Building New Communities
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The Peace River country became more populated after 1911 when the Edson-Grande Prairie Trail opened. The land continued to be surveyed and new town sites were established. Usually the first building that was constructed in the communities was the school. Many saw the need for a school as it could be put to many uses like church services, recreational activity, and community meeting.
After the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway (EDBC) was built in 1915 many of the communities along its route became important centres. These railroad centres included Grande Prairie, Wembley, High Prairie, and Spirit River.
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The ongoing improvement in agricultural production in the Peace River country played an important role in the development of communities. The first shipment of wheat by train in 1915 changed agricultural production beyond subsistence. Agricultural research at Fort Vermilion and later Beaverlodge brought about the development of new crops adapted to northern growing conditions; agricultural production increased.
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Through the 1920s, communities like Beaverlodge, Hythe, Berwyn, Fairview, and Pouce Coupe became important centres for the agricultural developments in their areas. These communities provided elevators, supplies, and services that were vital to the vibrant and developing agricultural economy.