List of communities in Alberta

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Rural and specialized municipalities, cities, towns, and select hamlets in Alberta
Locations of Alberta's specialized and rural municipalities
Distribution 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)

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), Métis 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).

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]

Municipalities[edit]

Urban 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 Incorporation
date (city)[6] 		Council
size[6] 		2021 Census of Population[7]
Population
(2021) 		Population
(2016) 		Change
(%) 		Land
area
(km2) 		Population
density
(per km2)
Airdrie Calgary Metro Jan 1, 1985 7 74,100 61,581 +20.3% 84.39 878.1
Beaumont[AB 1] Edmonton Metro Jan 1, 2019 7 20,888 17,457 +19.7% 24.70 845.7
Brooks[AB 2] Southern Sep 1, 2005 7 14,924 14,451 +3.3% 18.21 819.5
Calgary[AB 3] Calgary Metro Jan 1, 1894 15 1,306,784 1,239,220 +5.5% 820.62 1,592.4
Camrose Central Jan 1, 1955 9 18,772 18,742 +0.2% 41.67 450.5
Chestermere[AB 4] Calgary Metro Jan 1, 2015 7 22,163 19,887 +11.4% 32.83 675.1
Cold Lake North Oct 1, 2000 7 15,661 14,976 +4.6% 66.61 235.1
Edmonton[AB 5] Edmonton Metro Oct 8, 1904 13 1,010,899 933,088 +8.3% 765.61 1,320.4
Fort Saskatchewan Edmonton Metro Jul 1, 1985 7 27,088 24,169 +12.1% 56.50 479.4
Grande Prairie Northern Jan 1, 1958 9 64,141 63,166 +1.5% 132.71 483.3
Lacombe Central Sep 5, 2010 7 13,396 13,057 +2.6% 20.59 650.6
Leduc Edmonton Metro Sep 1, 1983 7 34,094 29,993 +13.7% 42.25 807.0
Lethbridge Southern May 9, 1906 9 98,406 92,729 +6.1% 121.12 812.5
Lloydminster (part)[AB 6] Central Jan 1, 1958 7 19,739 19,645 +0.5% 23.98 823.1
Medicine Hat Southern May 9, 1906 9 63,271 63,260 0.0% 111.97 565.1
Red Deer Central Mar 25, 1913 9 100,844 100,418 +0.4% 104.34 966.5
Spruce Grove Edmonton Metro Mar 1, 1986 7 37,645 34,108 +10.4% 37.52 1,003.3
St. Albert Edmonton Metro Jan 1, 1977 7 68,232 65,589 +4.0% 47.84 1,426.3
Wetaskiwin[AB 7] Central May 9, 1906 7 12,594 12,655 −0.5% 18.75 671.7
Total 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]


Name Specialized/rural
municipality[8] 		Incorporation
date (town)[9] 		Municipal
census
population
(year)[10] 		Population
(2016)[11] 		Population
(2011)[11] 		Change
(%)[11] 		Land
area
(km2)[11] 		Population
density
(per km2)[11]
Athabasca[N 1] Athabasca County Sep 19, 1911 2,965 2,990 −0.8% 17.65 168.0
Banff Improvement District No. 9 (Banff) Jan 1, 1990 8,875
(2017)		 7,851 7,584 +3.5% 4.77 1,645.9
Barrhead Barrhead No. 11, County of Nov 26, 1946 4,579 4,432 +3.3% 8.17 560.5
Bashaw Camrose County May 1, 1964 830 873 −4.9% 2.99 277.6
Bassano Newell, County of Jan 16, 1911 1,206 1,282 −5.9% 5.22 231.0
Beaverlodge Grande Prairie No. 1, County of Jan 24, 1956 2,465 2,365 +4.2% 5.73 430.2
Bentley Lacombe County Jan 1, 2001 1,078 1,073 +0.5% 2.24 481.3
Blackfalds Lacombe County Apr 1, 1980 10,125
(2018)		 9,328 6,300 +48.1% 16.44 567.4
Bon Accord Sturgeon County Nov 20, 1979 1,529 1,488 +2.8% 2.13 717.8
