Bentley is a town in central Alberta, Canada within Lacombe County. It is located on Highway 12, approximately 28 km northwest of Red Deer.

History

The first settlers came from the U.S. in 1888-1890 and either walked or drove oxen from Lacombe, which was the closest railroad station at that time. Post office opened in 1901. The first church was built in 1890 by the Methodists, and a schoolhouse was built in 1903. Bentley was incorporated as a village on March 17, 1915. A disastrous fire destroyed all buildings on the south side of the community in 1916. The centre roadway was made 36 m wide and new buildings could not be constructed inside that area. In 1930, a centre boulevard was constructed for fire protection and street lights installed. Bentley was incorporated as a town on January 1, 2001.

Town name

Bentley was named in honour of George Bentley, an early homesteader and sawyer, however at the time it was a controversial choice. When Major William B. McPherson, a U.S. Civil War veteran, opened a post office, settlers preferred McPherson's name, but they were outnumbered by the sawmill employees, who wanted Bentley. Prior to 1915, a petition was formed regarding the naming of the village. The original names of Oxford and Springdale were turned down as these two names had been frequently used across Canada.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bentley had a population of 1,042 living in 451 of its 471 total private dwellings, a change of NaN% from its 2016 population of 1,078. With a land area of 2.24 km2, it had a population density of in 2021. In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bentley recorded a population of 1,078 living in 441 of its 463 total private dwellings, a NaN% change from its 2011 population of 1,073. With a land area of 2.24 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

Education

Bentley has one public school, Bentley School (Pre-K to grade 12), administered by Wolf Creek Public Schools.

Notable people