Rural and specialized municipalities, cities, towns, and select hamlets in AlbertaDistribution of Alberta's 6 specialized municipalities (red) and 74 rural municipalities, which include municipal districts that are often branded as counties (orange), improvement districts (dark green) and special areas (light green) (2020)
Alberta also has numerous unincorporated communities (including urban service areas, hamlets and a townsite) that are not independent municipalities in their own right. However, they are all recognized as sub-municipal entities by Ministry of Municipal Affairs under the jurisdiction of specialized municipalities or rural municipalities, with the exception of the lone townsite (its jurisdiction is shared with an Indian reserve that surrounds it).
With the exception of Métis settlements, Statistics Canada recognizes all of Alberta's municipalities as census subdivisions and groups them into 19 census divisions based on geography. Within census divisions, Statistics Canada groups some of Alberta's municipalities/census subdivisions into two census metropolitan areas (CMAs) or 12 census agglomerations (CAs) for enumeration purposes. All CMAs include large urban centres and surrounding census subdivisions. All CAs also include large urban centres and in some cases their surrounding census subdivisions.
With the exception of Indian reserves, the administration of municipalities in Alberta is regulated by the Municipal Government Act,[1] the Special Areas Act[2] and the Metis Settlements Act.[3]
As of 2019, the combined unofficial population of all of Alberta's municipalities was 4,271,759.[4]
According to Section 81 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), an area may incorporate as a town if:
it has a population of 1,000 people or more; and
the majority of its buildings are on parcels of land smaller than 1,850 m2 (19,900 sq ft).[1]
Essentially, towns are formed from urban communities with populations of at least 1,000 people. When a town's population exceeds 10,000 people, its council may apply to change its status to that of a city, but the change in incorporated status is not mandatory.[5]
Communities with shrinking populations are allowed to retain town status even if the number of residents falls below the 1,000 limit. Some of Alberta's towns have never reached a population of 1,000 people, but were incorporated as towns before the current requirement to have a population of 1,000 or more.
Alberta currently has a total of 107 towns, with a combined population totalling 466,470 as of 2019.[4]
According to Section 80 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), an area may incorporate as a village if:
it has a population of 300 people or more; and
the majority of its buildings are on parcels of land smaller than 1,850 m2 (19,900 sq ft).[1]
Essentially, villages are formed from urban communities with populations of at least 300 people. When a village's population exceeds 1,000 people, its council may apply to change its status to that of a town, but the change in incorporated status is not mandatory.
Communities with shrinking populations are allowed to retain village status even if the number of residents falls below the 300 limit. Some of Alberta's villages have never reached a population of 300 people, but were incorporated as villages before there was a requirement to have a population of 300 or more.
Alberta currently has a total of 81 villages, with a combined population totalling 34,600 as of 2021.[22]
According to former Section 79 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), a summer village is an area that:
has at least 60 parcels of land developed with dwelling buildings; and
has a population of less than 300 persons where the majority of the persons who would be electors do not permanently reside in that area.
As a result of Section 79 being repealed,[1] summer villages can no longer be formed in Alberta.[5]
Essentially, summer villages were once formed from urban communities with populations of less than 300 people and significant non-permanent populations. When a summer village's population exceeds 300 people, its council may apply to change its status to that of a village, but the change in incorporated status is not mandatory.
Alberta currently has a total of 51 summer villages, with a combined population totalling 5,200 as of 2019.[4]
According to Section 83 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), a municipality may incorporate as a specialized municipality under one of the following three scenarios:
where the Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs (AMA) is satisfied that the other incorporated statuses under the MGA do not meet the needs of the municipality's residents;
to form a local government that, in the opinion of the Minister of AMA, will provide for the orderly development of the municipality in a similar fashion to the other incorporated statuses within the MGA; or
for any other circumstances that are deemed appropriate by the Minister of AMA.[1]
Essentially, specialized municipalities are municipalities that are unconventional in nature compared to other municipalities in Alberta, and they are incorporated under the authority of the existing MGA instead of relying on the creation of their own separate acts (i.e., the Special Areas Act[2] allowed the incorporation of Alberta's three special areas and the Metis Settlements Act[3] allowed the incorporation of Alberta's eight Métis settlements).[5]
Alberta's six specialized municipalities have a combined population totalling 242,395 as of 2019.[4]
Essentially, municipal districts are large rural areas in which their citizens reside on farms, country residential subdivisions or unincorporated communities (i.e., hamlets, localities and other settlements).[5]
In Alberta, the term county is synonymous with the term municipal district – it is not its own incorporated municipal status that is different from that of a municipal district. As such, Alberta Municipal Affairs provides municipal districts with the opportunity to brand themselves either as municipal districts or counties in their official names.
Of Alberta's 63 municipal districts, 46 of them brand themselves as counties. Over the past 30 years, Alberta has observed a trend of numerous municipal districts rebranding themselves as counties through official name changes. Some of the reasons why a municipal district would rebrand itself as a county include that the term county is: more recognizable by the general public; has a more traditional appeal; and is more marketable from an economic development perspective.
The last municipal district (MD) to rebrand itself as a county was the MD of Foothills No. 31, which was renamed as Foothills County on January 1, 2019.[36]
Alberta's 63 municipal districts have a combined population totalling 471,852 as of 2019.[4]
According to Section 581 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), Alberta's Lieutenant Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, may form an improvement district. Section 582 of the MGA requires that the order to form an improvement district must describe its boundaries and give it an official name.
Alberta currently has seven improvement districts, which have a combined population totaling 2,146.[41] With some exceptions, their boundaries are coterminous with that of a national or provincial park. Five of them are located within national parks, and two are within provincial parks.
Special areas are rural municipalities created in 1938 under the authority of the Special Areas Act.[2][5] A special area is not to be confused with a specialized municipality, which is a completely different municipal status.
Alberta's three special areas had a combined population totalling 4,184 in 2016.[4]
An urban service area is a type of hamlet that is not officially defined under the Municipal Government Act (MGA). However, the Province of Alberta recognizes it as equivalent to a city for the purposes of program delivery and grant eligibility according to the Orders in Council that established the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo and Strathcona County as specialized municipalities.[45][46]
These Orders in Council (see Schedule 1, Section 7[45] and Schedule 1, Section 3[46] respectively) also state that:
the specialized municipalities shall provide to the Province of Alberta any information required to administer programs or to determine the amount of grants which would have been paid if the urban service areas were incorporated cities; and
for the purposes of enactments affecting roads, culverts, ditches, drains, and highways, the urban service areas are deemed to be cities.
Essentially, urban services areas meet the eligibility requirements of the MGA to incorporate as a city. As such, they are Alberta's largest hamlets.
There are currently two urban services areas in Alberta:
Fort McMurray, within the jurisdiction of the RM of Wood Buffalo, was formerly a city prior its amalgamation with Improvement District No. 143 on April 1, 1995. It was designated an urban service area at the time of the amalgamation.[45]
Sherwood Park has always been an unincorporated community under the jurisdiction of Strathcona County. It became an urban service area when Strathcona County changed its status from a municipal district to a specialized municipality on January 1, 1996.[46]
According to Section 59 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), hamlets are unincorporated communities that:
consist of five or more buildings used as dwellings, a majority of which are on parcels of land smaller than 1,850 m2 (19,900 sq ft);
have a generally accepted boundary and name; and
contain parcels of land that are used for non‑residential purposes.[1]
Further, Section 59 of the MGA provides the councils of municipal districts (or counties) and specialized municipalities the authority to designate unincorporated communities within its boundaries as hamlets.[1][5] Hamlets may also be designated within improvement districts and special areas by the Minister of Municipal Affairs pursuant to Section 590 of the MGA and Section 10 of the Special Areas Act respectively.[1][2]
When a hamlet's population reaches 300, it becomes eligible to incorporated as a village under Section 80 of the MGA, so long as the majority of the buildings are still on parcels of land smaller than 1,850 m2 (19,900 sq ft).[1] However, it is a modern-day rarity for a hamlet to incorporate as a village – Barnwell and Wabamun were the last two to do so both on January 1, 1980. It is much more common these days for villages to revert to hamlet status through the dissolution process instead.
There are currently 403 hamlets in Alberta, two of which are the urban services areas presented above.[47]
A townsite is a type of unincorporated community that is not officially defined under the Municipal Government Act (MGA), but it is generally regarded as an independent urban area within an Indian reserve that is comparable in population, land area, services, and built form, to that of Alberta's incorporated towns. Essentially, townsites would meet the eligibility requirements of the MGA to incorporate as a town if they were not on Indian reserve lands under federal jurisdiction.
Métis settlements are rural areas inhabited by the indigenous Métis in Alberta and were established and recognized in 1936 under the Métis Population Betterment Act. The settlements provide an autonomous land base, allow better access to education, health and other social services, and provide economic development opportunities for the only recognized Métis land-base in Canada.[3] Métis settlements now operate under the authority of the Métis Settlements Act.[5] These eight Métis settlements are governed by a unique Métis government known as the Métis Settlements General Council (MSGC).
Alberta currently has eight Métis settlements, all of which are in the northern half of the province. The official names of the eight settlements, and the municipal districts they are within, are as follows:
*Areas generated from provincial Métis settlement boundary data.
Very small portions of the Gift Lake Métis Settlement and the Kikino Métis Settlement are also located within Northern Sunrise County and Lac La Biche County respectively.
Alberta's eight Métis settlements have a combined population totalling 5,632 as of 2018.[4]
Indian reserves in Alberta cover a total area of 656,660 ha (1,622,630 acres) and range in size from 441 ha (1,089 acres) to 143,529 ha (354,667 acres).[5] Under the Constitution Act, 1982, legislative authority over Indian reserves is allocated to the Parliament of Canada. The Government of Canada exercises executive authority over Indian reserves through Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Local administration is exercised by Band councils whose members are elected by members of the reserve.
