Municipal districts of Alberta | |
---|---|
Location | Province of Alberta |
Number | 63 |
Populations | 92 (Ranchland) – 39,407 (Rocky View) |
Areas | 683.6 km2 (Spirit River) – 32,984.24 km2 (Greenview) |
Government | |
Subdivisions |
A municipal district (MD) is the most common form of all rural municipality statuses used in the Canadian province of Alberta. Alberta's municipal districts, most of which are branded as a county (e.g. Yellowhead County, County of Newell, etc.), are predominantly rural areas that may include either farmland, Crown land or a combination of both depending on their geographic location. They may also include country residential subdivisions and unincorporated communities, some of which are recognized as hamlets by Alberta Municipal Affairs. [1]
Municipal districts are created when predominantly rural areas with populations of at least 1,000 people, where a majority of their residential buildings are on parcels of land greater than 1,850 m2, apply to Alberta Municipal Affairs for municipal district status under the authority of the Municipal Government Act. [2] Applications for municipal district status are approved via orders in council made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council under recommendation from the Minister of Municipal Affairs. [2]
As of the 2011 Census, Alberta's then 64 municipal districts (Lac La Biche County has since then converted to a specialized municipality) [3] had a cumulative population of 451,979 and an average population of 7,062. [4] Alberta's most populous and least populated municipal districts are Rocky View County and the MD of Ranchland No. 66 with populations of 36,461 and 79 respectively. [4]
437 elected officials (eight mayors, 56 reeves and 373 councillors) provide municipal district governance throughout the province. [5]
An order in council to incorporate any municipality must give the municipality an official name. [2] Of Alberta's 63 municipal districts, 16 still have municipal district in their official names, while 47 of them have branded themselves as a county in their official names. Twenty-five of Alberta's municipal district's retain a numerical designation (e.g. "No. 8") in their official names.
The use of the county term in the official names of 47 municipal districts (and three specialized municipalities) has partially led to a common belief that a county is its own separate municipal status type, which is not the case. The other major contributor to this common belief is that a county was once a former municipal status type in Alberta prior to the County Act being repealed in the mid-1990s. Those municipalities that were once officially incorporated as counties were continued under the Municipal Government Act (MGA) as municipal districts and were permitted to retain the term county in their official names. [6]
More than half of the 63 municipal districts have their main administration offices, including council chambers, in a separate municipality such as a city, town, or village. This municipality (like all other cities, towns, and villages) is not part of the municipal district's jurisdiction. Nine municipal districts have their offices in a hamlet, which is part of the district's jurisdiction. They are Acadia (Acadia Valley), Bighorn (Exshaw), Birch Hills (Wanham), Clear Hills (Worsley), Cypress (Dunmore), Grande Prairie (Clairmont), Lac Ste. Anne (Sangudo), Opportunity (Wabasca), and Thorhild (Thorhild). One municipal district, Ranchland, has its offices in a provincial park, Chain Lakes Provincial Park. Thirteen municipal districts have their offices in their jurisdiction, outside the boundaries of a city, town, or village. They are Brazeau (Drayton Valley), Lacombe (between Gull Lake and Lacombe), Mountain View (Didsbury), Newell (Brooks), Northern Sunrise (Peace River), Paintearth (Castor), Parkland (Stony Plain), Peace (Berwyn), Red Deer (Red Deer), Saddle Hills (Spirit River), Wheatland (Strathmore), Willow Creek (Claresholm), and Woodlands (Whitecourt).
The below table is a list of only those rural municipalities in Alberta that are incorporated as municipal districts.
Despite their names, Lac La Biche County, Mackenzie County, and Strathcona County are not listed because they are in fact incorporated as specialized municipalities , not municipal districts. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is likewise a specialized municipality and is thus not listed here. For more information on specialized municipalities, see List of specialized municipalities in Alberta.
Alberta's eight improvement districts and three special areas are also not listed because they are their own separate type of rural municipality and not subset types of the municipal district status. For more information on special areas, see Special Areas Board .
