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List of municipalities in Alberta

Alberta is the fourth-most populous province in Canada with 4,262,635 residents as of 2021 Census of Population and is the fourth-largest in land area at 634,658 km2 (245,043 sq mi).[1] Alberta's 344 municipalities cover 99.7% of the province's land mass and are home to 99% of its population.[2][a] These municipalities provide local government services, including roads, water, sewer and garbage collection among others, and a variety of programs to their residents.[4][5]

Map of Canada with Alberta highlighted in red
Location of Alberta in Canada
Locations of Alberta's specialized and rural municipalities
Distribution of Alberta's 6 specialized municipalities (red) and 73 rural municipalities, which include municipal districts (orange), improvement districts (dark green) and special areas (light green)

According to the Municipal Government Act (MGA), which was enacted in 2000, a municipality in Alberta is "a city, town, village, summer village, municipal district or specialized municipality, a town under the Parks Towns Act, or a municipality formed by special Act".[6] The MGA also recognizes improvement districts and special areas as municipal authorities while Metis settlements are recognized as municipalities by the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Municipal Affairs.[6][7] Cities, towns, villages, summer villages, municipal districts, specialized municipalities and improvement districts are formed under the provincial authority of the MGA.[6] Special areas and Metis settlements are formed under the provincial authority of the Special Areas Act (SAA) and the Metis Settlements Act (MSA) respectively, of which both were enacted in 2000.[8][9] As provincial law, the MGA, the SAA and the MSA were passed by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta with royal assent granted by the Lieutenant Governor.[10]

Of Alberta's 344 municipalities, 257 of them are urban municipalities (19 cities, 106 towns, 81 villages and 51 summer villages), 6 are specialized municipalities, 73 are rural municipalities (63 municipal districts, 7 improvement districts and 3 special areas) and 8 are Metis settlements.[2] The MGA, the SAA and the MSA stipulate governance of these municipalities.[6][8][9] Alberta's Ministry of Municipal Affairs is responsible for providing provincial services to municipalities.[11]

Over half of Alberta's population resides in its two largest cities. Calgary, the largest city, is home to 30.7% of the province's population (1,306,784 residents), while Edmonton, Alberta's capital city, is home to 23.7% (1,010,899 residents).[3] Improvement District No. 13 (Elk Island). Improvement District No. 12 (Jasper National Park) and Improvement District No. 25 (Willmore Wilderness) are Alberta's smallest municipalities by population; they are unpopulated according to the 2021 Census of Population.[3][b] The largest municipality by land area is Mackenzie County at 79,629.26 km2 (30,745.03 sq mi), while the smallest by land area is the Summer Village of Castle Island at 0.05 km2 (0.019 sq mi).[3]

Urban municipalities

Distribution of Alberta's 260 urban municipalities including 19 cities (black), 106 towns (dark purple), 81 villages (light purple) and 51 summer villages (pink) (2011)

Alberta's Municipal Government Act (MGA), enacted in 2000, defines urban municipality as a "city, town, village or summer village."[6] For federal census purposes, Statistics Canada recognizes all four urban municipality types as census subdivisions.[13]

Combined, Alberta has 257 urban municipalities comprising 19 cities, 106 towns, 81 villages and 51 summer villages.[2] The 257 urban municipalities have a total population of 3,533,377, a total land area of 4,052.34 km2 (1,564.62 sq mi). These totals represent 83% of Alberta's population yet only 0.6% of its land area.

Cities

The MGA stipulates that 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).[6] Alberta has 19 cities that had a cumulative population of 3,023,641 in the 2021 Census of Population.[2][3] These 19 cities include Lloydminster, of which a portion is located within the neighbouring province of Saskatchewan.[14] Alberta's largest city by population and land area is Calgary with 1,306,784 and 820.62 km2 (316.84 sq mi), while Wetaskiwin is its smallest city by population with 12,594 and land area at 18.75 km2 (7.24 sq mi).[3] Beaumont is Alberta's newest city; it became Alberta's 19th city on January 1, 2019.[15]

Towns

The MGA stipulates that 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).[6] Alberta has 105 towns that had a cumulative population of 471,028 in the 2021 Census of Population.[2][3][16] The province's largest and smallest towns by population are Cochrane and Rainbow Lake with 32,199 and 495 respectively, while its largest and smallest by land area are Drumheller and Eckville with 107.56 km2 (41.53 sq mi) and 1.61 km2 (0.62 sq mi) respectively.[3] Diamond Valley is Alberta's newest town, formed by the amalgamation of Black Diamond and Turner Valley on January 1, 2023.[17]

Villages

The MGA stipulates that 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).[6] Alberta has 81 villages that had a cumulative population of 32,753 in the 2021 Census of Population.[2][3] The province's largest and smallest villages by population are Stirling and Halkirk with 1,164 and 92 respectively, while its largest and smallest by land area are Chipman and Edberg with 9.60 km2 (3.71 sq mi) and 0.35 km2 (0.14 sq mi) respectively.[3] The last communities to incorporate as villages were Alberta Beach and Spring Lake, which both changed from summer villages to villages on January 1, 1999.[18]

Summer villages

Under previous legislation, a community could incorporate as a summer village if it had "a minimum of 50 separate buildings occupied as dwellings at any time during a six-month period".[19] A community can no longer incorporate as a summer village under the MGA.[6][20]