Indian reserves of Alberta
Name as used by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
list, communities, alberta, province, alberta, canada, divided, into, types, local, governments, urban, municipalities, including, cities, towns, villages, summer, villages, specialized, municipalities, rural, municipalities, including, municipal, districts, o. The province of Alberta Canada is divided into ten types of local governments urban municipalities including cities towns villages and summer villages specialized municipalities rural municipalities including municipal districts often named as counties improvement districts and special areas Metis settlements and Indian reserves All types of municipalities are governed by local residents and were incorporated under various provincial acts with the exception of improvement districts governed by either the provincial or federal government and Alberta s Indian reserves governed by local band governments under federal jurisdiction Rural and specialized municipalities cities towns and select hamlets in AlbertaDistribution of Alberta s 6 specialized municipalities red and 74 rural municipalities which include municipal districts that are often branded as counties orange improvement districts dark green and special areas light green 2020 Alberta also has numerous unincorporated communities including urban service areas hamlets and a townsite that are not independent municipalities in their own right However they are all recognized as sub municipal entities by Ministry of Municipal Affairs under the jurisdiction of specialized municipalities or rural municipalities with the exception of the lone townsite its jurisdiction is shared with an Indian reserve that surrounds it With the exception of Metis settlements Statistics Canada recognizes all of Alberta s municipalities as census subdivisions and groups them into 19 census divisions based on geography Within census divisions Statistics Canada groups some of Alberta s municipalities census subdivisions into two census metropolitan areas CMAs or 12 census agglomerations CAs for enumeration purposes All CMAs include large urban centres and surrounding census subdivisions All CAs also include large urban centres and in some cases their surrounding census subdivisions With the exception of Indian reserves the administration of municipalities in Alberta is regulated by the Municipal Government Act 1 the Special Areas Act 2 and the Metis Settlements Act 3 As of 2019 the combined unofficial population of all of Alberta s municipalities was 4 271 759 4 Municipalities EditUrban municipalities Edit Cities Edit Main article List of cities in Alberta According to Section 82 of the Municipal Government Act MGA an area may incorporate as a city if it has a population of 10 000 people or more and the majority of its buildings are on parcels of land smaller than 1 850 m2 19 900 sq ft 1 Essentially cities are formed from urban communities with populations of at least 10 000 people 5 Alberta currently has a total of 19 cities with a combined population totalling 2 959 559 as of 2019 4 Name Region Incorporationdate city 6 Councilsize 6 2021 Census of Population 7 Population 2021 Population 2016 Change Landarea km2 Populationdensity per km2 Airdrie Calgary Metro Jan 1 1985 7 74 100 61 581 20 3 84 39 878 1Beaumont AB 1 Edmonton Metro Jan 1 2019 7 20 888 17 457 19 7 24 70 845 7Brooks AB 2 Southern Sep 1 2005 7 14 924 14 451 3 3 18 21 819 5Calgary AB 3 Calgary Metro Jan 1 1894 15 1 306 784 1 239 220 5 5 820 62 1 592 4Camrose Central Jan 1 1955 9 18 772 18 742 0 2 41 67 450 5Chestermere AB 4 Calgary Metro Jan 1 2015 7 22 163 19 887 11 4 32 83 675 1Cold Lake North Oct 1 2000 7 15 661 14 976 4 6 66 61 235 1Edmonton AB 5 Edmonton Metro Oct 8 1904 13 1 010 899 933 088 8 3 765 61 1 320 4Fort Saskatchewan Edmonton Metro Jul 1 1985 7 27 088 24 169 12 1 56 50 479 4Grande Prairie Northern Jan 1 1958 9 64 141 63 166 1 5 132 71 483 3Lacombe Central Sep 5 2010 7 13 396 13 057 2 6 20 59 650 6Leduc Edmonton Metro Sep 1 1983 7 34 094 29 993 13 7 42 25 807 0Lethbridge Southern May 9 1906 9 98 406 92 729 6 1 121 12 812 5Lloydminster part AB 6 Central Jan 1 1958 7 19 739 19 645 0 5 23 98 823 1Medicine Hat Southern May 9 1906 9 63 271 63 260 0 0 111 97 565 1Red Deer Central Mar 25 1913 9 100 844 100 418 0 4 104 34 966 5Spruce Grove Edmonton Metro Mar 1 1986 7 37 645 34 108 10 4 37 52 1 003 3St Albert Edmonton Metro Jan 1 1977 7 68 232 65 589 4 0 47 84 1 426 3Wetaskiwin AB 7 Central May 9 1906 7 12 594 12 655 0 5 18 75 671 7Total cities 157 3 023 641 2 838 191 6 5 2 572 21 1 175 5 Towns Edit Main article List of towns in Alberta According to Section 81 of the Municipal Government Act MGA an area may incorporate as a town if it has a population of 1 000 people or more and the majority of its buildings are on parcels of land smaller than 1 850 m2 19 900 sq ft 1 Essentially towns are formed from urban communities with populations of at least 1 000 people When a town s population exceeds 10 000 people its council may apply to change its status to that of a city but the change in incorporated status is not mandatory 5 Communities with shrinking populations are allowed to retain town status even if the number of residents falls below the 1 000 limit Some of Alberta s towns have never reached a population of 1 000 people but were incorporated as towns before the current requirement to have a population of 1 000 or more Alberta currently has a total of 107 towns with a combined population totalling 466 470 as of 2019 4 A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T V W Name Specialized ruralmunicipality 8 Incorporationdate town 9 Municipalcensuspopulation year 10 Population 2016 11 Population 2011 11 Change 11 Landarea km2 11 Populationdensity per km2 11 Athabasca N 1 Athabasca County Sep 19 1911 2 965 2 990 0 8 17 65 168 0Banff Improvement District No 9 Banff Jan 1 1990 8 875 2017 7 851 7 584 3 5 4 77 1 645 9Barrhead Barrhead No 11 County of Nov 26 1946 4 579 4 432 3 3 8 17 560 5Bashaw Camrose County May 1 1964 830 873 4 9 2 99 277 6Bassano Newell County of Jan 16 1911 1 206 1 282 5 9 5 22 231 0Beaverlodge Grande Prairie No 1 County of Jan 24 1956 2 465 2 365 4 2 5 73 430 2Bentley Lacombe County Jan 1 2001 1 078 1 073 0 5 2 24 481 3Blackfalds Lacombe County Apr 1 1980 10 125 2018 9 328 6 300 48 1 16 44 567 4Bon Accord Sturgeon County Nov 20 1979 1 529 1 488 2 8 2 13 717 8Bonnyville Bonnyville No 87 M D of Feb 3 1948 6 422 2017 5 975 12 6 216 3 9 14 18 421 4Bow Island Forty Mile No 8 County of Feb 1 1912 2 043 2017 1 983 2 025 2 1 5 81 341 3Bowden Red Deer County Sep 1 1981 1 240 1 241 0 1 2 8 442 9Bruderheim Lamont County Sep 17 1980 1 395 2018 1 308 1 155 13 2 7 12 183 7Calmar Leduc County Jan 19 1954 2 228 1 970 13 1 4 68 476 1Canmore Bighorn No 8 M D ofKananaskis Improvement District 13 Jun 1 1966 13 992 12 288 13 9 69 43 201 5Cardston Cardston County Jul 2 1901 3 909 2018 3 585 3 580 0 1 8 59 417 3Carstairs Mountain View County Sep 1 1966 4 077 3 442 18 4 11 92 342 0Castor Paintearth No 18 County of Jun 27 1910 929 932 0 3 2 63 353 2Claresholm Willow Creek No 26 M D of Aug 31 1905 3 780 3 758 0 6 8 11 466 1Coaldale Lethbridge County Jan 7 1952 8 691 2019 14 8 215 7 493 9 6 7 99 1 028 2Coalhurst Lethbridge County Jun 1 1995 2 784 2019 15 2 668 1 978 34 9 3 11 857 9Cochrane Rocky View County Feb 15 1971 29 277 2019 16 25 853 17 580 47 1 29 83 866 7Coronation Paintearth No 18 County of Apr 29 1912 940 947 0 7 3 62 259 7Crossfield Rocky View County Aug 1 1980 3 308 2018 2 983 2 853 4 6 11 96 249 4Daysland Flagstaff County Apr 2 1907 824 807 2 1 1 75 470 9Devon Leduc County Feb 24 1950 6 578 6 515 1 0 14 3 460 0Diamond Valley Foothills County Jan 1 2023 17 5 259 4 540 15 8 9 63 546 1Didsbury Mountain View County Sep 27 1906 5 268 4 957 6 3 16 37 321 8Drayton Valley Brazeau County Feb 1 1957 7 235 7 118 1 6 30 72 235 5Drumheller N 2 Kneehill CountySpecial Area No 2Starland CountyWheatland County 18 Mar 2 1916 January 1 1998 7 982 8 029 0 6 108 03 73 9Eckville Lacombe County Jul 1 1966 1 163 2018 1 125 1 125 0 0 1 6 703 1Edson Yellowhead County Sep 21 1911 8 414 8 475 0 7 29 72 283 1Elk Point St Paul No 19 County of Jan 1 1962 1 452 1 412 2 8 4 91 295 7Fairview Fairview No 136 M D of Apr 25 1949 2 998 3 162 5 2 11 36 263 9Falher Smoky River No 130 M D of Jan 1 1955 1 047 1 075 2 6 2 78 376 6Fort Macleod N 3 Willow Creek No 26 M D of Mar 29 1912 2 967 3 117 4 8 23 41 126 7Fox Creek Greenview No 16 M D of Sep 1 1983 1 971 1 969 0 1 12 36 159 5Gibbons Sturgeon County Apr 1 1977 3 159 3 030 4 3 7 5 421 2Grimshaw Peace No 135 M D of Feb 2 1953 2 718 2 515 8 1 7 09 383 4Hanna Special Area No 2 Apr 14 1914 2 559 2 673 4 3 8 81 290 5Hardisty Flagstaff County Nov 9 1910 554 639 13 3 5 13 108 0High Level Mackenzie County Sep 1 1983 3 992 2017 3 159 3 641 13 2 29 2 108 2High Prairie Big Lakes County Jan 10 1950 2 564 2 600 1 4 7 22 355 1High River Foothills No 31 M D of Feb 12 1906 13 584 12 930 5 1 21 39 635 1Hinton Yellowhead County Dec 29 1958 9 882 9 640 2 5 33 52 294 8Innisfail Red Deer County Nov 20 1903 7 847 7 876 0 4 19 4 404 5Irricana Rocky View County Jun 9 2005 1 216 1 162 4 6 3 23 376 5Killam Flagstaff County May 1 1965 989 981 0 8 6 75 146 5Lamont Lamont County May 31 1968 1 774 1 753 1 2 9 2 192 8Legal Sturgeon County Jan 1 1998 1 345 1 225 9 8 3 18 423 0Magrath Cardston County Jul 24 1907 2 435 2017 2 374 2 217 7 1 5 99 396 3Manning Northern Lights County of Jan 1 1957 1 183 1 164 1 6 4 05 292 1Mayerthorpe Lac Ste Anne County Mar 20 1961 1 320 1 398 5 6 4 37 302 1McLennan Smoky River No 130 M D of Feb 11 1948 791 2017 701 809 13 