List of municipal districts in Alberta

Distribution of Alberta's 64 municipal districts

A municipal district is the most common form of all rural municipality statuses used in the Canadian Province of Alberta. Alberta's municipal districts, most of which are branded as counties, are predominantly rural areas that may include either farmland, Crown land or a combination of both depending on their geographic location. They may also include country residential subdivisions and unincorporated communities, some of which are recognized as hamlets^[1] by Alberta Municipal Affairs.

Municipal districts are created when predominantly rural areas with populations of at least 1,000 people, where a majority of their residential buildings are on parcels of land greater than 1,850 m², apply to Alberta Municipal Affairs for municipal district status under the authority of the Municipal Government Act.^[2] Applications for municipal district status are approved via orders in council made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council under recommendation from the Minister of Municipal Affairs.^[2]

Alberta has 64 municipal districts that had a cumulative population of 451,979 and an average population of 7,062 in the 2011 Census.^[3] Alberta's largest and smallest municipal districts are Rocky View County and the Municipal District (MD) of Ranchland No. 66 with populations of 36,461 and 79 respectively.^[3]

437 elected officials (eight mayors, 56 reeves and 373 councillors) provide municipal district governance throughout the province.^[4]

Branding

An order in council to incorporate any municipality must give the municipality an official name.^[2] Of Alberta's 64 municipal districts, 17 still have municipal district in their official names, while 47 of them have branded themselves as counties in their official names.

The use of the county term in the official names of 47 municipal districts (and two specialized municipalities) has partially led to a common belief that a county is its own separate municipal status type, which is not the case. The other major contributor to this common belief is that a county was once a former municipal status type in Alberta prior to the County Act being repealed in the mid-1990s. Those municipalities that were once officially incorporated as counties were continued under the Municipal Government Act (MGA) as municipal districts and were permitted to retain the term county in their official names.^[5]

Office locations

More than half of the 64 municipal districts have their main administration offices, including council chambers, in a separate municipality such as a city, town, or village. This municipality (like all other cities, towns, and villages) is not part of the municipal district's jurisdiction. Eleven municipal districts have their offices in a hamlet, which is part of the district's jurisdiction. They are Acadia (Acadia Valley), Bighorn (Exshaw), Birch Hills (Wanham), Clear Hills (Worsley), Cypress (Dunmore), Grande Prairie (Clairmont), Lac La Biche (Lac La Biche), Lac Ste. Anne (Sangudo), Opportunity (Wabasca), and Thorhild (Thorhild). One municipal district, Ranchland, has its offices in a provincial park, Chain Lakes Provincial Park. Thirteen municipal districts have their offices in their jurisdiction, outside the boundaries of a city, town, or village. They are Brazeau (Drayton Valley), Lacombe (between Gull Lake and Lacombe), Mountain View (Didsbury), Newell (Brooks), Northern Sunrise (Peace River), Paintearth (Castor), Parkland (Stony Plain), Peace (Berwyn), Red Deer (Red Deer), Saddle Hills (Spirit River), Wheatland (Strathmore), Willow Creek (Claresholm), and Woodlands (Whitecourt).

List

The below table is a list of only those rural municipalities in Alberta that are incorporated as municipal districts.

Mackenzie County, Strathcona County and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo are not listed because they are incorporated as specialized municipalities, not municipal districts. For more information on specialized municipalities, see Specialized municipalities of Alberta.

Alberta's eight improvement districts and three special areas are also not listed because they are their own separate type of rural municipality and not subset types of the municipal district status. For more information on special areas, see Special Areas Board.

Contents 

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• V
• W
• Y

Former municipal districts

Changed status

Name[6] Earlier name(s)	Incorporation date (municipal district)[6]	Status change date[6]	Current municipal status[6]
Mackenzie County MD of Mackenzie No. 23	January 1, 1995	June 23, 1999	Specialized municipality
Strathcona County County of Strathcona No. 20 MD of Strathcona No. 83 MD of Strathcona No. 517	March 1, 1943	January 1, 1996	Specialized municipality