Bonnyville Bonnyville No. 87, M.D. of Feb 3, 1948 6,422
(2017)		 5,975[12] 6,216 −3.9% 14.18 421.4
Bow Island Forty Mile No. 8, County of Feb 1, 1912 2,043
(2017)		 1,983 2,025 −2.1% 5.81 341.3
Bowden Red Deer County Sep 1, 1981 1,240 1,241 −0.1% 2.8 442.9
Bruderheim Lamont County Sep 17, 1980 1,395
(2018)		 1,308 1,155 +13.2% 7.12 183.7
Calmar Leduc County Jan 19, 1954 2,228 1,970 +13.1% 4.68 476.1
Canmore Bighorn No. 8, M.D. of
Kananaskis Improvement District[13]		 Jun 1, 1966 13,992 12,288 +13.9% 69.43 201.5
Cardston Cardston County Jul 2, 1901 3,909
(2018)		 3,585 3,580 +0.1% 8.59 417.3
Carstairs Mountain View County Sep 1, 1966 4,077 3,442 +18.4% 11.92 342.0
Castor Paintearth No. 18, County of Jun 27, 1910 929 932 −0.3% 2.63 353.2
Claresholm Willow Creek No. 26, M.D. of Aug 31, 1905 3,780 3,758 +0.6% 8.11 466.1
Coaldale Lethbridge County Jan 7, 1952 8,691
(2019)[14]		 8,215 7,493 +9.6% 7.99 1,028.2
Coalhurst Lethbridge County Jun 1, 1995 2,784
(2019)[15]		 2,668 1,978 +34.9% 3.11 857.9
Cochrane Rocky View County Feb 15, 1971 29,277
(2019)[16]		 25,853 17,580 +47.1% 29.83 866.7
Coronation Paintearth No. 18, County of Apr 29, 1912 940 947 −0.7% 3.62 259.7
Crossfield Rocky View County Aug 1, 1980 3,308
(2018)		 2,983 2,853 +4.6% 11.96 249.4
Daysland Flagstaff County Apr 2, 1907 824 807 +2.1% 1.75 470.9
Devon Leduc County Feb 24, 1950 6,578 6,515 +1.0% 14.3 460.0
Diamond Valley Foothills County Jan 1, 2023[17] 5,259 4,540 +15.8% 9.63 546.1
Didsbury Mountain View County Sep 27, 1906 5,268 4,957 +6.3% 16.37 321.8
Drayton Valley Brazeau County Feb 1, 1957 7,235 7,118 +1.6% 30.72 235.5
Drumheller[N 2] Kneehill County
Special Area No. 2
Starland County
Wheatland County[18]		 Mar 2, 1916
January 1, 1998		 7,982 8,029 −0.6% 108.03 73.9
Eckville Lacombe County Jul 1, 1966 1,163
(2018)		 1,125 1,125 0.0% 1.6 703.1
Edson Yellowhead County Sep 21, 1911 8,414 8,475 −0.7% 29.72 283.1
Elk Point St. Paul No. 19, County of Jan 1, 1962 1,452 1,412 +2.8% 4.91 295.7
Fairview Fairview No. 136, M.D. of Apr 25, 1949 2,998 3,162 −5.2% 11.36 263.9
Falher Smoky River No. 130, M.D. of Jan 1, 1955 1,047 1,075 −2.6% 2.78 376.6
Fort Macleod[N 3] Willow Creek No. 26, M.D. of Mar 29, 1912 2,967 3,117 −4.8% 23.41 126.7
Fox Creek Greenview No. 16, M.D. of Sep 1, 1983 1,971 1,969 +0.1% 12.36 159.5
Gibbons Sturgeon County Apr 1, 1977 3,159 3,030 +4.3% 7.5 421.2
Grimshaw Peace No. 135, M.D. of Feb 2, 1953 2,718 2,515 +8.1% 7.09 383.4
Hanna Special Area No. 2 Apr 14, 1914 2,559 2,673 −4.3% 8.81 290.5
Hardisty Flagstaff County Nov 9, 1910 554 639 −13.3% 5.13 108.0
High Level Mackenzie County Sep 1, 1983 3,992
(2017)		 3,159 3,641 −13.2% 29.2 108.2
High Prairie Big Lakes County Jan 10, 1950 2,564 2,600 −1.4% 7.22 355.1
High River Foothills No. 31, M.D. of Feb 12, 1906 13,584 12,930 +5.1% 21.39 635.1
Hinton Yellowhead County Dec 29, 1958 9,882 9,640 +2.5% 33.52 294.8
Innisfail Red Deer County Nov 20, 1903 7,847 7,876 −0.4% 19.4 404.5
Irricana Rocky View County Jun 9, 2005 1,216 1,162 +4.6% 3.23 376.5