3 3 71 188 9Milk River Warner No 5 County of Feb 7 1956 827 811 2 0 2 33 354 9Millet Wetaskiwin No 10 County of Sep 1 1983 1 945 2 092 7 0 3 72 522 8Morinville Sturgeon County Apr 21 1911 9 893 2016 9 848 8 569 14 9 11 15 883 2Mundare Lamont County Jan 4 1951 852 855 0 4 4 21 202 4Nanton Willow Creek No 26 M D of Aug 9 1907 2 181 12 2 132 2 3 4 87 447 8Nobleford Lethbridge County Feb 28 2018 1 278 1 000 27 8 1 59 803 8Okotoks Foothills No 31 M D of Jun 1 1904 29 002 2018 28 881 24 511 17 8 19 63 1 471 3Olds Mountain View County Jul 1 1905 9 184 8 235 11 5 14 93 615 1Onoway Lac Ste Anne County Sep 1 2005 1 029 1 039 1 0 3 32 309 9Oyen Special Area No 3 Sep 1 1965 1 022 2017 1 001 973 2 9 5 28 189 6Peace River N 4 Northern Lights County ofNorthern Sunrise CountyPeace No 135 M D of 19 Dec 1 1919 6 842 6 729 1 7 26 26 260 5Penhold Red Deer County Sep 1 1980 3 277 2 375 38 0 5 29 619 5Picture Butte Lethbridge County Jan 1 1960 1 810 1 650 9 7 2 85 635 1Pincher Creek Pincher Creek No 9 M D of May 12 1906 3 642 3 685 1 2 10 09 361 0Ponoka Ponoka County Oct 15 1904 7 229 6 778 6 7 17 33 417 1Provost Provost No 52 M D of Dec 29 1952 1 998 2 041 2 1 4 72 423 3Rainbow Lake Mackenzie County Sep 1 1995 795 870 8 6 10 76 73 9Raymond Warner No 5 County of Jul 1 1903 4 252 2018 3 708 3 743 0 9 6 66 556 8Redcliff Cypress County Aug 5 1912 5 600 5 588 0 2 16 25 344 6Redwater Sturgeon County Dec 31 1950 2 053 1 915 7 2 20 03 102 5Rimbey Ponoka County Dec 13 1948 2 567 2 378 7 9 11 4 225 2Rocky Mountain House Clearwater County Aug 31 1939 6 635 6 933 4 3 12 71 522 0Sedgewick Flagstaff County May 1 1966 811 857 5 4 2 72 298 2Sexsmith Grande Prairie No 1 County of Oct 15 1979 2 620 2 418 8 4 13 24 197 9Slave Lake Lesser Slave River No 124 M D of Aug 2 1965 6 651 6 782 1 9 14 44 460 6Smoky Lake Smoky Lake County Feb 1 1962 964 1 022 5 7 4 26 226 3Spirit River Spirit River No 133 M D of Sep 18 1951 995 1 025 2 9 3 14 316 9St Paul N 5 St Paul No 19 County of Dec 15 1936 5 963 2017 5 827 5 405 7 8 8 64 674 4Stavely Willow Creek No 26 M D of May 25 1912 541 505 7 1 1 83 295 6Stettler Stettler No 6 County of Nov 23 1906 5 952 5 748 3 5 13 14 453 0Stony Plain Parkland County Dec 10 1908 17 842 2019 20 17 189 15 051 14 2 35 72 481 2Strathmore Wheatland County Jul 6 1911 13 528 2018 13 756 12 305 11 8 27 4 502 0Sundre Mountain View County Jan 1 1956 2 729 2 610 4 6 11 11 245 6Swan Hills Big Lakes County Jan 1 1967 1 301 1 465 11 2 26 12 49 8Sylvan Lake Red Deer County May 20 1946 14 816 12 362 19 9 23 36 634 2Taber Taber M D of Jul 1 1907 8 428 8 104 4 0 15 67 537 8Thorsby Leduc County Jan 1 2017 21 1 015 2017 985 951 3 6 3 85 255 8Three Hills Kneehill County Jan 1 1929 3 212 3 198 0 4 6 75 475 9Tofield Beaver County Sep 10 1909 2 081 2 182 4 6 8 21 253 5Trochu Kneehill County Aug 1 1962 1 058 1 072 1 3 2 78 380 6Two Hills Two Hills No 21 County of Jan 1 1955 1 443 2017 1 352 1 379 2 0 3 38 400 0Valleyview Greenview No 16 M D of Feb 5 1957 1 863 1 761 5 8 9 32 199 9Vauxhall Taber M D of Jan 1 1961 1 222 1 288 5 1 2 72 449 3Vegreville Minburn No 27 County of Aug 15 1906 5 708 5 717 0 2 14 08 405 4Vermilion Vermilion River County of Aug 27 1906 4 150 2017 4 084 3 930 3 9 12 93 315 9Viking Beaver County Nov 10 1952 1 083 1 041 4 0 3 7 292 7Vulcan Vulcan County Jun 15 1921 1 917 1 836 4 4 6 34 302 4Wainwright Wainwright No 61 M D of Jul 14 1910 6 270 5 925 5 8 9 1 689 0Wembley Grande Prairie No 1 County of Aug 1 1980 1 516 1 383 9 6 4 75 319 2Westlock Westlock County Jan 7 1947 5 101 4 823 5 8 13 37 381 5Whitecourt Woodlands County Dec 20 1971 10 204 9 605 6 2 26 44 385 9Total towns 454 181 420 498 8 0 1 248 01 363 9 Villages Edit Main article List of villages in Alberta According to Section 80 of the Municipal Government Act MGA an area may incorporate as a village if it has a population of 300 people or more and the majority of its buildings are on parcels of land smaller than 1 850 m2 19 900 sq ft 1 Essentially villages are formed from urban communities with populations of at least 300 people When a village s population exceeds 1 000 people its council may apply to change its status to that of a town but the change in incorporated status is not mandatory Communities with shrinking populations are allowed to retain village status even if the number of residents falls below the 300 limit Some of Alberta s villages have never reached a population of 300 people but were incorporated as villages before there was a requirement to have a population of 300 or more Alberta currently has a total of 81 villages with a combined population totalling 34 600 as of 2021 22 A B C D E F G H I K L M N P R S V W Y Name Ruralmunicipality 8 Incorporationdate village 9 gt Population 2016 23 Population 2011 23 Change 23 Landarea km 23 Populationdensity per km 23 Acme Kneehill County July 7 1910 653 653 0 0 2 48 263 3 km2Alberta Beach Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1999 1 018 865 17 7 2 01 506 5 km2Alix Lacombe County June 3 1907 734 830 11 6 3 13 234 5 km2Alliance Flagstaff County August 26 1918 154 174 11 5 0 51 302 0 km2Amisk Provost No 52 MD of January 1 1956 204 207 1 4 0 76 268 4 km2Andrew Lamont County June 24 1930 425 379 12 1 1 17 363 2 km2Arrowwood Vulcan County May 13 1926 207 188 10 1 0 75 276 0 km2Barnwell Taber MD of January 1 1980 947 771 22 8 1 51 627 2 km2Barons Lethbridge County May 6 1910 341 315 8 3 0 81 421 0 km2Bawlf Camrose County October 12 1906 422 403 4 7 0 89 474 2 km2Beiseker Rocky View County February 23 1921 819 785 4 3 2 85 287 4 km2Berwyn Peace No 135 MD of November 28 1936 538 526 2 3 1 58 340 5 km2Big Valley Stettler No 6 County of March 9 1942 346 364 4 9 1 86 186 0 km2Bittern Lake a Camrose County November 2 1904 220 224 1 8 6 57 33 5 km2Boyle Athabasca County December 31 1953 845 916 7 8 7 13 118 5 km2Breton Brazeau County January 1 1957 574 496 15 7 1 72 333 7 km2Carbon Kneehill County November 18 1912 454 592 23 3 1 99 228 1 km2Carmangay Vulcan County March 4 1936 242 367 34 1 1 86 130 1 km2Caroline Clearwater County December 31 1951 512 501 2 2 2 04 251 0 km2Champion Vulcan County May 27 1911 317 378 16 1 0 89 356 2 km2Chauvin Wainwright No 61 MD of December 30 1912 335 334 0 3 2 24 149 6 km2Chipman Lamont County October 21 1913 274 284 3 5 9 61 28 5 km2Clive Lacombe County January 9 1912 715 675 5 9 2 17 329 5 km2Clyde Westlock County January 28 1914 430 503 14 5 1 31 328 2 km2Consort Special Area No 4 September 23 1912 729 689 5 8 3 05 239 0 km2Coutts Warner No 5 County of January 1 1960 245 277 11 6 1 24 197 6 km2Cowley Pincher Creek No 9 MD of August 16 1906 209 236 11 4 1 37 152 6 km2Cremona Mountain View County January 1 1955 444 457 2 8 1 94 228 9 km2Czar Provost No 52 MD of November 12 1917 202 167 21 0 1 12 180 4 km2Delburne Red Deer County January 17 1913 892 830 7 5 3 98 224 1 km2Delia b Starland County July 20 1914 216 186 16 1 1 33 162 4 km2Donalda Stettler No 6 County of December 30 1912 219 259 15 4 0 99 221 2 km2Donnelly Smoky River No 130 MD of January 1 1956 342 305 12 1 1 31 261 1 km2Duchess Newell County of May 12 1921 1 085 992 9 4 1 96 553 6 km2Edberg Camrose County February 4 1930 151 168 10 1 0 35 431 4 km2Edgerton Wainwright No 61 MD of September 11 1917 384 317 21 1 2 04 188 2 km2Elnora Red Deer County July 22 1929 298 313 4 8 1 47 202 7 km2Empress Special Area No 2 February 5 1914 135 188 28 2 1 58 85 4 km2Foremost Forty Mile No 8 County of December 31 1950 541 526 2 9 2 16 250 5 km2Forestburg Flagstaff County August 21 1919 875 831 5 3 2 73 320 5 km2Girouxville Smoky River No 130 MD of December 31 1951 219 266 17 7 0 67 326 9 km2Glendon Bonnyville No 87 MD of January 1 1956 493 486 1 4 1 99 247 7 km2Glenwood Cardston County January 1 1961 316 287 10 1 1 37 230 7 km2Halkirk Paintearth No 18 County of February 10 1912 112 121 7 4 0 61 183 6 km2Hay Lakes c Camrose County April 17 1928 495 425 16 5 0 59 839 0 km2Heisler Flagstaff County January 1 1961 160 151 6 0 0 64 250 0 km2Hill Spring Cardston County January 1 1961 162 186 12 9 0 96 168 8 km2Hines Creek Clear Hills County December 31 1951 346 380 8 9 5 33 64 9 km2Holden Beaver County April 14 1909 350 381 8 1 1 74 201 1 km2Hughenden Provost No 52 MD of December 27 1917 243 230 5 7 0 78 311 5 km2Hussar Wheatland County April 20 1928 190 176 8 0 0 75 253 3 km2Innisfree Minburn No 27 County of March 11 1911 193 220 12 3 1 01 191 1 km2Irma Wainwright No 61 MD of May 30 1912 521 457 14 0 1 34 388 8 km2Kitscoty Vermilion River County of March 22 1911 925 846 9 3 1 51 612 6 km2Linden Kneehill County January 1 1964 828 725 14 2 2 58 320 9 km2Lomond Vulcan County February 16 1916 166 173 4 0 1 21 137 2 km2Longview Foothills County January 1 1964 307 307 0 0 1 1 279 1 km2Lougheed Flagstaff County November 7 1911 256 233 9 9 2 1 121 9 km2Mannville Minburn No 27 County of December 29 1906 828 803 3 1 1 64 504 9 km2Marwayne Vermilion River County of December 31 1952 564 612 7 8 1 6 352 5 km2Milo Vulcan County May 7 1931 91 122 25 4 0 98 92 9 km2Morrin Starland County April 16 1920 240 245 2 0 0 67 358 2 km2Munson Starland County May 5 1911 192 204 5 9 2 53 75 9 km2Myrnam Two Hills No 21 County of August 22 1930 339 370 8 4 2 79 121 5 km2Nampa Northern Sunrise County January 1 1958 364 362 0 6 1 71 212 9 km2Paradise Valley Vermilion River County of January 1 1964 179 174 2 9 0 63 284 1 km2Rockyford Wheatland County March 28 1919 316 325 2 8 1 08 292 6 km2Rosalind Camrose County January 1 1966 188 190 1 1 0 62 303 2 km2Rosemary Newell County of December 31 1951 396 342 15 8 0 59 671 2 km2Rycroft Spirit River No 133 MD of March 15 1944 612 628 2 5 1 92 318 8 km2Ryley d Beaver County April 2 1910 483 497 2 8 2 61 185 