accepted. For years after, Entwistle was often joked about how he found a way to put his name on the map, to which Entwistle would always reply, "It wasn't me who put it there – it was Mary."

Entwistle was officially incorporated as a village on March 26, 1909. James Entwistle was elected the first mayor in April 1909.

The railway trestle was completed in 1910. Shortly after, the Canadian Northern Railway came close to Entwistle, and built their own railway bridge from 1910 to 1912. The railway construction boom started moving west in 1912, but many stayed behind in Entwistle. In those early decades, Entwistle had a thriving agriculture industry, along with timber and the coal mines in neighbouring Evansburg.

Entwistle was dissolved on February 16, 1942, becoming a hamlet in the Municipal District of Pembina. Entwistle was once again incorporated as a village on January 1, 1955. Entwistle was once again dissolved on December 31, 2000, becoming a hamlet in Parkland County.