Alberta has 51 summer villages that had a cumulative population of 5,955 in the 2021 Census of Population.[2][3] The province's largest summer village by population is Norglenwold with 306, while Castle Island is Alberta's smallest summer village with a population of 15.[3] The province's largest and smallest summer villages by land area are Silver Sands and Castle Island with 2.51 km2 (0.97 sq mi) and 0.05 km2 (0.019 sq mi) respectively.[3] Gull Lake and Kapasiwin were the last communities in Alberta to incorporate as summer villages. Both were incorporated on September 1, 1993.[21] Since then, two summer villages have incorporated as villages (Alberta Beach and Edmonton Beach, now named Spring Lake) and one has dissolved (White Gull).[18][22]

List of urban municipalities

  • Calgary, Alberta's largest city
  • Edmonton, Alberta's capital and second largest city
  • Red Deer, Alberta's third largest city, is located at the midpoint between Calgary and Edmonton.
  • Lethbridge is Alberta's fourth largest city.
  • Airdrie, Alberta's fifth largest city, is located adjacent to Calgary.
List of urban municipalities in Alberta
NameStatus[2]Incorporation date
(current status)
[23][24][18][21]		2021 Census of Population[3]
Population
(2021)		Population
(2016)		Change
(%)		Land
area
(km2)		Population
density
(/km2)
AcmeVillageJuly 7, 1910606653−7.2%2.49243.4
AirdrieCityJanuary 1, 198574,10061,581+20.3%84.39878.1
Alberta BeachVillageJanuary 1, 19998641,018−15.1%2.02427.7
AlixVillageJune 3, 1907774734+5.4%3.11248.9
AllianceVillageAugust 26, 1918166159+4.4%0.62267.7
AmiskVillageJanuary 1, 1956219204+7.4%0.76288.2
AndrewVillageJune 24, 1930366425−13.9%1.18310.2
Argentia BeachSummer villageJanuary 1, 19673927+44.4%0.6262.9
ArrowwoodVillageMay 13, 1926188207−9.2%0.75250.7
AthabascaTownSeptember 19, 19112,7592,965−6.9%17.79155.1
BanffTownJanuary 1, 19908,3057,851+5.8%4.082,035.5
BarnwellVillageJanuary 1, 1980978947+3.3%1.50652.0
BaronsVillageMay 6, 1910313341−8.2%0.81386.4
BarrheadTownNovember 26, 19464,3204,579−5.7%8.20526.8
BashawTownMay 1, 1964848830+2.2%2.72311.8
BassanoTownJanuary 16, 19111,2161,206+0.8%5.23232.5
BawlfVillageOctober 12, 1906412422−2.4%0.89462.9
BeaumontCityJanuary 1, 201920,88817,457+19.7%24.70845.7
BeaverlodgeTownJanuary 24, 19562,2712,465−7.9%5.38422.1
BeisekerVillageFebruary 23, 1921754819−7.9%2.85264.6
BentleyTownJanuary 1, 20011,0421,078−3.3%2.24465.2
BerwynVillageNovember 28, 1936577538+7.2%1.57367.5
Betula BeachSummer villageJanuary 1, 19602716+68.8%0.23117.4
Big ValleyVillageMarch 9, 1942331346−4.3%1.86178.0
Birch CoveSummer villageDecember 31, 19886745+48.9%0.29231.0
BirchcliffSummer villageJanuary 1, 1972211117+80.3%0.97217.5
Bittern LakeVillageNovember 2, 1904216220−1.8%6.5732.9
Black DiamondTownJanuary 1, 19562,7302,705+0.9%6.82400.3
BlackfaldsTownApril 1, 198010,4709,328+12.2%16.58631.5
Bon AccordTownNovember 20, 19791,4611,529−4.4%3.99366.2
BondissSummer villageJanuary 1, 1983124110+12.7%1.18105.1
BonnyvilleTownFebruary 3, 19486,4045,975+7.2%14.17451.9
Bonnyville BeachSummer villageJanuary 1, 19587084−16.7%0.23304.3
Bow IslandTownFebruary 1, 19122,0361,983+2.7%5.68358.5
BowdenTownSeptember 1, 19811,2801,240+3.2%3.46369.9
BoyleVillageDecember 31, 1953825845−2.4%7.12115.9
BretonVillageJanuary 1, 1957567574−1.2%1.72329.7
BrooksCitySeptember 1, 200514,92414,451+3.3%18.21819.5
BruderheimTownSeptember 17, 19801,3291,323+0.5%9.28143.2
Burnstick LakeSummer villageDecember 31, 19912115+40.0%0.18116.7
CalgaryCityJanuary 1, 18941,306,7841,239,220+5.5%820.621,592.4
CalmarTownJanuary 19, 19542,1832,228−2.0%4.67467.5
CamroseCityJanuary 1, 195518,77218,742+0.2%41.67450.5
CanmoreTownJune 1, 196615,99013,992+14.3%68.47233.5
CarbonVillageNovember 18, 1912492454+8.4%1.99247.2
CardstonTownJuly 2, 19013,7243,585+3.9%8.58434.0
CarmangayVillageMarch 4, 1936269242+11.2%1.80149.4
CarolineVillageDecember 31, 1951470512−8.2%2.04230.4