1 km2Spring Lake e Parkland County January 1 1999 699 533 31 1 2 33 300 0 km2Standard Wheatland County April 29 1922 353 379 6 9 2 35 150 2 km2Stirling Warner No 5 County of September 3 1901 978 1 090 10 3 2 71 360 9 km2Veteran Special Area No 4 June 30 1914 207 249 16 9 0 84 246 4 km2Vilna Smoky Lake County June 23 1923 290 249 16 5 0 96 302 1 km2Warburg Leduc County December 31 1953 766 789 2 9 2 68 285 8 km2Warner Warner No 5 County of November 12 1908 373 331 12 7 1 16 321 6 km2Waskatenau Smoky Lake County May 19 1932 186 255 27 1 0 6 310 0 km2Youngstown Special Area No 3 December 31 1936 154 178 13 5 1 11 138 7 km2Total villages 33 773 33 448 1 0 146 85 230 0 km2 Summer villages Edit Main article List of summer villages in Alberta According to former Section 79 of the Municipal Government Act MGA a summer village is an area that has at least 60 parcels of land developed with dwelling buildings and has a population of less than 300 persons where the majority of the persons who would be electors do not permanently reside in that area As a result of Section 79 being repealed 1 summer villages can no longer be formed in Alberta 5 Essentially summer villages were once formed from urban communities with populations of less than 300 people and significant non permanent populations When a summer village s population exceeds 300 people its council may apply to change its status to that of a village but the change in incorporated status is not mandatory Alberta currently has a total of 51 summer villages with a combined population totalling 5 200 as of 2019 4 Summer villages of Alberta Name Rural municipality 8 Incorporation date summer village 29 Population 2016 30 Population 2011 30 Change 30 Landarea km 30 Populationdensity per km 30 Argentia Beach Wetaskiwin No 10 County of January 1 1967 27 15 80 0 0 73 37 0 km2Betula Beach Parkland County January 1 1960 16 10 60 0 0 25 64 0 km2Birch Cove Lac Ste Anne County December 31 1988 45 45 0 0 0 3 150 0 km2Birchcliff Lacombe County January 1 1972 117 112 4 5 1 03 113 6 km2Bondiss Athabasca County January 1 1983 110 106 3 8 1 23 89 4 km2Bonnyville Beach Bonnyville No 87 M D of January 1 1958 84 95 11 6 0 17 494 1 km2Burnstick Lake Clearwater County December 31 1991 15 31 16 6 2 0 18 83 3 km2Castle Island Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1955 10 19 47 4 0 05 200 0 km2Crystal Springs Wetaskiwin No 10 County of January 1 1957 51 90 43 3 0 57 89 5 km2Ghost Lake Bighorn No 8 M D of December 31 1953 82 81 1 2 0 67 122 4 km2Golden Days Leduc County January 1 1965 160 141 13 5 2 28 70 2 km2Grandview Wetaskiwin No 10 County of January 1 1967 114 108 5 6 0 79 144 3 km2Gull Lake Lacombe County September 1 1993 176 122 44 3 0 7 251 4 km2Half Moon Bay Lacombe County January 1 1978 42 38 10 5 0 11 381 8 km2Horseshoe Bay St Paul No 19 County of January 1 1985 49 f 37 32 4 1 14 43 0 km2Island Lake Athabasca County January 1 1958 228 243 6 2 1 85 123 2 km2Island Lake South Athabasca County January 1 1983 61 72 15 3 0 67 91 0 km2Itaska Beach Leduc County June 30 1953 23 20 15 0 0 29 79 3 km2Jarvis Bay Red Deer County January 1 1986 213 203 4 9 0 53 401 9 km2Kapasiwin Parkland County September 1 1993 10 10 0 0 0 3 33 3 km2Lakeview Parkland County October 25 1913 30 26 15 4 0 35 85 7 km2Larkspur Westlock County January 1 1985 44 38 15 8 0 26 169 2 km2Ma Me O Beach Wetaskiwin No 10 County of December 31 1948 110 113 2 7 0 52 211 5 km2Mewatha Beach Athabasca County January 1 1978 90 79 13 9 0 8 112 5 km2Nakamun Park Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1966 96 36 166 7 0 45 213 3 km2Norglenwold Red Deer County January 1 1965 273 232 17 7 0 62 440 3 km2Norris Beach Wetaskiwin No 10 County of December 31 1988 38 46 17 4 0 2 190 0 km2Parkland Beach Ponoka County January 1 1984 153 124 23 4 0 95 161 1 km2Pelican Narrows Bonnyville No 87 M D of July 1 1979 151 162 6 8 0 72 209 7 km2Point Alison Parkland County December 31 1950 10 15 33 3 0 16 62 5 km2Poplar Bay Wetaskiwin No 10 County of January 1 1967 103 80 28 8 0 67 153 7 km2Rochon Sands Stettler No 6 County of May 17 1929 86 65 32 3 2 16 39 8 km2Ross Haven Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1962 160 137 16 8 0 71 225 4 km2Sandy Beach Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1956 278 223 24 7 2 4 115 8 km2Seba Beach Parkland County August 20 1920 169 143 18 2 0 86 196 5 km2Silver Beach Wetaskiwin No 10 County of December 31 1953 65 52 25 0 0 64 101 6 km2Silver Sands Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1969 160 85 88 2 2 41 66 4 km2South Baptiste Athabasca County January 1 1983 66 52 26 9 0 93 71 0 km2South View Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1970 67 35 91 4 0 41 163 4 km2Sunbreaker Cove Lacombe County December 31 1990 81 69 17 4 0 5 162 0 km2Sundance Beach Leduc County January 1 1970 73 82 11 0 0 44 165 9 km2Sunrise Beach Lac Ste Anne County December 31 1988 135 149 9 4 1 66 81 3 km2Sunset Beach Athabasca County May 1 1977 49 44 11 4 0 74 66 2 km2Sunset Point Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1959 169 221 23 5 1 15 147 0 km2Val Quentin Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1966 252 157 60 5 0 31 812 9 km2Waiparous Bighorn No 8 M D of January 1 1986 49 42 16 7 0 41 119 5 km2West Baptiste Athabasca County January 1 1983 38 52 26 9 0 65 58 5 km2West Cove Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1963 149 121 23 1 1 33 112 0 km2Whispering Hills Athabasca County January 1 1983 142 108 31 5 1 68 84 5 km2White Sands Stettler No 6 County of January 1 1980 120 91 31 9 1 58 75 9 km2Yellowstone Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1965 137 124 10 5 0 28 489 3 km2Total summer villages 5 176 4 586 12 9 40 79 126 9 km2Specialized municipalities Edit Main article List of specialized municipalities in Alberta According to Section 83 of the Municipal Government Act MGA a municipality may incorporate as a specialized municipality under one of the following three scenarios where the Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs AMA is satisfied that the other incorporated statuses under the MGA do not meet the needs of the municipality s residents to form a local government that in the opinion of the Minister of AMA will provide for the orderly development of the municipality in a similar fashion to the other incorporated statuses within the MGA or for any other circumstances that are deemed appropriate by the Minister of AMA 1 Essentially specialized municipalities are municipalities that are unconventional in nature compared to other municipalities in Alberta and they are incorporated under the authority of the existing MGA instead of relying on the creation of their own separate acts i e the Special Areas Act 2 allowed the incorporation of Alberta s three special areas and the Metis Settlements Act 3 allowed the incorporation of Alberta s eight Metis settlements 5 Alberta s six specialized municipalities have a combined population totalling 242 395 as of 2019 4 List of specialized municipalities in Alberta Name Region Incorporation date specializedmunicipality 33 Councilsize 33 Municipalcensuspopulation year 34 2021 Census of Population 35 Population 2021 Population 2016 Change Landarea km2 Populationdensity km2 Crowsnest Pass Municipality of Southern Alberta January 16 2008 7 5 695 5 589 1 9 370 15 15 4Jasper Municipality of Alberta s Rockies July 20 2001 7 4 584 g 2011 4 738 4 590 3 2 921 90 5 1Lac La Biche County h Northern Alberta January 1 2018 9 8 544 2016 7 673 8 330 7 9 12 527 48 0 6Mackenzie County Northern Alberta June 23 1999 10 11 750 2015 12 804 11 171 14 6 79 629 26 0 2Strathcona County Edmonton Metro January 1 1996 9 95 597 2015 99 225 98 044 1 2 1 170 65 84 8Wood Buffalo Regional Municipality of Northern Alberta April 1 1995 11 81 948 i 2015 72 326 71 589 1 0 60 843 88 1 2Total specialized municipalities 53 202 461 199 298 1 6 155 463 32 1 3Province of Alberta 4 262 635 4 067 175 4 8 634 658 27 6 7Rural municipalities Edit Municipal districts Edit Main article List of municipal districts in Alberta According to Section 78 of the Municipal Government Act MGA a municipal district is an area in which the majority of the buildings used as dwellings are on parcels of land with an area of at least 1 850 m2 19 900 sq ft and there is a population of 1 000 or more 1 Essentially municipal districts are large rural areas in which their citizens reside on farms country residential subdivisions or unincorporated communities i e hamlets localities and other settlements 5 In Alberta the term county is synonymous with the term municipal district it is not its own incorporated municipal status that is different from that of a municipal district As such Alberta Municipal Affairs provides municipal districts with the opportunity to brand themselves either as municipal districts or counties in their official names Of Alberta s 63 municipal districts 46 of them brand themselves as counties Over the past 30 years Alberta has observed a trend of numerous municipal districts rebranding themselves as counties through official name changes Some of the reasons why a municipal district would rebrand itself as a county include that the term county is more recognizable by the general public has a more traditional appeal and is more marketable from an economic development perspective The last municipal district MD to rebrand itself as a county was the MD of Foothills No 31 which was renamed as Foothills County on January 1 2019 36 Alberta s 63 municipal districts have a combined population totalling 471 852 as of 2019 4 Municipal districts of Alberta Municipal district MD Incorporationdate 