Killam Flagstaff County May 1, 1965 989 981 +0.8% 6.75 146.5
Lamont Lamont County May 31, 1968 1,774 1,753 +1.2% 9.2 192.8
Legal Sturgeon County Jan 1, 1998 1,345 1,225 +9.8% 3.18 423.0
Magrath Cardston County Jul 24, 1907 2,435
(2017)		 2,374 2,217 +7.1% 5.99 396.3
Manning Northern Lights, County of Jan 1, 1957 1,183 1,164 +1.6% 4.05 292.1
Mayerthorpe Lac Ste. Anne County Mar 20, 1961 1,320 1,398 −5.6% 4.37 302.1
McLennan Smoky River No. 130, M.D. of Feb 11, 1948 791
(2017)		 701 809 −13.3% 3.71 188.9
Milk River Warner No. 5, County of Feb 7, 1956 827 811 +2.0% 2.33 354.9
Millet Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of Sep 1, 1983 1,945 2,092 −7.0% 3.72 522.8
Morinville Sturgeon County Apr 21, 1911 9,893
(2016)		 9,848 8,569 +14.9% 11.15 883.2
Mundare Lamont County Jan 4, 1951 852 855 −0.4% 4.21 202.4
Nanton Willow Creek No. 26, M.D. of Aug 9, 1907 2,181[12] 2,132 +2.3% 4.87 447.8
Nobleford Lethbridge County Feb 28, 2018 1,278 1,000 +27.8% 1.59 803.8
Okotoks Foothills No. 31, M.D. of Jun 1, 1904 29,002
(2018)		 28,881 24,511 +17.8% 19.63 1,471.3
Olds Mountain View County Jul 1, 1905 9,184 8,235 +11.5% 14.93 615.1
Onoway Lac Ste. Anne County Sep 1, 2005 1,029 1,039 −1.0% 3.32 309.9
Oyen Special Area No. 3 Sep 1, 1965 1,022
(2017)		 1,001 973 +2.9% 5.28 189.6
Peace River[N 4] Northern Lights, County of
Northern Sunrise County
Peace No. 135, M.D. of[19]		 Dec 1, 1919 6,842 6,729 +1.7% 26.26 260.5
Penhold Red Deer County Sep 1, 1980 3,277 2,375 +38.0% 5.29 619.5
Picture Butte Lethbridge County Jan 1, 1960 1,810 1,650 +9.7% 2.85 635.1
Pincher Creek Pincher Creek No. 9, M.D. of May 12, 1906 3,642 3,685 −1.2% 10.09 361.0
Ponoka Ponoka County Oct 15, 1904 7,229 6,778 +6.7% 17.33 417.1
Provost Provost No. 52, M.D. of Dec 29, 1952 1,998 2,041 −2.1% 4.72 423.3
Rainbow Lake Mackenzie County Sep 1, 1995 795 870 −8.6% 10.76 73.9
Raymond Warner No. 5, County of Jul 1, 1903 4,252
(2018)		 3,708 3,743 −0.9% 6.66 556.8
Redcliff Cypress County Aug 5, 1912 5,600 5,588 +0.2% 16.25 344.6
Redwater Sturgeon County Dec 31, 1950 2,053 1,915 +7.2% 20.03 102.5
Rimbey Ponoka County Dec 13, 1948 2,567 2,378 +7.9% 11.4 225.2
Rocky Mountain House Clearwater County Aug 31, 1939 6,635 6,933 −4.3% 12.71 522.0
Sedgewick Flagstaff County May 1, 1966 811 857 −5.4% 2.72 298.2
Sexsmith Grande Prairie No. 1, County of Oct 15, 1979 2,620 2,418 +8.4% 13.24 197.9
Slave Lake Lesser Slave River No. 124, M.D. of Aug 2, 1965 6,651 6,782 −1.9% 14.44 460.6
Smoky Lake Smoky Lake County Feb 1, 1962 964 1,022 −5.7% 4.26 226.3
Spirit River Spirit River No. 133, M.D. of Sep 18, 1951 995 1,025 −2.9% 3.14 316.9
St. Paul[N 5] St. Paul No. 19, County of Dec 15, 1936 5,963
(2017)		 5,827 5,405 +7.8% 8.64 674.4
Stavely Willow Creek No. 26, M.D. of May 25, 1912 541 505 +7.1% 1.83 295.6
Stettler Stettler No. 6, County of Nov 23, 1906 5,952 5,748 +3.5% 13.14 453.0
Stony Plain Parkland County Dec 10, 1908 17,842
(2019)[20]		 17,189 15,051 +14.2% 35.72 481.2
Strathmore Wheatland County Jul 6, 1911 13,528
(2018)		 13,756 12,305 +11.8% 27.4 502.0