CarstairsTownSeptember 1, 19664,8984,077+20.1%11.77416.1
Castle IslandSummer villageJanuary 1, 19551510+50.0%0.05300.0
CastorTownJune 27, 1910803929−13.6%2.61307.7
ChampionVillageMay 27, 1911351317+10.7%0.88398.9
ChauvinVillageDecember 30, 1912304335−9.3%2.22136.9
ChestermereCityJanuary 1, 201522,16319,887+11.4%32.83675.1
ChipmanVillageOctober 21, 1913246274−10.2%9.6025.6
ClaresholmTownAugust 31, 19053,8043,790+0.4%10.51361.9
CliveVillageJanuary 9, 1912775715+8.4%2.17357.1
ClydeVillageJanuary 28, 1914415430−3.5%1.28324.2
CoaldaleTownJanuary 7, 19528,7718,331+5.3%13.58645.9
CoalhurstTownJune 1, 19952,8692,668+7.5%3.08931.5
CochraneTownFebruary 15, 197132,19925,853+24.5%31.581,019.6
Cold LakeCityOctober 1, 200015,66114,976+4.6%66.61235.1
ConsortVillageSeptember 23, 1912644729−11.7%3.02213.2
CoronationTownApril 29, 1912868940−7.7%3.57243.1
CouttsVillageJanuary 1, 1960224245−8.6%1.18189.8
CowleyVillageAugust 16, 1906216209+3.3%1.36158.8
CremonaVillageJanuary 1, 1955437444−1.6%1.93226.4
CrossfieldTownAugust 1, 19803,5992,983+20.7%11.89302.7
Crystal SpringsSummer villageJanuary 1, 19577451+45.1%0.45164.4
CzarVillageNovember 12, 1917248202+22.8%1.12221.4
DayslandTownApril 2, 1907789824−4.2%1.77445.8
DelburneVillageJanuary 17, 1913919892+3.0%3.79242.5
DeliaVillageJuly 20, 1914152216−29.6%1.33114.3
DevonTownFebruary 24, 19506,5456,578−0.5%14.26459.0
DidsburyTownSeptember 27, 19065,0705,268−3.8%16.12314.5
DonaldaVillageDecember 30, 1912226219+3.2%0.97233.0
DonnellyVillageJanuary 1, 1956338359−5.8%1.26268.3
Drayton ValleyTownFebruary 1, 19577,2917,235+0.8%30.90236.0
DrumhellerTownJanuary 1, 19987,9097,982−0.9%107.5673.5
DuchessVillageMay 12, 19211,0531,085−2.9%1.93545.6
EckvilleTownJuly 1, 19661,0141,125−9.9%1.61629.8
EdbergVillageFebruary 4, 1930126151−16.6%0.35360.0
EdgertonVillageSeptember 11, 1917385384+0.3%2.01191.5
EdmontonCityOctober 8, 19041,010,899933,088+8.3%765.611,320.4
EdsonTownSeptember 21, 19118,3748,414−0.5%29.43284.5
Elk PointTownJanuary 1, 19621,3991,452−3.7%4.91284.9
ElnoraVillageJuly 22, 1929288298−3.4%1.50192.0
EmpressVillageFebruary 5, 1914148135+9.6%1.5893.7
FairviewTownApril 25, 19492,8172,998−6.0%10.67264.0
FalherTownJanuary 1, 19551,0011,047−4.4%2.83353.7
ForemostVillageDecember 31, 1950630541+16.5%2.13295.8
ForestburgVillageAugust 21, 1919807880−8.3%4.04199.8
Fort MacleodTownMarch 29, 19123,2972,967+11.1%22.54146.3
Fort SaskatchewanCityJuly 1, 198527,08824,169+12.1%56.50479.4
Fox CreekTownSeptember 1, 19831,6391,971−16.8%12.26133.7
Ghost LakeSummer villageDecember 31, 195382820.0%0.62132.3
GibbonsTownApril 1, 19773,2183,159+1.9%9.46340.2
GirouxvilleVillageDecember 31, 1951278219+26.9%0.66421.2
GlendonVillageJanuary 1, 1956338493−31.4%1.99169.8
GlenwoodVillageJanuary 1, 1961272316−13.9%1.37198.5
Golden DaysSummer villageJanuary 1, 1965248160+55.0%2.13116.4
Grande PrairieCityJanuary 1, 195864,14163,166+1.5%132.71483.3
GrandviewSummer villageJanuary 1, 1967143109+31.2%0.45317.8
GrimshawTownFebruary 2, 19532,6012,718−4.3%7.08367.4
Gull LakeSummer villageSeptember 1, 1993226176+28.4%0.70322.9
Half Moon BaySummer villageJanuary 1, 19786542+54.8%0.12541.7
HalkirkVillageFebruary 10, 191292112−17.9%0.61150.8
HannaTownApril 14, 19142,3942,559−6.4%8.40285.0
HardistyTownNovember 9, 1910548554−1.1%4.50121.8
Hay LakesVillageApril 17, 1928456495−7.9%0.59772.9
HeislerVillageJanuary 1, 1961135160−15.6%0.63214.3
High LevelTownSeptember 1, 19833,9223,159+24.2%28.70136.7
High PrairieTownJanuary 10, 19502,3802,564−7.2%7.01339.5
High RiverTownFebruary 12, 190614,32413,594+5.4%22.19645.5
Hill SpringVillageJanuary 1, 1961168162+3.7%0.96175.0
Hines CreekVillageDecember 31, 1951335346−3.2%4.8868.6
HintonTownDecember 29, 19589,8179,882−0.7%33.32294.6
HoldenVillageApril 14, 1909338350−3.4%1.55218.1
Horseshoe BaySummer villageJanuary 1, 19858149+65.3%0.9882.7
HughendenVillageDecember 27, 1917213243−12.3%0.78273.1