Name [10] Earlier name(s) | Incorporation date (municipal district) [10] | Status change date [10] | Subsequent municipal status [10] |
---|---|---|---|
Lac La Biche County | August 1, 2007 | January 1, 2018 | Specialized municipality |
Mackenzie County MD of Mackenzie No. 23 | January 1, 1995 | June 23, 1999 | Specialized municipality |
Strathcona County County of Strathcona No. 20 MD of Strathcona No. 83 MD of Strathcona No. 517 | March 1, 1943 | January 1, 1996 | Specialized municipality |
Name [5] [11] [12] Earlier name(s) | Incorporation date (municipal district) [5] [11] | Dissolution date [5] [11] | Subsequent municipality(ies) [5] [11] |
---|---|---|---|
Argyle No. 26 Argyle No. 100 | January 1, 1954 | Vulcan County (1951) Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 (1954) | |
Argyle No. 99 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | Argyle No. 100 |
Arthur No. 340 | January 1, 1944 | Red Deer County | |
Ashmont No. 605 | May 1, 1919 [14] | Smoky Lake County County of St. Paul No. 19 | |
Asquith No. 394 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 1, 1944 | Flagstaff County |
Badlands No. 7 [16] | January 1, 1991 [17] | January 1, 1998 [16] | Drumheller (town) [16] |
Barons No. 25 | January 1, 1954 | Lethbridge County (1954) Vulcan County (1951) Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 (1954) | |
Battle River No. 423 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 30, 1942 | Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 |
Bear Lake No. 740 | December 9, 1912 [13] | December 21, 1943 | County of Grande Prairie No. 1 |
Beaver Dam No. 281 | January 1, 1944 | Mountain View County | |
Beaver Lake No. 486 | February 1, 1943 | Beaver County | |
Beddington No. 250 | December 9, 1912 [13] | February 1, 1943 | Beddington (Conrich) No. 220 |
Berry Creek No. 214 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Bertawan No. 271 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Bigstone No. 459 | February 1, 1943 | County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 | |
Birch Lake No. 484 | January 30, 1942 | County of Minburn No. 27 | |
Blackfoot No. 218 | Bow Valley No. 40 | ||
Blackie No. 30 | January 1, 1951 | Vulcan County | |
Blackmud No. 488 | January 1, 1944 | Leduc County | |
Blindman No. 430 | January 1, 1944 | Ponoka County | |
Bonnyville No. 87 Bonnyville No. 572 Boucher No. 572 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 1, 1955 | Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 |
Bow Island No. 13 Bow Island No. 94 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1950 | Bow Island No. 13 (enlarged) [18] |
Bow Island No. 13 (enlarged) [18] | January 1, 1950 | January 1, 1954 | County of Forty Mile No. 8 |
Bow Valley No. 40 Bow Valley No. 218 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1955 | County of Newell (1953) Wheatland County (1955) |
Bright No. 16 Bright No. 69 | January 1, 1954 | Lethbridge County Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 | |
Britannia No. 183 | December 10, 1917 [19] | ||
Buffalo Coulee No. 453 | January 30, 1942 | County of Minburn No. 27 | |
Bulyea No. 215 | December 14, 1914 [15] | ||
Burlington No. 2 Burlington No. 34 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1950 | Burlington No. 2 (enlarged) [18] |
Burlington No. 2 (enlarged) [18] | January 1, 1950 | January 1, 1954 | County of Forty Mile No. 8 County of Warner No. 5 |
Canmer No. 301 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Carbon No. 278 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | Kneehill County |
Cartier No. 103 Cartier No. 637 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 1, 1947 | Athabasca County |
Castle River No. 40 | January 1, 1944 | Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 | |
Cereal No. 242 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Champlain No. 544 | January 30, 1942 | County of St. Paul No. 19 | |
Chip Lake No. 553 | December 14, 1914 [15] | ||
Clear Lake No. 129 | January 1, 1944 | Argyle No. 100 | |
Clifton No. 127 | December 14, 1914 [15] | ||
Clover Bar No. 517 | March 1, 1943 | Strathcona County | |
Cochrane No. 6 Cochrane No. 10 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 1, 1954 | Cardston County |
Cochrane No. 7 | January 1, 1946 | Cochrane No. 6 | |
Collholme No. 243 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Columbia No. 460 | Improvement District No. 76 | ||
Conrich No. 44 Conrich No. 220 Beddington No. 220 | January 1, 1955 | Rocky View County | |
Cornhill No. 487 | December 9, 1912 [13] | February 1, 1943 | Beaver County |
Coronation No. 334 Whiteside No. 334 | December 8, 1913 [15] | January 1, 1944 | County of Paintearth No. 18 |