37 Censusdivision Councilsize 37 Municipalcensuspopulation year 38 Population 2016 39 Population 2011 39 Change 39 Landarea km2 39 Populationdensity per km2 39 Acadia MD of Acadia No 34 December 9 1913 4 5 493 495 0 4 1 082 60 0 5Athabasca County January 1 1947 13 9 7 869 7 662 2 7 6 124 43 1 3Barrhead County of Barrhead No 11 January 1 1955 13 7 6 288 6 096 3 1 2 406 25 2 6Beaver County February 1 1943 10 5 5 905 5 689 3 8 3 317 57 1 8Big Lakes Big Lakes County January 1 1995 17 9 3 861 2013 5 672 5 912 4 1 13 942 43 0 4Bighorn MD of Bighorn No 8 January 1 1988 15 5 1 334 1 341 0 5 2 761 18 0 5Birch Hills County January 1 1995 19 7 1 553 1 582 1 8 2 859 60 0 5Bonnyville MD of Bonnyville No 87 January 1 1955 12 7 11 836 2014 13 575 11 191 21 3 6 064 73 2 2Brazeau County July 1 1988 11 7 7 771 7 132 9 0 3 005 35 2 6Camrose County January 1 1944 10 7 8 458 8 004 5 7 3 324 21 2 5Cardston County January 1 1954 3 7 4 481 4 167 7 5 3 429 82 1 3Clear Hills County January 1 1995 17 7 2 829 2012 3 023 2 801 7 9 15 125 49 0 2Clearwater County January 1 1985 9 7 11 947 12 278 2 7 18 682 45 0 6Cypress County January 1 1985 1 9 7 662 7 214 6 2 13 173 25 0 6Fairview MD of Fairview No 136 December 9 1914 19 5 1 604 1 673 4 1 1 387 58 1 2Flagstaff County January 1 1944 7 7 3 738 3 591 4 1 4 067 58 0 9Foothills County January 1 1954 6 7 22 766 21 248 7 1 3 636 8 6 3Forty Mile County of Forty Mile No 8 January 1 1954 1 7 3 581 3 336 7 3 7 249 31 0 5Grande Prairie County of Grande Prairie No 1 December 21 1943 19 9 22 303 19 724 13 1 5 802 21 3 8Greenview MD of Greenview No 16 January 1 1994 18 8 5 583 5 299 5 4 32 984 24 0 2Kneehill County January 1 1944 5 7 5 001 4 921 1 6 3 381 02 1 5Lac Ste Anne County January 1 1944 13 7 10 899 10 260 6 2 2 850 38 3 8Lacombe County January 1 1944 8 7 10 343 10 307 0 3 2 765 16 3 7Lamont County January 1 1944 10 5 3 899 3 872 0 7 2 385 09 1 6Leduc County January 1 1944 11 7 13 780 13 494 2 1 2 601 49 5 3Lesser Slave River MD of Lesser Slave River No 124 January 1 1995 17 7 2 803 2 929 4 3 10 074 39 0 3Lethbridge County January 1 1954 2 7 10 353 10 046 3 1 2 836 64 3 6Minburn County of Minburn No 27 January 30 1942 10 7 3 188 3 383 5 8 2 913 02 1 1Mountain View County January 1 1944 6 7 13 074 12 359 5 8 3 782 64 3 5Newell County of Newell January 1 1953 2 10 7 524 7 138 5 4 5 904 67 1 3Northern Lights County of Northern Lights January 1 1995 17 7 4 200 4 117 2 0 20 755 37 0 2Northern Sunrise County April 1 1994 17 6 1 933 2013 1 891 1 791 5 6 21 150 97 0 1Opportunity MD of Opportunity No 17 August 1 1995 17 11 2 639 2016 3 181 3 074 3 5 29 142 10 0 1Paintearth County of Paintearth No 18 January 1 1944 7 7 2 102 2 029 3 6 3 283 36 0 6Parkland County January 1 1969 11 7 32 097 30 568 5 0 2 390 23 13 4Peace MD of Peace No 135 December 11 1916 19 5 1 747 1 446 20 8 847 47 2 1Pincher Creek MD of Pincher Creek No 9 January 1 1944 3 5 2 965 3 158 6 1 3 482 05 0 9Ponoka County January 1 1952 8 5 9 806 8 856 10 7 2 814 26 3 5Provost MD of Provost No 52 March 1 1943 7 7 2 205 2 288 3 6 3 628 39 0 6Ranchland MD of Ranchland No 66 January 1 1995 15 3 104 2013 92 79 16 5 2 638 70 0Red Deer County January 1 1944 8 7 19 541 18 316 6 7 3 961 85 4 9Rocky View County January 1 1955 6 9 38 055 40 2013 39 407 35 754 10 2 3 836 33 10 3Saddle Hills County January 1 1995 19 7 2 225 2 288 2 8 5 838 15 0 4Smoky Lake County March 1 1943 12 5 4 107 3 910 5 0 3 412 92 1 2Smoky River MD of Smoky River No 130 January 1 1952 19 6 2 023 2 126 4 8 2 840 14 0 7Spirit River MD of Spirit River No 133 December 11 1916 19 4 700 713 1 8 683 60 1St Paul County of St Paul No 19 January 30 1942 12 7 6 168 2012 5 827 5 405 7 8 3 309 44 1 8Starland County February 1 1943 5 5 2 071 2013 2 066 2 057 0 4 2 559 95 0 8Stettler County of Stettler No 6 March 1 1943 7 7 5 322 5 103 4 3 4 018 84 1 3Sturgeon County January 1 1955 11 7 20 495 19 578 4 7 2 090 13 9 8Taber MD of Taber January 1 1954 2 7 7 173 2016 7 098 6 851 3 6 4 201 65 1 7Thorhild County January 1 1955 13 5 3 254 3 417 4 8 2 001 74 1 6Two Hills County of Two Hills No 21 January 1 1944 10 5 3 322 3 160 5 1 2 637 18 1 3Vermilion River County of Vermilion River January 1 1944 10 7 8 116 2015 8 267 7 905 4 6 5 519 75 1 5Vulcan County January 1 1951 5 7 3 839 2012 3 984 3 875 2 8 5 433 43 0 7Wainwright MD of Wainwright No 61 January 30 1942 7 7 4 479 4 138 8 2 4 156 56 1 1Warner County of Warner No 5 January 1 1954 2 7 3 847 3 841 0 2 4 531 55 0 8Westlock County February 1 1943 13 7 7 220 7 644 5 5 3 171 83 2 3Wetaskiwin County of Wetaskiwin No 10 February 1 1943 11 7 11 181 10 866 2 9 3 132 06 3 6Wheatland County January 1 1955 5 7 8 788 8 285 6 1 4 545 92 1 9Willow Creek MD of Willow Creek No 26 January 1 1954 3 7 5 179 5 107 1 4 4 558 14 1 1Woodlands County January 1 1994 13 7 4 612 2014 4 754 4 306 10 4 7 669 13 0 6Yellowhead County January 1 1994 14 9 10 995 10 469 5 0 22 293 16 0 5Total municipal districts 437 479 167 4 560 664 5 1 399 087 25 1 2Improvement districts Edit According to Section 581 of the Municipal Government Act MGA Alberta s Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Municipal Affairs may form an improvement district Section 582 of the MGA requires that the order to form an improvement district must describe its boundaries and give it an official name Alberta currently has seven improvement districts which have a combined population totaling 2 146 41 With some exceptions their boundaries are coterminous with that of a national or provincial park Five of them are located within national parks and two are within provincial parks Improvement districts of Alberta Name Incorporation date improvement district 42 Population 2011 41 Population 2006 41 Change 41 Landarea km2 41 Populationdensity per km2 41 Remarks004 Improvement District No 4 Waterton January 1 1944 88 160 45 0 480 58 0 18 Coincident with Waterton Lakes National Park009 Improvement District No 9 Banff April 1 1945 1 175 938 25 3 6 782 23 0 17 Coincident with Banff National Park excluding the Town of Banff012 Improvement District No 12 Jasper National Park April 1 1945 34 24 41 7 10 181 58 0 003 Coincident with Jasper National Park excluding the Municipality of Jasper013 Improvement District No 13 Elk Island April 1 1958 10 21 52 4 165 28 0 06 Coincident with Elk Island National Park024 Improvement District No 24 Wood Buffalo January 1 1967 590 422 39 8 33 412 25 0 02 Coincident with the Alberta portion of Wood Buffalo National Park excluding Peace Point 222025 Improvement District No 25 Willmore Wilderness January 2 1994 0 0 4 604 97 0 0 Coincident with Willmore Wilderness ParkKananaskis Kananaskis Improvement District January 1 1983 249 429 42 0 4 210 72 0 06 Consists mostly of Kananaskis CountryTotal improvement districts 2 463 1 994 7 6 65 642 17 0 03 Special areas Edit Main article Special Areas Board Special areas are rural municipalities created in 1938 under the authority of the Special Areas Act 2 5 A special area is not to be confused with a specialized municipality which is a completely different municipal status Alberta s three special areas had a combined population totalling 4 184 in 2016 4 Special areas of Alberta Special area Incorporation date special area 43 Population 2016 44 Population 2011 44 Change 44 Area km 44 Populationdensity km 44 Special Area No 2 April 7 1959 1 905 2 025 5 9 9 347 57 0 20Special Area No 3 April 7 1959 1 042 1 122 7 1 6 625 58 0 16Special Area No 4 January 1 1969 1 237 1 352 8 5 4 402 64 0 28Total special areas 4 184 4 499 7 0 20 375 79 0 21Unincorporated communities EditUrban service areas Edit An urban service area is a type of hamlet that is not officially defined under the Municipal Government Act MGA However the Province of Alberta recognizes it as equivalent to a city for the purposes of program delivery and grant eligibility according to the Orders in Council that established the Regional Municipality RM of Wood Buffalo and Strathcona County as specialized municipalities 45 46 These Orders in Council see Schedule 1 Section 7 45 and Schedule 1 Section 3 46 respectively also state that the specialized municipalities shall provide to the Province of Alberta any information required to administer programs or to determine the amount of grants which would have been paid if the urban service areas were incorporated cities and for the purposes of enactments affecting roads culverts ditches drains and highways the urban service areas are deemed to be cities Essentially urban services areas meet the eligibility requirements of the MGA to incorporate as a city As such they are Alberta s largest hamlets There are currently two urban services areas in Alberta Fort McMurray and Sherwood Park Fort McMurray within the jurisdiction of the RM of Wood Buffalo was formerly a city prior its amalgamation with Improvement District No 143 on April 1 1995 It was designated an urban service area at the time of the amalgamation 45 Sherwood Park has always been an unincorporated community under the jurisdiction of Strathcona County It became an urban service area when Strathcona County changed its status from a municipal district to a specialized municipality on January 1 1996 46 Hamlets Edit Main article List of hamlets in Alberta According to Section 59 of the Municipal Government Act MGA hamlets are unincorporated communities that consist of five or more buildings used as dwellings a majority of which are on parcels of land smaller than 1 850 m2 19 900 sq ft have a generally accepted boundary and name and contain parcels of land that are used for non residential purposes 1 Further Section 59 of the MGA provides the councils of municipal