HussarVillageApril 20, 1928164190−13.7%0.70234.3
InnisfailTownNovember 20, 19037,9857,847+1.8%19.39411.8
InnisfreeVillageMarch 11, 1911187193−3.1%1.00187.0
IrmaVillageMay 30, 1912477521−8.4%1.32361.4
IrricanaTownJune 9, 20051,1791,216−3.0%3.23365.0
Island LakeSummer villageJanuary 1, 1958174228−23.7%1.55112.3
Island Lake SouthSummer villageJanuary 1, 19838161+32.8%0.48168.8
Itaska BeachSummer villageJune 30, 19533023+30.4%0.26115.4
Jarvis BaySummer villageJanuary 1, 19862132130.0%0.55387.3
KapasiwinSummer villageSeptember 1, 19932410+140.0%0.3372.7
KillamTownMay 1, 1965918989−7.2%6.40143.4
KitscotyVillageMarch 22, 1911852925−7.9%1.51564.2
LacombeCitySeptember 5, 201013,39613,057+2.6%20.59650.6
LakeviewSummer villageOctober 25, 19132930−3.3%0.3290.6
LamontTownMay 31, 19681,7441,774−1.7%9.14190.8
LarkspurSummer villageJanuary 1, 19855344+20.5%0.26203.8
LeducCitySeptember 1, 198334,09429,993+13.7%42.25807.0
LegalTownJanuary 1, 19981,2321,345−8.4%3.18387.4
LethbridgeCityMay 9, 190698,40692,729+6.1%121.12812.5
LindenVillageJanuary 1, 1964704828−15.0%2.55276.1
Lloydminster (part)CityJanuary 1, 195819,73919,645+0.5%23.98823.1
LomondVillageFebruary 16, 1916178166+7.2%1.19149.6
LongviewVillageJanuary 1, 1964297307−3.3%1.10270.0
LougheedVillageNovember 7, 1911225256−12.1%2.00112.5
MagrathTownJuly 24, 19072,4812,374+4.5%5.88421.9
Ma-Me-O BeachSummer villageDecember 31, 1948162110+47.3%0.56289.3
ManningTownJanuary 1, 19571,1261,183−4.8%3.71303.5
MannvilleVillageDecember 29, 1906765828−7.6%1.64466.5
MarwayneVillageDecember 31, 1952543564−3.7%1.60339.4
MayerthorpeTownMarch 20, 19611,2591,320−4.6%4.39286.8
McLennanTownFebruary 11, 1948695701−0.9%3.58194.1
Medicine HatCityMay 9, 190663,27163,2600.0%111.97565.1
Mewatha BeachSummer villageJanuary 1, 197810390+14.4%0.79130.4
Milk RiverTownFebruary 7, 1956824827−0.4%2.42340.5
MilletTownSeptember 1, 19831,8901,955−3.3%6.62285.5
MiloVillageMay 7, 193113691+49.5%0.96141.7
MorinvilleTownApril 21, 191110,3859,848+5.5%11.15931.4
MorrinVillageApril 16, 1920205240−14.6%0.67306.0
MundareTownJanuary 4, 1951689852−19.1%4.12167.2
MunsonVillageMay 5, 1911170192−11.5%2.5666.4
MyrnamVillageAugust 22, 1930257339−24.2%2.7593.5
Nakamun ParkSummer villageJanuary 1, 19667896−18.7%0.43181.4
NampaVillageJanuary 1, 1958367364+0.8%1.69217.2
NantonTownAugust 9, 19072,1672,181−0.6%5.11424.1
NoblefordTownFebruary 28, 20181,4381,278+12.5%1.69850.9
NorglenwoldSummer villageJanuary 1, 1965306273+12.1%0.62493.5
Norris BeachSummer villageDecember 31, 19887138+86.8%0.19373.7
OkotoksTownJune 1, 190430,40529,016+4.8%38.55788.7
OldsTownJuly 1, 19059,2099,184+0.3%14.92617.2
OnowayTownSeptember 1, 20059661,029−6.1%3.31291.8
OyenTownSeptember 1, 19659171,001−8.4%5.15178.1
Paradise ValleyVillageJanuary 1, 1964153179−14.5%0.63242.9
Parkland BeachSummer villageJanuary 1, 1984168153+9.8%0.94178.7
Peace RiverTownDecember 1, 19196,6196,842−3.3%25.34261.2
Pelican NarrowsSummer villageJuly 1, 1979158151+4.6%0.74213.5
PenholdTownSeptember 1, 19803,4843,287+6.0%11.20311.1
Picture ButteTownJanuary 1, 19601,9301,810+6.6%3.02639.1
Pincher CreekTownMay 12, 19063,6223,642−0.5%9.87367.0
Point AlisonSummer villageDecember 31, 19501810+80.0%0.1994.7
PonokaTownOctober 15, 19047,3317,229+1.4%17.22425.7
Poplar BaySummer villageJanuary 1, 1967113103+9.7%0.71159.2
ProvostTownDecember 29, 19521,9001,998−4.9%4.75400.0
Rainbow LakeTownSeptember 1, 1995495795−37.7%10.7646.0
RaymondTownJuly 1, 19034,1993,713+13.1%7.63550.3
Red DeerCityMarch 25, 1913100,844100,418+0.4%104.34966.5
RedcliffTownAugust 5, 19125,5815,600−0.3%16.15345.6
RedwaterTownDecember 31, 19502,1152,053+3.0%19.93106.1
RimbeyTownDecember 13, 19482,4702,567−3.8%11.38217.0
Rochon SandsSummer villageMay 17, 19299786+12.8%2.0347.8
Rocky Mountain HouseTownAugust 31, 19396,7656,635+2.0%13.05518.4
RockyfordVillageMarch 28, 1919395316+25.0%1.04379.8
RosalindVillageJanuary 1, 1966162188−13.8%0.62261.3