Dissolved

Name[4][7][8] Earlier name(s)	Incorporation date (municipal district)[4][7]	Dissolution date[4][7]	Subsequent municipality(ies)[4][7]
Argyle No. 26 Argyle No. 100		January 1, 1954	Vulcan County (1951) Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 (1954)
Argyle No. 99		January 1, 1944	Argyle No. 100
Arthur No. 340		January 1, 1944	Red Deer County
Ashmont No. 605			Smoky Lake County County of St. Paul No. 19
Asquith No. 394		January 1, 1944	Flagstaff County
Badlands No. 7[9]	January 1, 1991[10]	January 1, 1998[9]	Drumheller (town)[9]
Barons No. 25		January 1, 1954	Lethbridge County (1954) Vulcan County (1951) Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 (1954)
Battle River No. 423		January 30, 1942	Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61
Bear Lake No. 740		December 21, 1943	County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Beaver Dam No. 281		January 1, 1944	Mountain View County
Beaver Lake No. 486		February 1, 1943	Beaver County
Beddington No. 250		February 1, 1943	Beddington (Conrich) No. 220
Berry Creek No. 214	February 13, 1932
Bertawan No. 271
Bigstone No. 459		February 1, 1943	County of Wetaskiwin No. 10
Birch Lake No. 484		January 30, 1942	County of Minburn No. 27
Blackfoot No. 218			Bow Valley No. 40
Blackie No. 30		January 1, 1951	Vulcan County
Blackmud No. 488		January 1, 1944	Leduc County
Blindman No. 430		January 1, 1944	Ponoka County
Bonnyville No. 87 Bonnyville No. 572 Boucher No. 572	December 14, 1914	January 1, 1955	Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87
Bow Island No. 13 Bow Island No. 94		January 1, 1950	Bow Island No. 13 (enlarged)[11]
Bow Island No. 13 (enlarged)[11]	January 1, 1950	January 1, 1954	County of Forty Mile No. 8
Bow Valley No. 40 Bow Valley No. 218		January 1, 1955	County of Newell (1953) Wheatland County (1955)
Bright No. 16 Bright No. 69		January 1, 1954	Lethbridge County Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26
Britannia No. 183
Buffalo Coulee No. 453		January 30, 1942	County of Minburn No. 27
Bulyea No. 215	February 13, 1932
Burlington No. 2 Burlington No. 34		January 1, 1950	Burlington No. 2 (enlarged)[11]
Burlington No. 2 (enlarged)[11]	January 1, 1950	January 1, 1954	County of Forty Mile No. 8 County of Warner No. 5
Canmer No. 301
Carbon No. 278	December 9, 1912	January 1, 1944	Kneehill County
Cartier No. 103 Cartier No. 637	December 14, 1914	January 1, 1947	Athabasca County
Castle River No. 40		January 1, 1944	Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9
Cereal No. 242
Champlain No. 544		January 30, 1942	County of St. Paul No. 19
Chip Lake No. 553
Clear Lake No. 129		January 1, 1944	Argyle No. 100
Clifton No. 127
Clover Bar No. 517		March 1, 1943	Strathcona County
Cochrane No. 6 Cochrane No. 10		January 1, 1954	Cardston County
Cochrane No. 7		January 1, 1946	Cochrane No. 6
Collholme No. 243
Columbia No. 460			Improvement District No. 76
Conrich No. 44 Conrich No. 220 Beddington No. 220		January 1, 1955	Rocky View County
Cornhill No. 487		February 1, 1943	Beaver County
Coronation No. 334 Whiteside No. 334	December 8, 1913	January 1, 1944	County of Paintearth No. 18
Crown No. 399		January 1, 1944	Lacombe County
Dinton No. 189			Blackie No. 30
Dowling Lake No. 305
Dublin No. 366		March 1, 1943	County of Stettler No. 6
Eagle No. 545		January 1, 1944	County of Two Hills No. 21
Edson No. 555
Ethelwyn No. 512		January 1, 1944	County of Vermilion River
Eureka No. 14 Eureka No. 65	April 1, 1945	January 1, 1954	Municipal District of Taber
Evergreen No. 427			Camrose County
Excelsior No. 92	January 1, 1938
Fertile Valley No. 429		January 1, 1944	Ponoka County
Flagstaff No. 364 Flagstaff No. 394	December 9, 1912	January 1, 1944	Flagstaff County
Flowerdale No. 244
Flowery Plains No. 33			Burlington No. 2
Forty Mile No. 12 Forty Mile No. 64	December 9, 1912	January 1, 1950	Bow Island No. 13 Burlington No. 2
Ghost Pine No. 308 Roach No. 308		January 1, 1944	Kneehill County
Gilt Edge No. 422		January 30, 1942	Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61
Glendon No. 88		January 1, 1955	Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87
Golden Centre No. 272
Golden West No. 371		January 1, 1944	Red Deer County
Grande Prairie No. 739 Grande Prairie No. 709	December 9, 1912	December 21, 1943	County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Grasswold No. 248			Serviceberry No. 43
Grizzly Bear No. 452		January 1, 1944	County of Vermilion River (1944) Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 (1942)
Grosmont No. 106 Grosmont No. 668	December 14, 1914	January 1, 1947	Athabasca County
Haig No. 396			Camrose County
Hand Hills No. 275
Harmony No. 128			Vulcan No. 29
Hays No. 338		January 1, 1944	Red Deer County
Hazelwood No. 579		February 1, 1943	Westlock County
Highwood No. 31 Highwood No. 159	January 1, 1944	January 1, 1954	Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26
Hillcrest No. 362	December 9, 1912	March 1, 1943	Municipal District of Provost No. 52
Hiram No. 304
Huamha No. 393			Municipal District of Provost No. 52
Inga No. 520	March 1, 1918	January 30, 1942	Stony Plain No. 84
Iron Creek No. 455		February 1, 1943	Beaver County
Keoma No. 249			Serviceberry No. 43
Kerr No. 39		January 1, 1944	Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9
King No. 153
Kinsella No. 424		January 1, 1944	Flagstaff County
Kitchener No. 582		January 1, 1944	Lac Ste. Anne County
Lac Ste. Anne No. 93		January 1, 1955	Sturgeon County
Lakeland County[12]	July 1, 1998[12]	August 1, 2007[13]	Lac La Biche County