Crown No. 399 | January 1, 1944 | Lacombe County | |
Dinton No. 189 | December 9, 1912 [13] | Blackie No. 30 | |
Dowling Lake No. 305 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Dublin No. 366 | March 1, 1943 | County of Stettler No. 6 | |
Eagle No. 545 | January 1, 1944 | County of Two Hills No. 21 | |
Edson No. 555 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Ethelwyn No. 512 | January 1, 1944 | County of Vermilion River | |
Eureka No. 14 Eureka No. 65 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1954 | Municipal District of Taber |
Evergreen No. 427 | Camrose County | ||
Excelsior No. 92 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Fertile Valley No. 429 | January 1, 1944 | Ponoka County | |
Flagstaff No. 364 Flagstaff No. 394 | December 9, 1912 | January 1, 1944 | Flagstaff County |
Flowerdale No. 244 | December 8, 1913 [15] | ||
Flowery Plain No. 33 | December 9, 1912 [13] | Burlington No. 2 | |
Forty Mile No. 12 Forty Mile No. 64 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1950 | Bow Island No. 13 Burlington No. 2 |
Gariepy No. 574 | December 14, 1914 [15] | ||
Ghost Pine No. 308 Roach No. 308 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | Kneehill County |
Gilt Edge No. 422 | January 30, 1942 | Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 | |
Glendon No. 88 | January 1, 1955 | Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 | |
Golden Centre No. 272 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Golden West No. 371 | January 1, 1944 | Red Deer County | |
Grande Prairie No. 739 Grande Prairie No. 709 | December 9, 1912 [13] | December 21, 1943 | County of Grande Prairie No. 1 |
Grasswold No. 248 | December 9, 1914 [15] | Serviceberry No. 43 | |
Grizzly Bear No. 452 | December 8, 1913 [15] | January 1, 1944 | County of Vermilion River (1944) Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 (1942) |
Grosmont No. 106 Grosmont No. 668 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 1, 1947 | Athabasca County |
Haig No. 396 | Camrose County | ||
Hand Hills No. 275 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Harmony No. 128 | Vulcan No. 29 | ||
Hays No. 338 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | Red Deer County |
Hazelwood No. 579 | February 1, 1943 | Westlock County | |
Highwood No. 31 Highwood No. 159 | January 1, 1944 | January 1, 1954 | Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 |
Hillcrest No. 362 | December 9, 1912 [13] | March 1, 1943 | Municipal District of Provost No. 52 |
Hiram No. 304 Misqueta Valley No. 304 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Huamha No. 393 | December 9, 1912 [13] | Municipal District of Provost No. 52 | |
Inga No. 520 | March 1, 1918 | January 30, 1942 | Stony Plain No. 84 |
Iron Creek No. 455 | February 1, 1943 | Beaver County | |
Keoma No. 249 | December 9, 1912 [13] | Serviceberry No. 43 | |
Kerr No. 39 | January 1, 1944 | Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 | |
King No. 153 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Kinsella No. 424 | January 1, 1944 | Flagstaff County | |
Kitchener No. 582 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 1, 1944 | Lac Ste. Anne County |
Lac Ste. Anne No. 93 | January 1, 1955 | Sturgeon County | |
Lakeland County [20] | July 1, 1998 [20] | August 1, 2007 [21] | Lac La Biche County |
Lakeside No. 397 | Camrose County | ||
Lakeview No. 454 | December 8, 1913 [22] | January 30, 1942 | County of Minburn No. 27 |
Lambton No. 306 | December 9, 1912 [13] | February 1, 1943 | Starland County |
Lamerton No. 398 | January 1, 1944 | Lacombe County | |
Last West No. 67 [23] Last West No. 431 | |||
Laurier No. 543 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 30, 1942 | County of St. Paul No. 19 |
Leslie No. 547 | January 1, 1944 | Lamont County | |
Liberty No. 489 | January 1, 1944 | Leduc County | |
Lincoln No. 542 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 30, 1942 | County of St. Paul No. 19 |
Little Bow No. 98 | December 8, 1913 [22] | Barons No. 25 | |
Livingstone No. 70 | January 1, 1944 | Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 | |
Lloyd George No. 457 | Camrose County | ||
Lochearn No. 401 | Improvement District No. 65 | ||
Lockerbie No. 580 | February 1, 1943 | Westlock County | |
Lonebutte No. 245 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Lorne No. 400 | January 1, 1944 | Lacombe County | |
Marquis No. 157 | December 9, 1912 [13] | Blackie No. 30 Vulcan No. 29 Bow West Area | |
McLean No. 96 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Melberta No. 483 | January 30, 1942 | County of Minburn No. 27 | |