RosemaryVillageDecember 31, 1951370396−6.6%0.59627.1
Ross HavenSummer villageJanuary 1, 1962126160−21.3%0.70180.0
RycroftVillageMarch 15, 1944550612−10.1%1.85297.3
RyleyVillageApril 2, 1910484483+0.2%2.53191.3
Sandy BeachSummer villageJanuary 1, 19562782780.0%2.41115.4
Seba BeachSummer villageAugust 20, 1920229169+35.5%0.53432.1
SedgewickTownMay 1, 1966761811−6.2%2.71280.8
SexsmithTownOctober 15, 19792,4272,620−7.4%13.01186.5
Silver BeachSummer villageDecember 31, 19535565−15.4%0.6190.2
Silver SandsSummer villageJanuary 1, 1969214160+33.7%2.5185.3
Slave LakeTownAugust 2, 19656,8366,651+2.8%14.31477.7
Smoky LakeTownFebruary 1, 19621,127964+16.9%4.26264.6
South BaptisteSummer villageJanuary 1, 19837066+6.1%0.9176.9
South ViewSummer villageJanuary 1, 19707267+7.5%0.44163.6
Spirit RiverTownSeptember 18, 1951849995−14.7%3.11273.0
Spring LakeVillageJanuary 1, 1999711699+1.7%2.28311.8
Spruce GroveCityMarch 1, 198637,64534,108+10.4%37.521,003.3
St. AlbertCityJanuary 1, 197768,23265,589+4.0%47.841,426.3
St. PaulTownDecember 15, 19365,8635,827+0.6%8.64678.6
StandardVillageApril 29, 19223533530.0%2.34150.9
StavelyTownMay 25, 1912544541+0.6%1.78305.6
StettlerTownNovember 23, 19065,6955,952−4.3%13.19431.8
StirlingVillageSeptember 3, 19011,164978+19.0%2.70431.1
Stony PlainTownDecember 10, 190817,99317,189+4.7%35.45507.6
StrathmoreTownJuly 6, 191114,33913,756+4.2%26.98531.5
Sunbreaker CoveSummer villageDecember 31, 199013181+61.7%0.47278.7
Sundance BeachSummer villageJanuary 1, 19704273−42.5%0.4397.7
SundreTownJanuary 1, 19562,6722,729−2.1%10.84246.5
Sunrise BeachSummer villageDecember 31, 1988153135+13.3%1.6692.2
Sunset BeachSummer villageMay 1, 19775549+12.2%0.8763.2
Sunset PointSummer villageJanuary 1, 1959257169+52.1%1.17219.7
Swan HillsTownJanuary 1, 19671,2011,301−7.7%25.8746.4
Sylvan LakeTownMay 20, 194615,99514,816+8.0%23.09692.7
TaberTownJuly 1, 19078,8628,428+5.1%19.32458.7
ThorsbyTownJanuary 1, 2017967985−1.8%3.80254.5
Three HillsTownJanuary 1, 19293,0423,212−5.3%6.74451.3
TofieldTownSeptember 10, 19092,0452,081−1.7%8.21249.1
TrochuTownAugust 1, 19629981,058−5.7%2.78359.0
Turner ValleyTownSeptember 1, 19772,6112,559+2.0%5.75454.1
Two HillsTownJanuary 1, 19551,4161,352+4.7%3.11455.3
Val QuentinSummer villageJanuary 1, 1966158252−37.3%0.29544.8
ValleyviewTownFebruary 5, 19571,6731,863−10.2%9.17182.4
VauxhallTownJanuary 1, 19611,2861,222+5.2%2.71474.5
VegrevilleTownAugust 15, 19065,6895,708−0.3%14.08404.0
VermilionTownAugust 27, 19063,9484,084−3.3%12.72310.4
VeteranVillageJune 30, 1914214207+3.4%0.84254.8
VikingTownNovember 10, 19529861,083−9.0%3.45285.8
VilnaVillageJune 23, 1923268290−7.6%0.96279.2
VulcanTownJune 15, 19211,7691,917−7.7%6.28281.7
WainwrightTownJuly 14, 19106,6066,285+5.1%12.17542.8
WaiparousSummer villageJanuary 1, 19865749+16.3%0.41139.0
WarburgVillageDecember 31, 1953676766−11.7%2.56264.1
WarnerVillageNovember 12, 1908364373−2.4%1.16313.8
WaskatenauVillageMay 19, 1932247186+32.8%0.59418.6
WembleyTownAugust 1, 19801,4321,516−5.5%4.74302.1
West BaptisteSummer villageJanuary 1, 19834638+21.1%0.5485.2
West CoveSummer villageJanuary 1, 1963222149+49.0%1.30170.8
WestlockTownJanuary 7, 19474,9215,101−3.5%13.37368.1
WetaskiwinCityMay 9, 190612,59412,655−0.5%18.75671.7
Whispering HillsSummer villageJanuary 1, 1983128142−9.9%1.6478.0
White SandsSummer villageJanuary 1, 1980174120+45.0%1.61108.1
WhitecourtTownDecember 20, 19719,92710,209−2.8%29.51336.4
YellowstoneSummer villageJanuary 1, 1965117137−14.6%0.28417.9
YoungstownVillageDecember 31, 1936171154+11.0%1.11154.1
Sub-total cities3,023,6412,838,191+6.5%2,572.211,175.5
Sub-total towns471,028455,389+3.4%1,294.84363.8
Sub-total villages32,75333,800−3.1%146.36223.8
Sub-total summer villages5,9555,171+15.2%38.93153.0
Total urban municipalities3,533,3773,332,551+6.0%4,052.34871.9
Province of Alberta4,262,6354,067,175+4.8%634,658.276.7

