An older inner-city neighbourhood, Oliver is located immediately west of downtown. By the standards of 100 years ago, the area was known as Edmonton’s “West End.” It was only during the 1950s that the area was named after pioneer citizen Frank Oliver. By this time it could hardly be called the “West End,” as Edmonton’s boundaries now extended well beyond 124th Street, Oliver’s western boundary.

Development in Oliver began during the 1880s when several institutional structures were built. The General Hospital and the original Misericordia Hospital were joined by numerous churches, several schools, and a cloister.

Residential development was firmly in place prior to World War I, with infill being complete by the 1930s. The southern and western portions of Oliver together formed one of Edmonton’s more fashionable residential areas, with many large homes and tree-lined boulevards. Smaller, less ornate homes were built on infill sites, primarily in the northern portion of Oliver. Developed with primarily single-family houses, the neighbourhood was also the location of several quality apartments

During the later 1950s, Edmonton was in the midst of a sustained period of growth, and the demand for dwelling units of all types of increased. Oliver, close to Edmonton’s downtown and its burgeoning supply of jobs, became an attractive area for apartment redevelopment.

Today, Oliver has become a densely populated neighbourhood with a strong commercial element threaded throughout. Offering a wide range of amenities, Oliver is an attractive area for many young one- and two-adult households.

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