Lakeside No. 397			Camrose County
Lakeview No. 454		January 30, 1942	County of Minburn No. 27
Lambton No. 306		February 1, 1943	Starland County
Lamerton No. 398		January 1, 1944	Lacombe County
Last West No. 67[14] Last West No. 431
Laurier No. 543		January 30, 1942	County of St. Paul No. 19
Leslie No. 547		January 1, 1944	Lamont County
Liberty No. 489		January 1, 1944	Leduc County
Lincoln No. 542		January 30, 1942	County of St. Paul No. 19
Little Bow No. 98			Barons No. 25
Livingstone No. 70		January 1, 1944	Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9
Lloyd George No. 457			Camrose County
Lochearn No. 401			Improvement District No. 65
Lockerbie No. 580		February 1, 1943	Westlock County
Lonebutte No. 245
Lorne No. 400		January 1, 1944	Lacombe County
Marquis No. 157			Blackie No. 30 Vulcan No. 29 Bow West Area
McLean No. 96
Melberta No. 483		January 30, 1942	County of Minburn No. 27
Melrose No. 426			Camrose County
Merton No. 451		January 1, 1944	County of Vermilion River (1944) Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 (1942)
Michichi No. 277		February 1, 1943	Starland County
Montgomery No. 458	December 13, 1915	February 1, 1943	County of Wetaskiwin No. 10
Morinville No. 91		January 1, 1955	Sturgeon County
Morthen No. 551		January 1, 1944	Lac Ste. Anne County
Mountain View No. 310	December 9, 1912	January 1, 1944	Mountain View County
Nelson No. 105 Nelson No. 638		January 1, 1947	Athabasca County
Newell No. 28	February 10, 1948	January 1, 1953	County of Newell
Norma No. 515		January 1, 1944	County of Two Hills No. 21
Norquay No. 279		January 1, 1944	Kneehill County
Opal No. 578		February 1, 1943	Bon Accord (Sturgeon) No. 548
Parkland No. 456		February 1, 1943	Beaver County
Patricia No. 486		February 1, 1943	Beaver County
Pembina No. 94[14] Pembina No. 552
Pershing No. 581		January 1, 1944	Lac Ste. Anne County
Pibroch No. 609		February 1, 1943	Westlock County
Pine Lake No. 339		January 1, 1944	Red Deer County
The Pines No. 516		January 1, 1944	Lamont County
Pioneer No. 490		January 1, 1944	Leduc County
Poplar Grove No. 341		January 1, 1944	Red Deer County
Prairie Creek No. 343
Progress No. 365		January 1, 1944	County of Paintearth No. 18
Raven No. 57[14] Raven No. 342
Ray No. 549			Morinville No. 91
Ribstone No. 421		January 30, 1942	Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61
Richdale No. 274
Riley No. 159		January 1, 1944	Highwood No. 31
Rocky Rapids No. 522	December 13, 1915	April 1, 1937	Improvement District No. 522
Rosebud No. 280	December 8, 1913	January 1, 1944	Mountain View County
Rosenheim No. 361
Royal No. 158			Vulcan No. 29
Serviceberry No. 43		January 1, 1955	Rocky View County Wheatland County
Sheep Creek No. 190		January 1, 1944	Highwood No. 31
Shepard No. 220		February 1, 1943	Beddington (Conrich) No. 220
Shoal Creek No. 610		February 1, 1943	Westlock County
Sifton No. 391		March 1, 1943	Municipal District of Provost No. 52
Smoky Lake No. 576		March 1, 1943	Smoky Lake County
Sobor No. 514		January 1, 1944	County of Two Hills No. 21
Sounding Creek No. 273
Springbank No. 45 Springbank No. 221		January 1, 1955	Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 (1954) Rocky View County (1955)
Spruce Grove No. 519		January 30, 1942	Stony Plain No. 84
St. Lina No. 574			County of St. Paul No. 19
St. Vincent No. 88[14] St. Vincent No. 573
Starland No. 307	December 9, 1912	February 1, 1943	Starland County
Stauffer No. 309		January 1, 1944	Kneehill County
Sterling No. 425		January 1, 1944	Flagstaff County
Stewart No. 302
Stockland No. 191			Turner Valley No. 32
Stocks No. 363		January 1, 1944	County of Paintearth No. 18
Stony Plain No. 84 Stony Plain No. 520		January 1, 1969	Parkland County
Strathcona No. 518		March 1, 1943	Strathcona County
Streamstown No. 511		January 1, 1944	County of Vermilion River
Sturgeon No. 548		February 1, 1943	Bon Accord (Sturgeon) No. 548
Sturgeon River No. 90 Sturgeon No. 548 Bon Accord No. 548		January 1, 1955	Sturgeon County
Success No. 336	December 9, 1912	March 1, 1943	County of Stettler No. 6
Sugar City No. 5 Sugar City No. 37		January 1, 1954	Cardston County Lethbridge County County of Warner No. 5
Sullivan Lake No. 335
Sunny South No. 123
Tawatinaw No. 608		February 1, 1943	Westlock County
Tomahawk No. 521		January 30, 1942	Stony Plain No. 84
Turner Valley No. 32		January 1, 1954	Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26
Ukraina No. 513		January 1, 1944	County of Two Hills No. 21
Unity No. 577		March 1, 1943	Smoky Lake County
Vale No. 392		January 30, 1942	Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61
Vermilion Valley No. 482		January 1, 1944	County of Vermilion River
Vilna No. 575 Wasel No. 575		March 1, 1943	Smoky Lake County
Vimy No. 337		March 1, 1943	County of Stettler No. 6
Vulcan No. 29 Vulcan No. 128		January 1, 1951	Vulcan County
Warner No. 4 Warner No. 36	December 9, 1912	January 1, 1950	Warner No. 4 (enlarged)[15]
Warner No. 4 (enlarged)[15]	January 1, 1950	January 1, 1954	County of Forty Mile No. 8 Lethbridge County County of Warner No. 5
Water Glen No. 428		January 1, 1944	Ponoka County
Waterloo No. 56[14] Waterloo No. 312
Waverly No. 367		March 1, 1943	County of Stettler No. 6
Wellington No. 481		January 1, 1944	County of Vermilion River
Westerdale No. 311		January 1, 1944	Mountain View County
Wheatland No. 395		January 1, 1944	Flagstaff County
Wiste No. 303
Woodford No. 550		January 1, 1944	Lac Ste. Anne County
Wostok No. 546		January 1, 1944	Lamont County