Specialized municipalities

Distribution of Alberta's six specialized municipalities and three urban service areas (2020)
Sherwood Park is an urban service area within Strathcona County.
Fort McMurray is an urban service area within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Specialized municipalities in Alberta are unique local governments.[25] Alberta's Municipal Government Act (MGA), enacted in 2000, provides the authority to form a specialized municipality under the following scenarios:[6]

  • where the Minister of Municipal Affairs is satisfied that the other incorporated statuses under the MGA do not meet the needs of the proposed municipality's residents;
  • to form a local government that, in the opinion of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, will provide for the orderly development of the municipality in a similar fashion to the other incorporated statuses within the MGA, including other previously incorporated specialized municipalities; or
  • for any other circumstances that are deemed appropriate by the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Alberta has six specialized municipalities, which are recognized as census subdivisions by Statistics Canada.[2][13] In the 2021 Census of Population, they had a cumulative population of 202,461, a total land area of 155,463.32 km2 (60,024.72 sq mi).[3] These totals represent 5% of Alberta's population yet 24.5% of its land area.

The province's largest and smallest specialized municipalities by population are Strathcona County and the Municipality of Jasper with 99,225 and 4,738 respectively, while its largest and smallest by land area are Mackenzie County and the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass with 79,629.26 km2 (30,745.03 sq mi) and 370.15 km2 (142.92 sq mi) respectively.[3] Lac La Biche County is Alberta's newest specialized municipality, which was formed on January 1, 2018.[26] Alberta's first specialized municipality was the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, which formed on April 1, 1995.[26]

Strathcona County and the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo are home to the unincorporated hamlets of Sherwood Park and Fort McMurray respectively.[27] These communities are designated urban service areas, which are deemed equivalents of cities.[28][29] Excluding Sherwood Park and Fort McMurray, 18 other unincorporated communities, also recognized as hamlets by Alberta Municipal Affairs, are distributed among Mackenzie County, Strathcona County and the RM of Wood Buffalo.[27]


List of specialized municipalities in Alberta
NameRegionIncorporation date
(specialized
municipality)[26]		Council
size[26]		Municipal
census
population
(year)[30]		2021 Census of Population[31]
Population
(2021)		Population
(2016)		Change
(%)		Land
area
(km2)		Population
density
(/km2)
Crowsnest Pass, Municipality ofSouthern AlbertaJanuary 16, 20087 5,6955,589+1.9%370.1515.4
Jasper, Municipality ofAlberta's RockiesJuly 20, 200174,584[c]
(2011)		4,7384,590+3.2%921.905.1
Lac La Biche County[d]Northern AlbertaJanuary 1, 201898,544
(2016)		7,6738,330−7.9%12,527.480.6
Mackenzie CountyNorthern AlbertaJune 23, 19991011,750
(2015)		12,80411,171+14.6%79,629.260.2
Strathcona CountyEdmonton MetroJanuary 1, 1996995,597
(2015)		99,22598,044+1.2%1,170.6584.8
Wood Buffalo, Regional Municipality ofNorthern AlbertaApril 1, 19951181,948[e]
(2015)		72,32671,589+1.0%60,843.881.2
Total specialized municipalities—53—202,461199,298+1.6%155,463.321.3
Province of Alberta———|4,262,6354,067,175+4.8%634,658.276.7

Rural municipalities

Distribution of Alberta's 73 rural municipalities as of May 2021 including 63 municipal districts (orange), 7 improvement districts (green) and 3 special areas (brown)

Rural municipalities in Alberta include municipal districts, improvement districts and special areas.[32] For federal census purposes, Statistics Canada recognizes all three rural municipality types as census subdivisions.[13] However, Statistics Canada embeds Alberta's eight Metis settlements, a separate type of municipality, into the census subdivisions for six municipal districts.[33]

Combined, Alberta has 73 rural municipalities comprising 63 municipal districts, 7 improvement districts and 3 special areas.[2] The 73 rural municipalities have a total population of 481,120, a total land area of 468,246.83 km2 (180,791.11 sq mi).[3][f] These totals represent 11% of Alberta's population yet 73.8% of its land area.

Municipal districts

In Alberta, a municipal district, typically branded as a county, is a type of rural municipality.[32] The MGA, enacted in 2000, stipulates that an area may incorporate as a municipal district if it has a population of 1,000 people or more and the majority of its buildings are on parcels of land larger than 1,850 m2 (19,900 sq ft).[6]

Alberta has 63 municipal districts that had a cumulative population of 470,620 in the 2021 Census of Population.[2][3] The province's largest and smallest municipal districts by population are Rocky View County and the Municipal District (MD) of Ranchland No. 66 with 41,028 and 110 respectively, while its largest and smallest by land area are the MD of Greenview No. 16 and the MD of Spirit River No. 133 with 32,925.53 km2 (12,712.62 sq mi) and 679.86 km2 (262.50 sq mi) respectively.[3] Unincorporated communities recognized as hamlets by Alberta Municipal Affairs are located within every municipal district with the exception of Mountain View County, the MD of Ranchland No. 66 and the MD of Spirit River No. 133.[27]

Improvement districts

In Alberta, an improvement district is a type of rural municipality that can be incorporated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of Alberta's Minister of Municipal Affairs under the authority of the MGA.[6][32] Improvement districts are administered by the Province of Alberta through its Ministry of Municipal Affairs.[32]

Alberta had eight improvement districts that had a cumulative population of 2,024 in the 2021 Census of Population.[2][3] The number of improvement districts was reduced to seven on May 1, 2021 when Improvement District (ID) No. 349 dissolved by way of annexation to the MD of Bonnyville No. 87.[34] Five of Alberta's improvement districts are within national parks while two are within provincial parks.[32] Alberta's largest improvement district by population is ID No. 9, located within Banff National Park, with 1,004, while its largest by land area is ID No. 24, located within Wood Buffalo National Park, at 33,053.78 km2 (12,762.14 sq mi).[3][32] ID No. 13 (Elk Island), ID No. 12 (Jasper National Park) and ID No. 25 (Willmore Wilderness) are unpopulated,[b] while its smallest by land area is ID No. 13 (Elk Island) at 165.00 km2 (63.71 sq mi).[3] Alberta Municipal Affairs recognizes two unincorporated communities within improvement districts as hamlets – Lake Louise within ID No. 9 (Banff National Park) and Waterton Park within ID No. 4 (Waterton Lakes National Park).[27]