districts or counties and specialized municipalities the authority to designate unincorporated communities within its boundaries as hamlets 1 5 Hamlets may also be designated within improvement districts and special areas by the Minister of Municipal Affairs pursuant to Section 590 of the MGA and Section 10 of the Special Areas Act respectively 1 2 When a hamlet s population reaches 300 it becomes eligible to incorporated as a village under Section 80 of the MGA so long as the majority of the buildings are still on parcels of land smaller than 1 850 m2 19 900 sq ft 1 However it is a modern day rarity for a hamlet to incorporate as a village Barnwell and Wabamun were the last two to do so both on January 1 1980 It is much more common these days for villages to revert to hamlet status through the dissolution process instead There are currently 403 hamlets in Alberta two of which are the urban services areas presented above 47 Hamlets of Alberta Name 48 Specialized or rural municipality 49 Latest population Census yearAbee Thorhild County 27 2009 50 Acadia Valley Acadia No 34 MD of 143 2021 51 Aetna Cardston County 109Alcomdale Sturgeon County 65Alder Flats Wetaskiwin No 10 County of 137Aldersyde Foothills County 64 2003 52 Alhambra Clearwater County 64 1991 53 Altario Special Area No 4 26Antler Lake Strathcona County 412 2021 51 Anzac Wood Buffalo RM of 506Ardley Red Deer County 17 1991 53 Ardmore Bonnyville No 87 MD of 346 2021 51 Ardrossan Strathcona County 898Armena Camrose County 37Ashmont St Paul No 19 County of 125Atmore Athabasca County 10Balzac Rocky View County 1 2006 52 Beauvallon Two Hills No 21 County of 7 1991 53 Beaver Crossing Bonnyville No 87 MD of 18Beaver Lake Lac La Biche County 467 2021 51 Beaver Mines Pincher Creek No 9 MD of 85Beaverdam Bonnyville No 87 MD of 18 2014 54 Beazer Cardston County 11 2008 52 Bellis N 6 Smoky Lake County 60 2021 51 Benalto Red Deer County 198Benchlands Bighorn No 8 MD of 59Bezanson Grande Prairie No 1 County of 133Bindloss Special Area No 2 14 1991 53 Bircham Kneehill County 5 2021 51 Blackfoot Vermilion River County of 386Blackie N 7 Foothills County 360Blue Ridge Woodlands County 211Bluesky Fairview No 136 MD of 113Bluffton Ponoka County 140Bodo Provost No 52 MD of 30Botha Stettler No 6 County of 180Bottrel Rocky View County 5 2018 55 Bow City Newell County of 16 2020 56 Bragg Creek Rocky View County 432 2021 51 Brant Vulcan County 78 2007 52 Breynat Athabasca County 22 1991 53 Brosseau Two Hills No 21 County of 13 1981 57 Brownfield Paintearth No 18 County of 27 1991 53 Brownvale Peace No 135 MD of 114 2021 51 Bruce Beaver County 65Brule Yellowhead County 127Buck Creek Brazeau County 107 2005 58 Buck Lake Wetaskiwin No 10 County of 60 2021 51 Buford Leduc County 33Burdett N 8 Forty Mile No 8 County of 331Busby Westlock County 135Byemoor Stettler No 6 County of 30Cadogan N 9 Provost No 52 MD of 108Cadomin Yellowhead County 54Cadotte Lake Northern Sunrise County 23Calahoo Sturgeon County 143Calling Lake Opportunity No 17 MD of 375Campsie Barrhead No 11 County ofCanyon Creek Lesser Slave River No 124 MD of 318 2021 51 Carbondale Sturgeon County 78Cardiff Sturgeon County 1 033Carseland Wheatland County 542Carvel Parkland County 19 2009 59 Carway Cardston County 2 2008 52 Caslan Athabasca County 23 1991 53 Cassils Newell County of 22 2020 56 Cayley N 10 Foothills County 414 2021 51 Cereal Special Area No 3 111 2021 60 Cessford Special Area No 2 31 1991 53 Chancellor Wheatland County 5 2021 51 Cheadle Wheatland County 83Cherhill Lac Ste Anne County 60 2008 52 Cherry Grove Bonnyville No 87 MD of 405 2014 54 Chin Lethbridge County 83 2021 51 Chinook N 11 Special Area No 3 38 1991 53 Chisholm Lesser Slave River No 124 MD of 15 2021 51 Clairmont N 12 Grande Prairie No 1 County of 5 135 2021 61 Clandonald Vermilion River County of 117 2021 51 Cleardale Clear Hills County 19 2008 52 Cluny N 13 Wheatland County 50 2021 51 Cochrane Lake Rocky View County 767Colinton Athabasca County 169Collingwood Cove Strathcona County 377Compeer N 14 Special Area No 4 21 1991 53 Condor Clearwater County 99Conklin Wood Buffalo RM of 154 2021 51 Conrich Rocky View County 15Craigmyle N 15 Starland County 79 2013 62 Cynthia N 16 Brazeau County 50 2005 58 Dalemead Rocky View County 25 2021 51 Dalroy Rocky View County 39Dapp Westlock County 30De Winton Foothills County 98 2003 52 Dead Man s Flats Bighorn No 8 MD of 377 2021 51 Deadwood Northern Lights County of 22 1991 53 DeBolt Greenview No 16 MD of 132 2021 51 Del Bonita Cardston County 6 2008 52 Delacour Rocky View County 5 2021 51 Demmitt Grande Prairie No 1 County ofDerwent N 17 Two Hills No 21 County of 96 2021 51 Desert Blume Cypress County 835Dewberry Vermilion River County of 161 2021 64 Diamond City N 18 Lethbridge County 204 2021 51 Dickson Red Deer County 50Dimsdale Grande Prairie No 1 County of 25 1981 57 Dixonville Northern Lights County of 96 2021 51 Donatville Athabasca County 0 2016 65 Dorothy Special Area No 2 14 1991 53 Duffield Parkland County 60 2021 51 Duhamel Camrose County 46Dunmore N 19 Cypress County 1 088Duvernay Two Hills No 21 County of 26 1991 53 Eaglesham N 20 Birch Hills County 76 2021 51 Edwand Smoky Lake County 2 1986 66 Egremont Thorhild County 46 2021 51 Ellscott Athabasca County 5Elmworth Grande Prairie No 1 County of 8 1981 57 Enchant N 21 Taber MD of 259 2016 67 Endiang Stettler No 6 County of 15 2021 51 Enilda Big Lakes County 145Ensign Vulcan County 26 2007 52 Entwistle N 22 Parkland County 429 2021 51 Erskine N 23 Stettler No 6 County of 319Etzikom Forty Mile No 8 County of 54 1991 53 Evansburg N 24 Yellowhead County 717 2021 51 Exshaw Bighorn No 8 MD of 449Fabyan Wainwright No 61 MD of 100 2007 52 Fairview Lethbridge County 165 2021 51 Fallis Parkland County 54 2009 59 Falun Wetaskiwin No 10 County of 25 1991 53 Faust Big Lakes County 282 2021 51 Fawcett Westlock County 60Ferintosh N 25 Camrose County 180Flatbush Lesser Slave River No 124 MD of 30Fleet Paintearth No 18 County of 28 1991 53 Fort Assiniboine N 26 Woodlands County 158 2021 51 Fort Chipewyan Wood Buffalo RM of 798Fort Kent Bonnyville No 87 MD of 254Fort McKay Wood Buffalo RM of 59 N 27 2018 68 Fort McMurray N 28 Wood Buffalo RM of 68 002 N 29 2021 69 Fort Vermilion Mackenzie County 753 2021 51 Gadsby Stettler No 6 County of 36Gainford Parkland County 118Galahad N 30 Flagstaff County 125Gasoline Alley Red Deer County 71 Gem Newell County of 29 2020 56 Gleichen N 31 Wheatland County 314 2021 51 Glenevis Lac Ste Anne County 49 2008 52 Goodfare Grande Prairie No 1 County of 11 1986 66 Goose Lake N 32 Woodlands County 11 unpublished 72 Grande Cache N 33 Greenview No 16 MD of 3 276 2021 51 Granum Willow Creek No 26 MD of 557Grassland Athabasca County 46Grassy Lake N 34 Taber MD of 856Green Court Lac Ste Anne County 51 2008 52 Greenshields Wainwright No 61 MD of 80 2007 52 Gregoire Lake Estates Wood Buffalo RM of 138 2021 51 Grouard N 35 Big Lakes County 166Grovedale Greenview No 16 MD of 138 unpublished 72 Gunn Lac Ste Anne County 26 2021 51 Guy Smoky River No 130 MD of 57 1991 53 Gwynne Wetaskiwin No 10 County of 93 2021 51 Hairy Hill N 36 Two Hills No 21 County of 30 N 37 2001 74 Half Moon Lake N 38 Strathcona County 87 2021 51 Harvie Heights Bighorn No 8 MD of 163Hastings Lake Strathcona County 94Haynes Lacombe County 15Hays Taber MD of 196Hayter Provost No 52 MD of 84Heinsburg St Paul No 19 County of 60 1991 53 Heritage Pointe Foothills County 1 974 N 39 2021 69 Herronton Vulcan County 10 2007 52 Hesketh Kneehill County 10 2021 51 Hilda Cypress County 40Hilliard Lamont County 35 1991 53 Hoadley Ponoka County 9Huallen Grande Prairie No 1 County of 28Huxley Kneehill County 75 2021 51 Hylo Lac La Biche County 33 2016 75 Hythe Grande Prairie No 1 County of 854 2021 76 Iddesleigh Special Area No 2 14 1991 53 Indus Rocky View County 36 2021 51 Iron River Bonnyville No 87 MD of Iron Springs Lethbridge County 84 2021 51 Irvine N 40 Cypress County 321 2021 77 Islay N 41 Vermilion River County of 177 2021 51 Janet Rocky View County 1 2006 52 Janvier South N 42 Wood Buffalo RM of 61 2021 51 Jarvie Westlock County 103Jean Cote Smoky River No 130 MD of 65 1991 53 Jenner N 43 Special Area No 2 15 unpublished 72 Joffre Lacombe County 128 2021 51 Johnson s Addition Taber MD of 126Josephburg Strathcona County 127Joussard Big Lakes County 334Kathyrn Rocky View County 21Kavanagh Leduc County 39Keephills Parkland County 57Kelsey Camrose County 15Keoma Rocky View County 95Kimball Cardston County 26 2008 52 Kingman Camrose County 78 2021 51 Kinsella Beaver County 40 2009 78 Kinuso N 44 Big Lakes County 150 2021 51 Kirkcaldy Vulcan County 12 2007 52 Kirriemuir Special Area No 4 28 1991 53 La Corey Bonnyville No 87 MD of 59 2014 54 La Crete Mackenzie County 3 856 2021 51 La Glace Grande Prairie No 1 County of 179Lac des Arcs Bighorn No 8 MD of 146Lac La Biche N 45 Lac La Biche County 3 120Lafond St Paul No 19 County of 35 1991 53 Lake Louise I D No 9 Banff 691 2011 80 Lake Newell Resort Newell County of 457 2021 51 Lamoureux Sturgeon County 60 2008 52 Landry Heights Greenview No 16 MD of 114 1991 53 Langdon N 46 Rocky View County 5 497 2021 51 Lavoy N 47 Minburn No 27 County of 108 2001 81 Leavitt Cardston County 59 2008 52 Leedale Ponoka County 11 1991 53 Leslieville Clearwater County 134 2021 51 Lindbergh St Paul No 19 County of 50 1991 53 Linn Valley Red Deer County 218 2021 51 Little Buffalo Northern Sunrise County 441 2021 76 Little Smoky Greenview No 16 MD of 28 1991 53 Lodgepole N 48 Brazeau County 117 2021 51 Long Lake Thorhild County 81Looma Leduc County 33Lottie Lake St Paul No 19 County of 94 N 49 1991 53 Lousana Red Deer