See also

• Administrative divisions of Canada
• List of census divisions of Alberta
• List of communities in Alberta
• List of designated places in Alberta
• List of hamlets in Alberta
• List of Indian reserves in Alberta
• List of mayors in Alberta
• List of municipalities in Alberta
• List of specialized municipalities in Alberta
• Special Areas Board

References

1. "2010 Municipal Codes" (PDF) (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
2. "Municipal Government Act". Alberta Queen's Printer. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
5. "Transitional Provisions, Consequential Amendments, Repeal and Commencement (Municipal Government Act)" (PDF) (PDF). Province of Alberta. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
6. "Municipal Profiles (Specialized Municipalities)" (PDF) (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. September 20, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
7. "Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1926-1946 and Table 6a: Population by census divisions and subdivisions showing reorganization of rural areas, 1931-1946". Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1946. Volume I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 1949. pp. 401–431.
8. "Population Data 1918" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
9. "Location and History Profile: Town of Drumheller". Alberta Municipal Affairs. September 27, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
10. Jack K. Masson with Edward C. LeSage (1994). Alberta's Local Governments: Politics and Democracy. The University of Alberta Press. p. 108. ISBN 0-88864-251-2. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
11. "Municipal Boundary Document Search (Forty Mile No. 8, County of)". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
12. "Order in Council (O.C.) 252/98" (PDF) (PDF). Province of Alberta. June 17, 1998. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
13. "Order in Council (O.C.) 332/2007" (PDF) (PDF). Province of Alberta. August 1, 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
14. "Changing Numbers of All Municipal Districts Throughout the Province" (PDF) (PDF). The Alberta Gazette. April 14, 1945. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
15. "Municipal Boundary Document Search (Warner No. 5, County of)". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved October 2, 2013.

External links

• Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC)

• AAMDC - The Members

• Alberta Municipal Affairs