Special areas

In Alberta, a special area is a type of rural municipality that can be incorporated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council under the authority of the Special Areas Act, which was enacted in 2000.[8][32] They were originally created in 1938 as a result of hardship brought upon a particular area in southeastern Alberta during the drought of the 1930s.[32]

Alberta has three special areas that had a cumulative population of 4,238 in the 2021 Census of Populations.[2][3] The province's largest by population and land area is Special Area (SA) No. 2 with 1,860 and 9,195.06 km2 (3,550.23 sq mi) respectively. Alberta's smallest by population is SA No. 3 with 1,142, while its smallest by land area is SA No. 4 with 4,299.80 km2 (1,660.16 sq mi).[3] The last special area to form was SA No. 4, which incorporated on January 1, 1969 through the removal of certain lands from SA No. 3.[35] The three special areas are administered as a single unit by the Special Areas Board, and are home to 16 unincorporated communities recognized as hamlets by Alberta Municipal Affairs.[32][35]

List of rural municipalities

List of rural municipalities in Alberta
NameStatus[2]Incorporation date
(current status)
[35][36][37]		2021 Census of Population[3]
Population
(2021)		Population
(2016)		Change
(%)		Land
area
(km2)		Population
density
(/km2)
AcadiaMD of Acadia No. 34Municipal districtDecember 9, 1913494493+0.2%1,070.920.5
Athabasca CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19476,9597,869−11.6%6,111.301.1
BarrheadCounty of Barrhead No. 11Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19555,8776,288−6.5%2,385.282.5
Beaver CountyMunicipal districtFebruary 1, 19435,8685,905−0.6%3,219.741.8
Big Lakes County[g]Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19953,6643,780−3.1%12,259.290.3
BighornMD of Bighorn No. 8Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19881,5981,324+20.7%2,678.800.6
Birch Hills CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19951,5161,553−2.4%2,848.750.5
BonnyvilleMD of Bonnyville No. 87[h][i]Municipal districtJanuary 1, 195512,91212,745+1.3%11,631.871.1
Brazeau CountyMunicipal districtJuly 1, 19887,1797,771−7.6%3,000.142.4
Camrose CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19448,5048,660−1.8%3,291.752.6
Cardston CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19544,8564,481+8.4%3,358.391.4
Clear Hills CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19953,0063,018−0.4%15,025.540.2
Clearwater CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 198511,86511,947−0.7%18,605.710.6
Cypress CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19857,5247,662−1.8%12,977.990.6
FairviewMD of Fairview No. 136Municipal districtDecember 9, 19141,5801,604−1.5%1,373.661.2
Flagstaff CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19443,6943,728−0.9%3,959.780.9
Foothills CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 195423,19922,616+2.6%3,604.766.4
Forty MileCounty of Forty Mile No. 8Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19543,4713,581−3.1%7,163.610.5
Grande PrairieCounty of Grande Prairie No. 1Municipal districtDecember 21, 194323,76922,502+5.6%5,790.594.1
GreenviewMD of Greenview No. 16Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19948,5849,154−6.2%32,925.530.3
ID04Improvement District No. 4Improvement districtJanuary 1, 1944158105+50.5%482.540.3
ID09Improvement District No. 9Improvement districtApril 1, 19451,0041,028−2.3%6,751.090.1
ID12Improvement District No. 12Improvement districtApril 1, 1945053−100.0%10,118.550.0
ID13Improvement District No. 13Improvement districtApril 1, 195800NA165.000.0
ID24Improvement District No. 24Improvement districtJanuary 1, 1967706648+9.0%33,053.780.0
ID25Improvement District No. 25Improvement districtJanuary 2, 199400NA4,601.520.0
Kananaskis Improvement DistrictImprovement districtJanuary 1, 1983156221−29.4%4,203.240.0
Kneehill CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19444,9925,001−0.2%3,373.401.5
Lac Ste. Anne CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 194410,83210,899−0.6%2,845.843.8
Lacombe CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 194410,28310,343−0.6%2,759.123.7
Lamont CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19443,7543,884−3.3%2,385.581.6
Leduc CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 194414,41613,177+9.4%2,502.595.8
Lesser Slave RiverMD of Lesser Slave River No. 124Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19952,8612,803+2.1%10,041.790.3
Lethbridge CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 195410,12010,237−1.1%2,815.663.6
MinburnCounty of Minburn No. 27Municipal districtJanuary 30, 19423,0143,188−5.5%2,850.371.1
Mountain View CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 194412,98113,074−0.7%3,763.423.4
NewellCounty of NewellMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19537,4657,524−0.8%5,810.151.3
Northern LightsCounty of Northern Lights[j]Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19953,6013,656−1.5%18,900.570.2
Northern Sunrise County[k]Municipal districtApril 1, 19941,7111,921−10.9%20,914.350.1
OpportunityMD of Opportunity No. 17Municipal districtAugust 1, 19953,3823,253+4.0%28,857.880.1
PaintearthCounty of Paintearth No. 18Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19441,9902,102−5.3%3,239.580.6
Parkland CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 196932,20532,737−1.6%2,375.6713.6
PeaceMD of Peace No. 135Municipal districtDecember 11, 19161,5811,752−9.8%847.221.9
Pincher CreekMD of Pincher Creek No. 9Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19443,2402,965+9.3%3,455.750.9
Ponoka CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19529,9989,806+2.0%2,807.993.6
ProvostMD of Provost No. 52Municipal districtMarch 1, 19432,0712,205−6.1%3,571.120.6
RanchlandMD of Ranchland No. 66Municipal districtJanuary 1, 199511092+19.6%2,636.750.0
Red Deer CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 194419,93319,531+2.1%3,919.255.1
Rocky View CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 195541,02839,407+4.1%3,828.8510.7
Saddle Hills CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19952,3382,225+5.1%5,827.700.4
Smoky Lake County[l]Municipal districtMarch 1, 19432,9393,145−6.6%2,265.411.3
Smoky RiverMD of Smoky River No. 130Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19521,6842,006−16.1%2,834.180.6
Special Area No. 2Special areaApril 7, 19591,8601,905−2.4%9,195.060.2
Special Area No. 3Special areaApril 7, 19591,1421,153−1.0%6,469.330.2
Special Area No. 4Special areaJanuary 1, 19691,2361,237−0.1%4,299.800.3
Spirit RiverMD of Spirit River No. 133Municipal districtDecember 11, 1916649700−7.3%679.861.0
St. PaulCounty of St. Paul No. 19Municipal districtJanuary 30, 19426,3066,036+4.5%3,280.401.9
Starland CountyMunicipal districtFebruary 1, 19431,8212,066−11.9%2,540.850.7
StettlerCounty of Stettler No. 6Municipal districtMarch 1, 19435,6665,566+1.8%3,969.651.4
Sturgeon CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 195520,06120,495−2.1%2,084.249.6
TaberMD of TaberMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19547,4477,098+4.9%4,160.471.8
Thorhild CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19553,0423,254−6.5%1,997.171.5
Two HillsCounty of Two Hills No. 21Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19443,4123,641−6.3%2,600.151.3
Vermilion RiverCounty of Vermilion RiverMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19447,9948,453−5.4%5,420.131.5
Vulcan CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19514,2373,984+6.4%5,356.650.8
WainwrightMD of Wainwright No. 61Municipal districtJanuary 30, 19424,2764,464−4.2%4,095.291.0
WarnerCounty of Warner No. 5Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19544,2903,942+8.8%4,462.201.0
Westlock CountyMunicipal districtFebruary 1, 19437,1867,220−0.5%3,169.662.3
WetaskiwinCounty of Wetaskiwin No. 10Municipal districtFebruary 1, 194311,21211,176+0.3%3,121.983.6
Wheatland CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19558,7388,788−0.6%4,505.051.9
Willow CreekMD of Willow Creek No. 26Municipal districtJanuary 1, 19546,0815,575+9.1%4,485.051.4
Woodlands CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 19944,5584,744−3.9%7,599.520.6
Yellowhead CountyMunicipal districtJanuary 1, 199410,42610,995−5.2%22,238.560.5
Sub-total municipal districts470,620470,304+0.1%383,878.121.2
Sub-total improvement districts2,0242,055−1.5%59,375.720.0
Sub-total special areas4,2384,295−1.3%19,964.190.2
Total rural municipalities481,120481,512−0.1%468,246.831.0
Province of Alberta4,262,6354,067,175+4.8%634,658.276.7