Sundre Mountain View County Jan 1, 1956 2,729 2,610 +4.6% 11.11 245.6
Swan Hills Big Lakes County Jan 1, 1967 1,301 1,465 −11.2% 26.12 49.8
Sylvan Lake Red Deer County May 20, 1946 14,816 12,362 +19.9% 23.36 634.2
Taber Taber, M.D. of Jul 1, 1907 8,428 8,104 +4.0% 15.67 537.8
Thorsby Leduc County Jan 1, 2017[21] 1,015
(2017)		 985 951 +3.6% 3.85 255.8
Three Hills Kneehill County Jan 1, 1929 3,212 3,198 +0.4% 6.75 475.9
Tofield Beaver County Sep 10, 1909 2,081 2,182 −4.6% 8.21 253.5
Trochu Kneehill County Aug 1, 1962 1,058 1,072 −1.3% 2.78 380.6
Two Hills Two Hills No. 21, County of Jan 1, 1955 1,443
(2017)		 1,352 1,379 −2.0% 3.38 400.0
Valleyview Greenview No. 16, M.D. of Feb 5, 1957 1,863 1,761 +5.8% 9.32 199.9
Vauxhall Taber, M.D. of Jan 1, 1961 1,222 1,288 −5.1% 2.72 449.3
Vegreville Minburn No. 27, County of Aug 15, 1906 5,708 5,717 −0.2% 14.08 405.4
Vermilion Vermilion River, County of Aug 27, 1906 4,150
(2017)		 4,084 3,930 +3.9% 12.93 315.9
Viking Beaver County Nov 10, 1952 1,083 1,041 +4.0% 3.7 292.7
Vulcan Vulcan County Jun 15, 1921 1,917 1,836 +4.4% 6.34 302.4
Wainwright Wainwright No. 61, M.D. of Jul 14, 1910 6,270 5,925 +5.8% 9.1 689.0
Wembley Grande Prairie No. 1, County of Aug 1, 1980 1,516 1,383 +9.6% 4.75 319.2
Westlock Westlock County Jan 7, 1947 5,101 4,823 +5.8% 13.37 381.5
Whitecourt Woodlands County Dec 20, 1971 10,204 9,605 +6.2% 26.44 385.9
Total 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]


Name Rural
municipality[8] 		Incorporation
date (village)[9]--> 		Population
(2016)[23] 		Population
(2011)[23] 		Change
(%)[23] 		Land
area
(km²)[23] 		Population
density
(per km²)[23]
Acme Kneehill County July 7, 1910 653 653 0.0% 2.48 263.3/km2
Alberta Beach Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1999 1,018 865 +17.7% 2.01 506.5/km2
Alix Lacombe County June 3, 1907 734 830 −11.6% 3.13 234.5/km2
Alliance Flagstaff County August 26, 1918 154 174 −11.5% 0.51 302.0/km2
Amisk Provost No. 52, MD of January 1, 1956 204 207 −1.4% 0.76 268.4/km2
Andrew Lamont County June 24, 1930 425 379 +12.1% 1.17 363.2/km2
Arrowwood Vulcan County May 13, 1926 207 188 +10.1% 0.75 276.0/km2
Barnwell Taber, MD of January 1, 1980 947 771 +22.8% 1.51 627.2/km2
Barons Lethbridge County May 6, 1910 341 315 +8.3% 0.81 421.0/km2
Bawlf Camrose County October 12, 1906 422 403 +4.7% 0.89 474.2/km2
Beiseker Rocky View County February 23, 1921 819 785 +4.3% 2.85 287.4/km2
Berwyn Peace No. 135, MD of November 28, 1936 538 526 +2.3% 1.58 340.5/km2
Big Valley Stettler No. 6, County of March 9, 1942 346 364 −4.9% 1.86 186.0/km2
Bittern Lake[a] Camrose County November 2, 1904 220 224 −1.8% 6.57 33.5/km2
Boyle Athabasca County December 31, 1953 845 916 −7.8% 7.13 118.5/km2
Breton Brazeau County January 1, 1957 574 496 +15.7% 1.72 333.7/km2
Carbon Kneehill County November 18, 1912 454 592 −23.3% 1.99 228.1/km2
Carmangay Vulcan County March 4, 1936 242 367 −34.1% 1.86 130.1/km2
Caroline Clearwater County December 31, 1951 512 501 +2.2% 2.04 251.0/km2
Champion Vulcan County May 27, 1911 317 378 −16.1% 0.89 356.2/km2