County 42 2021 51 Lowland Heights Pincher Creek No 9 MD of 43Lundbreck Pincher Creek No 9 MD of 289Lyalta Wheatland County 480Madden Rocky View County 10Mallaig St Paul No 19 County of 210Manola Barrhead No 11 County of 29 1991 53 Manyberries Forty Mile No 8 County of 96Marie Reine Northern Sunrise County 67 2010 82 Markerville Red Deer County 38 2021 51 Marlboro Yellowhead County 97Marten Beach Lesser Slave River No 124 MD of 38 1991 53 Maskwacis formerly Hobbema 83 Ponoka County 64 2021 51 McLaughlin Vermilion River County of 41 2015 84 Meanook Athabasca County 35 2021 51 Mearns Sturgeon County 10 2008 52 Meeting Creek Camrose County 0 2021 51 Metiskow Provost No 52 MD of 65 N 50 1991 53 Michichi Starland County 34 2013 62 Millarville Foothills County 58 2003 52 Minburn N 51 Minburn No 27 County of 78 2021 51 Mini Thni formerly Morley Division No 15Mirror N 52 Lacombe County 481Monarch N 53 Lethbridge County 217Monitor N 54 Special Area No 4 60 1991 53 Moon River Estates Willow Creek No 26 MD of 145 2021 51 Morecambe Two Hills No 21 County of 23 1981 57 Morningside Lacombe County 85 2021 51 Mossleigh Vulcan County 53 2007 52 Mountain View N 55 Cardston County 87 2021 51 Mulhurst Bay N 56 Wetaskiwin No 10 County of 447Musidora Two Hills No 21 County of 13 1991 53 Namaka Wheatland County 72 2021 51 Namao Sturgeon County 10 2010 86 Neerlandia Barrhead No 11 County of 101 1991 53 Nestow Westlock County 5 2021 51 Nevis Stettler No 6 County of 30New Brigden Special Area No 3 24 1991 53 New Dayton Warner No 5 County of 47New Norway N 57 Camrose County 307 2021 51 New Sarepta N 58 Leduc County 495Newbrook Thorhild County 63Nightingale Wheatland County 37Nisku Leduc County 30 2005 89 Niton Junction Yellowhead County 88 2021 51 Nordegg Clearwater County 53 1986 66 North Cooking Lake Strathcona County 20 2021 51 North Star Northern Lights County of 49 1991 53 Notikewin Northern Lights County of 17Ohaton N 59 Camrose County 133 2021 51 Opal Thorhild County 24 2009 50 Orion Forty Mile No 8 County of 11 1991 53 Orton Willow Creek No 26 MD of 180 2021 51 Parkland Willow Creek No 26 MD of 50 1991 53 Patricia Newell County of 78 2021 51 Peers Yellowhead County 91Pelican Point Camrose County 117Peoria Birch Hills County 12 1986 66 Perryvale Athabasca County 10 2021 51 Pibroch Westlock County 35Pickardville Westlock County 303Pincher Station Pincher Creek No 9 MD of 26Pine Sands Sturgeon County 30 2008 52 Plamondon N 60 Lac La Biche County 303 2021 51 Poplar Ridge Brazeau County 604 2005 58 Priddis Foothills County 79 2003 52 Priddis Greens Foothills County 267Purple Springs Taber MD of 101 2021 51 Queenstown Vulcan County 8 2007 52 Radway N 61 Thorhild County 231 2021 51 Rainier Newell County of 22 2020 56 Ranfurly N 62 Minburn No 27 County of 71 2021 51 Red Earth Creek Opportunity No 17 MD of 315Red Willow Stettler No 6 County of 63Reno Northern Sunrise County 20Ribstone Wainwright No 61 MD of 30 2007 52 Rich Valley Lac Ste Anne County 32 2008 52 Richdale N 63 Special Area No 2 14 1991 53 Ridgevalley Greenview No 16 MD of 46Rivercourse Vermilion River County of 16 2015 90 Riverview St Paul No 19 County of 49 1991 53 Riviere Qui Barre Sturgeon County 91 2021 51 Robb Yellowhead County 144Rochester Athabasca County 72Rochfort Bridge Lac Ste Anne County 71 2008 52 Rocky Rapids Brazeau County 317 2005 58 Rolling Hills Newell County of 273 2021 51 Rolly View Leduc County 71Rosebud N 64 Wheatland County 112Round Hill Camrose County 125Rowley Starland County 8 2013 62 Rumsey N 65 Starland County 64Sandy Lake N 66 Opportunity No 17 MD of 163 2021 51 Sangudo N 67 Lac Ste Anne County 298Saprae Creek Wood Buffalo RM of 508Scandia Newell County of 169Schuler Cypress County 86Sedalia Special Area No 3 15 1991 53 Seven Persons Cypress County 277 2021 51 Shaughnessy Lethbridge County 388Sherwood Park N 68 Strathcona County 73 000 2022 91 Shouldice Vulcan County 7 2007 52 Sibbald Special Area No 3 33 1991 53 Skiff Forty Mile No 8 County of 10Smith Lesser Slave River No 124 MD of 227 2021 51 South Cooking Lake Strathcona County 288Spedden Smoky Lake County 56 1991 53 Spring Coulee Cardston County 43 2008 52 Springbrook Red Deer County 1 534 2021 51 Spruce View Red Deer County 138St Edouard St Paul No 19 County of 33 1991 53 St Isidore Northern Sunrise County 236 2021 51 St Lina St Paul No 19 County of 24 1991 53 St Michael Lamont County 39St Vincent St Paul No 19 County of 43Star Lamont County 32Streamstown Vermilion River County of 20 2015 92 Strome N 69 Flagstaff County 232 2021 51 Suffield N 70 Cypress County 190Sunnybrook Leduc County 50Sunnynook Special Area No 2 13 1991 53 Sunnyslope Kneehill County 28 2021 51 Swalwell N 71 Kneehill County 93Tangent Birch Hills County 39 1991 53 Tawatinaw Westlock County 15 2021 51 Teepee Creek Grande Prairie No 1 County of 25 1981 57 Tees Lacombe County 73 2021 51 Telfordville Leduc County 35Therien Bonnyville No 87 MD of 71 2014 54 Thorhild N 72 Thorhild County 391 2021 51 Thunder Lake Barrhead No 11 County of 34 1991 53 Tilley N 73 Newell County of 318 2021 51 Tillicum Beach Camrose County 130Tomahawk Parkland County 113Torrington N 74 Kneehill County 306Travers Vulcan County 0 2007 52 Tulliby Lake Vermilion River County of 22 2015 95 Turin Lethbridge County 72 2021 51 Twin Butte Pincher Creek No 9 MD of 10Valhalla Centre Grande Prairie No 1 County of 40Veinerville Cypress County 70Venice Lac La Biche County 22 2016 75 Village at Pigeon Lake Wetaskiwin No 10 County of 77 2006 52 Villeneuve Sturgeon County 260 2021 51 Vimy Westlock County 183Violet Grove Brazeau County 141 2005 58 Wabamun Parkland County 644 2021 96 Wabasca N 75 Opportunity No 17 MD of 1 594 2021 51 Wagner Lesser Slave River No 124 MD of 171 N 76 1991 53 Walsh N 77 Cypress County 50 2021 51 Wandering River Athabasca County 63 1991 53 Wanham N 78 Birch Hills County 141 2021 51 Wardlow Special Area No 2 28 1991 53 Warspite N 79 Smoky Lake County 70 2021 51 Waterton Park I D No 4 Waterton 158Watino Birch Hills County 22 1991 53 Wedgewood Grande Prairie No 1 County of 752 2021 51 Welling Cardston County 30 2008 52 Welling Station Cardston County 18Westerose Wetaskiwin No 10 County of 63 1991 53 Whitelaw Fairview No 136 MD of 110 2021 51 Whitford Lamont County 6 1981 57 Widewater Lesser Slave River No 124 MD of 405 2021 51 Wildwood N 80 Yellowhead County 257Willingdon Two Hills No 21 County of 249Wimborne Kneehill County 15Winfield Wetaskiwin No 10 County of 193Withrow Clearwater County 50 1991 53 Woking Saddle Hills County 62 2021 51 Woodhouse Willow Creek No 26 MD of 15 1991 53 Woolford Cardston County 13 1986 66 Worsley Clear Hills County 28 2008 52 Wostok Lamont County 15 1991 53 Wrentham Warner No 5 County of 58Zama City Mackenzie County 52 2021 51 Townsites Edit A townsite is a type of unincorporated community that is not officially defined under the Municipal Government Act MGA but it is generally regarded as an independent urban area within an Indian reserve that is comparable in population land area services and built form to that of Alberta s incorporated towns Essentially townsites would meet the eligibility requirements of the MGA to incorporate as a town if they were not on Indian reserve lands under federal jurisdiction Redwood Meadows is Alberta s only townsite at this time and is located within the Tsuutʼina Nation Other unincorporated communities Edit Main article List of localities in AlbertaMetis settlements EditMain article Metis in Alberta Metis settlements are rural areas inhabited by the indigenous Metis in Alberta and were established and recognized in 1936 under the Metis Population Betterment Act The settlements provide an autonomous land base allow better access to education health and other social services and provide economic development opportunities for the only recognized Metis land base in Canada 3 Metis settlements now operate under the authority of the Metis Settlements Act 5 These eight Metis settlements are governed by a unique Metis government known as the Metis Settlements General Council MSGC Alberta currently has eight Metis settlements all of which are in the northern half of the province The official names of the eight settlements and the municipal districts they are within are as follows Metis settlements of Alberta List of Metis settlements in Alberta Name Municipal districtor specializedmunicipality 97 2021 Census of Population 35 Population 2021 Population 2016 Change Landarea km2 Populationdensity km2 Buffalo Lake Smoky Lake County 379 712 46 8 335 68 1 1East Prairie Big Lakes County 310 304 2 0 328 42 0 9Elizabeth Bonnyville MD of Bonnyville No 87 594 653 9 0 246 45 2 4Fishing Lake Bonnyville MD of Bonnyville No 87 414 446 7 2 348 64 1 2Gift Lake j Big Lakes CountyNorthern Sunrise County 625 658 5 0 803 29 0 8Kikino k Smoky Lake CountyLac La Biche County 978 934 4 7 441 69 2 2Paddle Prairie Northern Lights County of Northern Lights 551 544 1 3 1 726 45 0 3Peavine Big Lakes County 387 607 36 2 798 95 0 5Total Metis settlements 4 238 4 858 12 8 5 029 57 0 8Province of Alberta 4 262 635 4 067 175 4 8 634 658 27 6 7 Areas generated from provincial Metis settlement boundary data Very small portions of the Gift Lake Metis Settlement and the Kikino Metis Settlement are also located within Northern Sunrise County and Lac La Biche County respectively Alberta s eight Metis settlements have a combined population totalling 5 632 as of 2018 4 Indian reserves EditMain article List of Indian reserves in Alberta Indian reserves in Alberta cover a total area of 656 660 ha 1 622 630 acres and range in size from 441 ha 1 089 acres to 143 529 ha 354 667 acres 5 Under the Constitution