Metis settlements

Distribution of Alberta's 8 Metis settlements among its 63 municipal districts (2020)

Metis settlements are unique local governments dedicated to Alberta's Metis people.[38][m] The settlements were originally created in 1938 under the authority of the Metis Population Betterment Act with land and governance being transferred to the settlements in 1989.[38] Metis settlements are presently under the jurisdiction of the Metis Settlements Act, which was enacted in 2000.[9]

Alberta has eight Metis settlements.[2] Unlike the other types of municipalities, Metis settlements are not recognized as census subdivisions by Statistics Canada for federal census purposes.[13] Rather, Statistics Canada recognizes them as designated places embedded within six municipal districts.[33]

Alberta's eight Metis settlements had a cumulative population of 4,238 in the 2021 Census of Population.[31][39] The province's largest and smallest Metis settlements by population are Kikino and East Prairie with 978 and 310 respectively, while the largest and smallest by land area are Paddle Prairie and Elizabeth at 1,726.45 km2 (666.59 sq mi) and 246.45 km2 (95.15 sq mi) respectively.[31]

List of Metis settlements in Alberta
NameMunicipal district
or specialized
municipality[27]		2021 Census of Population[31]
Population
(2021)		Population
(2016)		Change
(%)		Land
area
(km2)		Population
density
(/km2)
Buffalo LakeSmoky Lake County379712−46.8%335.681.1
East PrairieBig Lakes County310304+2.0%328.420.9
ElizabethBonnyvilleMD of Bonnyville No. 87594653−9.0%246.452.4
Fishing LakeBonnyvilleMD of Bonnyville No. 87414446−7.2%348.641.2
Gift Lake[n]Big Lakes County
Northern Sunrise County		625658−5.0%803.290.8
Kikino[o]Smoky Lake County
Lac La Biche County		978934+4.7%441.692.2
Paddle PrairieNorthern LightsCounty of Northern Lights551544+1.3%1,726.450.3
PeavineBig Lakes County387607−36.2%798.950.5
Total Metis settlements4,2384,858−12.8%5,029.570.8
Province of Alberta4,262,6354,067,175+4.8%634,658.276.7

See also

Notes

References

External links

Retrieved from "https:https://www.search.com.vn/wiki/index.php?lang=en&q=List_of_municipalities_in_Alberta&oldid=1191119694"
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