Cadomin's name is an acronym for 'Canadian Dominion Mining', and the town gives its name to the Cadomin Formation, which forms a prominent outcrop near the settlement. Cadomin is one of many towns in the Alberta Coal Branch area that thrived from the 1920s to the 1950s. During the early 1930s, Cadomin's population peaked at 1,800. Other Coal Branch towns included Mountain Park, Luscar, Mercoal, and farther to the east, Robb, Embarras, Coalspur, Coal Valley, Lovett, and Foothills.
Mining
The Cadomin Coal Company began operations in 1917 and four underground mines were eventually developed, as well as a surface mine that operated from 1944 to 1950. The main coal seam, called the No. 1 Seam, averaged in thicknesses. The strata in the area are strongly folded and faulted, and the seam is strongly inclined to overturned, so a variety of methods were employed to work it. The coal was sold primarily as steam coal for railroad use, and the Cadomin coal minesclosed in 1952 due to declining markets as the railroads replaced steam locomotives with diesel. Cadomin Quarry, operated by the Lehigh Cement Company, continues to employ a small number of local residents.
Demographics
As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cadomin recorded a population of 40 living in 21 of its 92 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2011 population of 36. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016. In the 2011 Census, Cadomin had a population of 36 living in 22 of its 96 total dwellings, a -35.7% change from its 2006 population of 56. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2011.
Attractions
, located several kilometres to the south, used to attract a number of tourists during the summer months, although it remains undeveloped. The caves have been closed for the past 5 years or so due to the fungus growth the bats developed. In the area around Cadomin, there are extensive trails for horse back riding, all terrain vehicles and dirt biking. Mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular as well. Bird watching is a popular hobby and there are also regular butterfly counts every year. The scientific and naturalist communities spend a great deal of time studying the extensive wildlife including bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, moose, elk, and other mountain species. The fall provides numerous big game hunting opportunities for deer, moose and bighorn sheep.
