List of municipal districts in Alberta

Locations of Alberta's municipal districts
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to this common belief is that a county was once a former municipal status type in Alberta prior to the County Act being repealed in the mid-1990s.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.

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

References

  1. ↑ "2010 Municipal Codes" (PDF) (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Municipal Government Act". Alberta Queen's Printer. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. August 9, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5
  5. ↑ "Transitional Provisions, Consequential Amendments, Repeal and Commencement (Municipal Government Act)" (PDF) (PDF). Province of Alberta. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Municipal Profiles (Specialized Municipalities)" (PDF) (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. September 20, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 4 "Municipal Boundary Document Search (Forty Mile No. 8, County of)". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  12. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 "Changing Numbers of All Municipal Districts Throughout the Province" (PDF) (PDF). The Alberta Gazette. April 14, 1945. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  15. 1 2 "Municipal Boundary Document Search (Warner No. 5, County of)". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.