Melrose No. 426 | Camrose County | ||
Merton No. 451 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 1, 1944 | County of Vermilion River (1944) Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 (1942) |
Michichi No. 277 | February 1, 1943 | Starland County | |
Montgomery No. 458 | December 13, 1915 [24] | February 1, 1943 | County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 |
Morinville No. 91 | January 1, 1955 | Sturgeon County | |
Morthen No. 551 | January 1, 1944 | Lac Ste. Anne County | |
Mountain View No. 310 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | Mountain View County |
Nelson No. 105 Nelson No. 638 | December 14, 1914 [15] | January 1, 1947 | Athabasca County |
Newell No. 28 | February 10, 1948 | January 1, 1953 | County of Newell |
Norma No. 515 | January 1, 1944 | County of Two Hills No. 21 | |
Norquay No. 279 | January 1, 1944 | Kneehill County | |
Opal No. 578 | February 1, 1943 | Bon Accord (Sturgeon) No. 548 | |
Parkland No. 456 | December 11, 1916 [25] | February 1, 1943 | Beaver County |
Patricia No. 486 | February 1, 1943 | Beaver County | |
Paxson No. 667 | December 14, 1914 [15] | ||
Pembina No. 94 [23] Pembina No. 552 | |||
Pershing No. 581 | January 1, 1944 | Lac Ste. Anne County | |
Pibroch No. 609 | December 9, 1912 [13] | February 1, 1943 | Westlock County |
Pine Lake No. 339 | January 1, 1944 | Red Deer County | |
The Pines No. 516 | January 1, 1944 | Lamont County | |
Pioneer No. 490 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | Leduc County |
Poplar Grove No. 341 | January 1, 1944 | Red Deer County | |
Prairie Creek No. 343 | |||
Progress No. 365 | January 1, 1944 | County of Paintearth No. 18 | |
Raven No. 57 [23] Raven No. 342 | |||
Ray No. 549 | Morinville No. 91 | ||
Ribstone No. 421 | December 8, 1913 [22] | January 30, 1942 | Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 |
Richdale No. 274 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Riley No. 159 | January 1, 1944 | Highwood No. 31 | |
Rocky Rapids No. 522 | December 13, 1915 [24] | April 1, 1937 | Improvement District No. 522 |
Rosebud No. 280 | December 8, 1913 [22] | January 1, 1944 | Mountain View County |
Rosenheim No. 361 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Royal No. 158 | Vulcan No. 29 | ||
Serviceberry No. 43 | January 1, 1955 | Rocky View County Wheatland County | |
Sheep Creek No. 190 | January 1, 1944 | Highwood No. 31 | |
Shepard No. 220 | February 1, 1943 | Beddington (Conrich) No. 220 | |
Shoal Creek No. 610 | February 1, 1943 | Westlock County | |
Sifton No. 391 | December 9, 1912 [13] | March 1, 1943 | Municipal District of Provost No. 52 |
Smoky Lake No. 576 | March 1, 1943 | Smoky Lake County | |
Sobor No. 514 | January 1, 1944 | County of Two Hills No. 21 | |
Sounding Creek No. 273 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Springbank No. 45 Springbank No. 221 | January 1, 1955 | Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 (1954) Rocky View County (1955) | |
Spruce Grove No. 519 | December 13, 1915 [24] | January 30, 1942 | Stony Plain No. 84 |
St. Lina No. 574 | County of St. Paul No. 19 | ||
St. Vincent No. 88 [23] St. Vincent No. 573 | |||
Starland No. 307 | December 9, 1912 [13] | February 1, 1943 | Starland County |
Stauffer No. 309 | January 1, 1944 | Kneehill County | |
Stewart No. 302 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Stirling No. 425 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | Flagstaff County |
Stockland No. 191 | Turner Valley No. 32 | ||
Stocks No. 363 | January 1, 1944 | County of Paintearth No. 18 | |
Stony Plain No. 84 Stony Plain No. 520 | January 1, 1969 | Parkland County | |
Strathcona No. 518 | March 1, 1943 | Strathcona County | |
Streamstown No. 511 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | County of Vermilion River |
Sturgeon No. 548 | February 1, 1943 | Bon Accord (Sturgeon) No. 548 | |
Sturgeon River No. 90 Sturgeon No. 548 Bon Accord No. 548 | January 1, 1955 | Sturgeon County | |
Success No. 336 | December 9, 1912 [13] | March 1, 1943 | County of Stettler No. 6 |
Sugar City No. 5 Sugar City No. 37 | January 1, 1954 | Cardston County Lethbridge County County of Warner No. 5 | |
Sullivan Lake No. 335 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Sunny South No. 123 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Tawatinaw No. 608 | December 14, 1914 [15] | February 1, 1943 | Westlock County |
Tomahawk No. 521 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 30, 1942 | Stony Plain No. 84 |
Turner Valley No. 32 | January 1, 1954 | Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 | |