Act 1982 legislative authority over Indian reserves is allocated to the Parliament of Canada The Government of Canada exercises executive authority over Indian reserves through Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Local administration is exercised by Band councils whose members are elected by members of the reserve Indian reserves of Alberta Name as used byIndigenous and Northern Affairs Canada First Nation s Ethnic national group Tribal council Treaty Area Population 98 Notesha acre 2016 2011 differenceɁejere Kʼelni Kue 196I 99 Smith s Landing Dene 8 213 0 526 3 INAC lists the reserve in Alberta and the band headquartered in Fort Smith Northwest TerritoriesAlexander 134 100 Alexander Beaver Hills Cree Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 7 280 5 17 990 5 1 099 1 027 7 0 Alexander 134A 101 Alexander Beaver Hills Cree Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 2 303 3 5 691 6Alexander 134B 102 Alexander Beaver Hills Cree Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 3 4 8 4Alexis 133 103 Alexis Nakota Sioux Nakoda Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 6 175 2 15 259 3 755 817 7 6 Alexis Cardinal River 234 104 Alexis Nakota Sioux Nakoda Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 4 661 0 11 517 6Alexis Elk River 233 105 Alexis Nakota Sioux Nakoda Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 98 0 242 2Alexis Whitecourt 232 106 Alexis Nakota Sioux Nakoda Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 3 544 9 8 759 6Allison Bay 219 107 Mikisew Cree Woodland Cree 8 1 861 0 4 598 6 127 84 51 2 Amber River 211 108 Dene Tha Slavey North Peace Tribal Council 8 2 332 3 5 763 2Assineau River 150F 109 Swan River Woods Cree Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council 8 71 6 176 9Beaver Lake 131 110 Beaver Lake Cree Cree Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 6 145 3 15 185 4 414 423 2 1 Beaver Ranch 163 111 Tallcree Tribal Government Anishinaabe North Peace Tribal Council 8 841 7 2 079 9 10 16 37 5 Beaver Ranch 163A 112 Tallcree Tribal Government Anishinaabe North Peace Tribal Council 8 240 0 593 1Beaver Ranch 163B 113 Tallcree Tribal Government Anishinaabe North Peace Tribal Council 8 226 0 558 5Big Horn 144A 114 BearspawChinikiStoneyWesley Nakoda Stoney Nakoda Tsuut ina Tribal Council 7 2 127 4 5 256 9 237 134 76 9 Bistcho Lake 213 115 Dene Tha Slavey North Peace Tribal Council 8 354 1 875 0Blood 148 116 Blood Blackfoot Confederacy Blackfoot Confederacy 7 134 292 9 331 845 0 4 570 4 679 2 3 Blood 148A 117 Blood Blackfoot Confederacy Blackfoot Confederacy 7 1 971 7 4 872 2Blue Quills First Nation Indian Reserve 118 Beaver Lake CreeCold LakeFrog LakeHeart LakeKehewin CreeSaddle Lake CreeChipewyanCreeCreeCreeBeaver Hills Cree Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 96 2 237 7Boyer 164 119 Beaver Dane zaa North Peace Tribal Council 8 4 249 3 10 500 2 218 213 2 3 Buck Lake 133C 120 Paul Cree Nakoda 6 1 035 2 2 558 0Bushe River 207 121 Dene Tha Slavey North Peace Tribal Council 8 111 675 0 275 954 9 503 492 2 2 Charles Lake 225 122 Mikisew Cree Woodland Cree 8 64 5 159 4Child Lake 164A 123 Beaver Dane zaa North Peace Tribal Council 8 1 035 2 2 558 0 216 188 14 9 Chipewyan 201 124 Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 20 072 4 49 600 0Chipewyan 201A 125 Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 9 516 2 23 515 0 0 5 100 0 Chipewyan 201B 126 Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 19 4 47 9Chipewyan 201C 127 Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 18 2 45 0Chipewyan 201D 128 Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 4 3 10 6Chipewyan 201E 129 Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 4 165 5 10 293 2Chipewyan 201F 130 Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 66 4 164 1Chipewyan 201G 131 Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 905 3 2 237 0Clear Hills 152C 132 Horse Lake Cree Dane zaa Western Cree Tribal Council 8 1 547 1 3 823 0Clearwater 175 133 Fort McMurray 468 Cree Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 915 4 2 262 0Cold Lake 149 134 Cold Lake Chipewyan Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 14 528 1 35 899 7 671 594 13 0 Cold Lake 149A 135 Cold Lake Chipewyan Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 71 6 176 9 40 45 11 1 Cold Lake 149B 136 Cold Lake Chipewyan Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 4 134 0 10 215 3 163 149 9 4 Cold Lake 149C 137 Cold Lake Chipewyan Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 2 023 5 5 000 2Collin Lake 223 138 Mikisew Cree Woodland Cree 8 36 4 89 9Cornwall Lake 224 139 Mikisew Cree Woodland Cree 8 69 3 171 2Cowper Lake 194A 140 Chipewyan Prairie Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 143 0 353 4Devil s Gate 220 141 Mikisew Cree Woodland Cree 8 819 1 2 024 0Dog Head 218 142 Mikisew Cree Woodland Cree 8 34 8 86 0 99 111 10 8 Drift Pile River 150 143 Driftpile Cree Cree Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council 8 6 354 8 15 703 1 828 800 3 5 Duncans 151A 144 Duncan s Woods Cree Western Cree Tribal Council 8 2 036 8 5 033 0 150 164 8 5 Eden Valley 216 145 BearspawChinikiStoneyWesley Nakoda Stoney Nakoda Tsuut ina Tribal Council 7 1 690 8 4 178 1 596 587 1 5 Enoch Cree Nation 135 146 Enoch Cree Beaver Hills Cree 6 5 306 2 13 111 9 1 690 987 71 2 Was Stony Plain 135Enoch Cree Nation No 135A 147 Enoch Cree Beaver Hills Cree 6 2 0 4 9Ermineskin 138 148 Ermineskin Tribe Cree Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council 6 10 295 8 25 441 5 2 457 1 874 31 1 Fitzgerald No 196 149 Salt River First Nation 195 Dene Akaitcho Territory Government 8 3 715 0 9 180 0 Headquarteredin the NWTFort McKay 174 150 Fort McKay Cree Dene Athabasca Tribal Council 8 3 106 7 7 676 8Fort McKay 174C 151 Fort McKay Cree Dene Athabasca Tribal Council 8 3 381 4 8 355 6Fort McKay 174D 152 Fort McKay Cree Dene Athabasca Tribal Council 8 660 8 1 632 9Fort Vermilion 173B 153 Tallcree Tribal Government Anishinaabe North Peace Tribal Council 8 49 7 122 8 96 97 1 0 Fox Lake 162 154 Little Red River Cree Woods Cree North Peace Tribal Council 8 10 438 3 25 793 6 2 032 1 875 8 4 Gregoire Lake 176 155 Fort McMurray 468 Cree Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 2 231 9 5 515 1 191 274 30 3 Gregoire Lake 176A 156 Fort McMurray 468 Cree Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 67 4 166 5 130 0Gregoire Lake 176B 157 Fort McMurray 468 Cree Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 17 0 42 0Hay Lake 209 158 Dene Tha Slavey North Peace Tribal Council 8 12 355 3 30 530 6 883 949 7 0 Heart Lake 167 159 Heart Lake Cree Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 4 496 2 11 110 4 184 159 15 7 Heart Lake 167A 160 Heart Lake Cree Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 8 3 20 5Hokedhe Tue 196E 161 Smith s Landing Chipewyan 8 440 4 1 088 3 INAC lists the reserve in Alberta and the band headquartered in Fort Smith Northwest TerritoriesHorse Lakes 152B 162 Horse Lake Cree Dane zaa Western Cree Tribal Council 8 1 552 0 3 835 1 469 402 16 7 Jackfish Point 214 163 Dene Tha Slavey North Peace Tribal Council 8 103 6 256 0Janvier 194 164 Chipewyan Prairie Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 2 486 7 6 144 8 414 295 40 3 Jean Baptiste Gambler 183 165 Bigstone Cree Woods Cree 8 198 7 491 0 253 254 0 4 John D Or Prairie 215 166 Little Red River Cree Woods Cree North Peace Tribal Council 8 14 034 0 34 678 8 1 196 1 123 6 5 K i Tue 196D 167 Smith s Landing Chipewyan 8 484 3 1 196 7 INAC lists the reserve in Alberta and the band headquartered in Fort Smith Northwest TerritoriesKapawe no First Nation 150B 168 Kapawe no Woods Cree Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council 8 29 6 73 1 154 115 33 9 Kapawe no First Nation 150C 169 Kapawe no Woods Cree Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council 8 21 0 51 9Kapawe no First Nation 150D 170 Kapawe no Woods Cree Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council 8 390 1 964 0 5 5 0 0 Kapawe no First Nation 229 171 Kapawe no Woods Cree Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council 8 129 0 318 8Kapawe no First Nation 230 172 Kapawe no Woods Cree Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council 8 846 0 2 090 5Kapawe no First Nation 231 173 Kapawe no Woods Cree Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council 8 147 0 363 2Kehewin 123 174 Kehewin Cree Cree Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 8 225 0 20 324 4 976 1 065 8 4 Li Deze 196C 175 Smith s Landing Chipewyan 8 729 4 1 802 4 INAC lists the reserve in Alberta and the band headquartered in Fort Smith Northwest TerritoriesLoon Lake 235 176 Loon River Cree Woods Cree Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council 8 6 902 3 17 056 0 555 511 8 6 Loon Prairie 237 177 Loon River Cree Woods Cree Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council 8 259 6 641 5Louis Bull 138B 178 Louis Bull Beaver Hills Cree Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council 6 3 388 1 8 372 2 1 177 1 309 10 1 Makaoo 120 179 Onion Lake Cree Cree 6 5 626 6 13 903 6 208 180 15 6 Headquarteredin SaskatchewanMontana 139 180 Montana Cree Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council 6 2 824 8 6 980 2 630 653 3 5 Namur Lake 174B 181 Fort McKay Cree Dene Athabasca Tribal Council 8 3 122 2 7 715 1Namur River 174A 182 Fort McKay Cree Dene Athabasca Tribal Council 8 4 614 9 11 403 7O Chiese 203 183 O Chiese Anishinaabe Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 14 131 9 td, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
