Airdrie
City
82 O
Approximately 25 km north of Calgary.
Alberta's Airdrie was likely a name chosen at random from a list of Scottish place
names. Many early railway names were of Scottish origin because of the numbers of Scots who worked in administrative capacities for the railroad. It was established as a station on the Calgary and Edmonton Railway 1891-1993. See also Banff.
The precise origins of the name Airdrie in Scotland are lost in history but many have been the subjects of considerable discussion. One theory suggests the name came from the atmospheric condition "air-dry." James Knox who wrote a history of Airdrie, Scotland suggested this. He dismisses another theory that the origin of the name is Celtic and means
"high level" for although Airdrie may "stand high" it has no level part. A third suggests that it means "high pasture run."