Hinton

Town in west-central Alberta; population (1996 est) 9,700. It is situated in the Rocky Mountain foothills, near the Athabasca River, 270 km/168 mi west of Edmonton. Hinton was originally a major coalmining centre, and still has three working mines. Other industries include the exploitation of sand, gravel, natural gas, and oil. Forestry and tourism are also important.

In the early 20th century Hinton was a small settlement of around 100 people, but the town stated to expand in the late 1950s after the first pulp paper mill in the province was built here in 1955. The town originally developed as two communities, Drinnan and Hinton, which later amalgamated. Hinton serves as the northern gateway to Jasper National Park, which lies 23 km/14 mi west of the town.