Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat, known to locals as "the Hat," is a city of 56,048 (according to the 2005 municipal census) and is located in Census Division #1 and Cypress County in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway Number 1 and on the South Saskatchewan River. Nearby towns considered part of the Medicine Hat area include Dunmore, Seven Persons, Redcliff, and Irvine. Its major claim to fame is Rudyard Kipling's famous line "all hell for a basement" referring to the vast reserves of natural gas beneath it.

The name "Medicine Hat" is the English translation of 'Saamis' (SA-AH-UMP-SIN)- the Blackfoot word for the eagle tail feather headress worn by Medicine Men - or 'Medicine Hat'. This particular 'Medicine Hat' finds its origins from Aboriginal legends about a battle long ago between the Blackfoot and the Cree Indian tribes in which a retreating "Medicine Man" (shaman) lost his Headdress in the South Saskatchewan River. Early Residents considered changing the name to something more 'normal', but visiting writer Rudyard Kipling convinced locals it would be truly unique and never imitated should they keep it. Medicine Hat is also known as 'The Gas City' due to its tremendous wealth of natural gas beneath it. This inspired Kipling to say Medicine Hat was born lucky...You people in this district seem to have all Hell for a basement. This quote in turn inspired the hit 'Rock Anthem' by Big Sugar 'All Hell for a Basement' a song about the lead singers Hometown. Medicine Hat residents are often refered to as 'Hatters'.