ðə mˈɑːdɚn hˈɪstɚɹi ʌv lˈɛθbɹɪdʒ ɛkstˈɛndz tə ðə mˈɪd nˈaɪntiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, wˌɛn ðɪ ˈɛɹiə wʌz dɪvˈɛləpt fɹʌm dɹˈɪft mˈaɪnz ˈoʊpənd baɪ nˈɪkələs ʃˈɛɹən ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ, ænd ðə nˈɔːɹθ wˈɛstɚn kˈoʊl ænd nˌævɪɡˈeɪʃən kˈʌmpəni ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi tˈuː.
The modern history of Lethbridge extends to the mid-19th century, when the area was developed from drift mines opened by Nicholas Sheran in 1874, and the North Western Coal and Navigation Company in 1882.