Ukraina No. 513 | January 1, 1944 | County of Two Hills No. 21 | |
Unity No. 577 | March 1, 1943 | Smoky Lake County | |
Vale No. 392 | December 8, 1913 [22] | January 30, 1942 | Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 |
Vermilion Valley No. 482 | December 8, 1913 [22] | January 1, 1944 | County of Vermilion River |
Vilna No. 575 Wasel No. 575 | March 1, 1943 | Smoky Lake County | |
Vimy No. 337 | March 1, 1943 | County of Stettler No. 6 | |
Vulcan No. 29 Vulcan No. 128 | January 1, 1951 | Vulcan County | |
Warner No. 4 Warner No. 36 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1950 | Warner No. 4 (enlarged) [26] |
Warner No. 4 (enlarged) [26] | January 1, 1950 | January 1, 1954 | County of Forty Mile No. 8 Lethbridge County County of Warner No. 5 |
Water Glen No. 428 | January 1, 1944 | Ponoka County | |
Waterloo No. 56 [23] Waterloo No. 312 | December 8, 1913 [22] | ||
Waverly No. 367 | March 1, 1943 | County of Stettler No. 6 | |
Wellington No. 481 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | County of Vermilion River |
Westerdale No. 311 | December 8, 1913 [22] | January 1, 1944 | Mountain View County |
Wheatland No. 395 | December 9, 1912 [13] | January 1, 1944 | Flagstaff County |
Wiste No. 303 | December 9, 1912 [13] | ||
Woodford No. 550 | January 1, 1944 | Lac Ste. Anne County | |
Wostok No. 546 | January 1, 1944 | Lamont County | |
The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is a specialized municipality in southwest Alberta, Canada. Within the Rocky Mountains adjacent to the eponymous Crowsnest Pass, the municipality formed as a result of the 1979 amalgamation of five municipalities – the Village of Bellevue, the Town of Blairmore, the Town of Coleman, the Village of Frank, and Improvement District No. 5, which included the Hamlet of Hillcrest and numerous other unincorporated communities.
Strathcona County is a specialized municipality in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region within Alberta, Canada between Edmonton and Elk Island National Park. It forms part of Census Division No. 11.
Dewberry is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within the County of Vermilion River. It is approximately 66 km (41 mi) northwest of Lloydminster. The hamlet was named for the dewberries growing near the community. Its first school opened in 1930. Dewberry held village status prior to 2021.
Thorhild is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Thorhild County. It is located at the intersection of Highway 18 and Highway 827, approximately 86 kilometres (53 mi) north-by-east of the City of Edmonton.
Craigmyle is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Starland County. It is located between the towns of Delia and Hanna. It was named in 1912 by a Canadian Northern Railway ahead of the train's arrival in April 1914. The name is said to be based on a Scottish estate. Previously incorporated as a village, Craigmyle dissolved to become a hamlet on 1 January 1972.
Thorhild County is a municipal district located in the central part of northern Alberta, Canada, in Census Division 13. It was incorporated in 1955. It changed its name from the County of Thorhild No. 7 to Thorhild County on March 20, 2013.
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Big Lakes County, formerly the Municipal District of Big Lakes, is a municipal district in north-central Alberta, Canada.
Camrose County is a municipal district in central Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 10, around the City of Camrose.
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The County of Newell is a municipal district in southern Alberta, Canada. Located in Census Division No. 2, its municipal office is located south of the City of Brooks.
Alberta has provincial legislation allowing its municipalities to conduct municipal censuses between April 1 and June 30 inclusive. Municipalities choose to conduct their own censuses for multiple reasons such as to better inform municipal service planning and provision, to capitalize on per capita based grant funding from higher levels of government, or to simply update their populations since the last federal census.
Alberta has provincial legislation allowing its municipalities to conduct municipal censuses between April 1 and June 30 inclusive. Municipalities choose to conduct their own censuses for multiple reasons such as to better inform municipal service planning and provision, to capitalize on per capita based grant funding from higher levels of government, or to simply update their populations since the last federal census.
Badlands No. 7 January 1, 1991.