Chauvin Wainwright No. 61, MD of December 30, 1912 335 334 +0.3% 2.24 149.6/km2
Chipman Lamont County October 21, 1913 274 284 −3.5% 9.61 28.5/km2
Clive Lacombe County January 9, 1912 715 675 +5.9% 2.17 329.5/km2
Clyde Westlock County January 28, 1914 430 503 −14.5% 1.31 328.2/km2
Consort Special Area No. 4 September 23, 1912 729 689 +5.8% 3.05 239.0/km2
Coutts Warner No. 5, County of January 1, 1960 245 277 −11.6% 1.24 197.6/km2
Cowley Pincher Creek No. 9, MD of August 16, 1906 209 236 −11.4% 1.37 152.6/km2
Cremona Mountain View County January 1, 1955 444 457 −2.8% 1.94 228.9/km2
Czar Provost No. 52, MD of November 12, 1917 202 167 +21.0% 1.12 180.4/km2
Delburne Red Deer County January 17, 1913 892 830 +7.5% 3.98 224.1/km2
Delia[b] Starland County July 20, 1914 216 186 +16.1% 1.33 162.4/km2
Donalda Stettler No. 6, County of December 30, 1912 219 259 −15.4% 0.99 221.2/km2
Donnelly Smoky River No. 130, MD of January 1, 1956 342 305 +12.1% 1.31 261.1/km2
Duchess Newell, County of May 12, 1921 1,085 992 +9.4% 1.96 553.6/km2
Edberg Camrose County February 4, 1930 151 168 −10.1% 0.35 431.4/km2
Edgerton Wainwright No. 61, MD of September 11, 1917 384 317 +21.1% 2.04 188.2/km2
Elnora Red Deer County July 22, 1929 298 313 −4.8% 1.47 202.7/km2
Empress Special Area No. 2 February 5, 1914 135 188 −28.2% 1.58 85.4/km2
Foremost Forty Mile No. 8, County of December 31, 1950 541 526 +2.9% 2.16 250.5/km2
Forestburg Flagstaff County August 21, 1919 875 831 +5.3% 2.73 320.5/km2
Girouxville Smoky River No. 130, MD of December 31, 1951 219 266 −17.7% 0.67 326.9/km2
Glendon Bonnyville No. 87, MD of January 1, 1956 493 486 +1.4% 1.99 247.7/km2
Glenwood Cardston County January 1, 1961 316 287 +10.1% 1.37 230.7/km2
Halkirk Paintearth No. 18, County of February 10, 1912 112 121 −7.4% 0.61 183.6/km2
Hay Lakes[c] Camrose County April 17, 1928 495 425 +16.5% 0.59 839.0/km2
Heisler Flagstaff County January 1, 1961 160 151 +6.0% 0.64 250.0/km2
Hill Spring Cardston County January 1, 1961 162 186 −12.9% 0.96 168.8/km2
Hines Creek Clear Hills County December 31, 1951 346 380 −8.9% 5.33 64.9/km2
Holden Beaver County April 14, 1909 350 381 −8.1% 1.74 201.1/km2
Hughenden Provost No. 52, MD of December 27, 1917 243 230 +5.7% 0.78 311.5/km2
Hussar Wheatland County April 20, 1928 190 176 +8.0% 0.75 253.3/km2
Innisfree Minburn No. 27, County of March 11, 1911 193 220 −12.3% 1.01 191.1/km2
Irma Wainwright No. 61, MD of May 30, 1912 521 457 +14.0% 1.34 388.8/km2
Kitscoty Vermilion River, County of March 22, 1911 925 846 +9.3% 1.51 612.6/km2
Linden Kneehill County January 1, 1964 828 725 +14.2% 2.58 320.9/km2
Lomond Vulcan County February 16, 1916 166 173 −4.0% 1.21 137.2/km2
Longview Foothills County January 1, 1964 307 307 0.0% 1.1 279.1/km2
Lougheed Flagstaff County November 7, 1911 256 233 +9.9% 2.1 121.9/km2
Mannville Minburn No. 27, County of December 29, 1906 828 803 +3.1% 1.64 504.9/km2
Marwayne Vermilion River, County of December 31, 1952 564 612 −7.8% 1.6 352.5/km2
Milo Vulcan County May 7, 1931 91 122 −25.4% 0.98 92.9/km2
Morrin Starland County April 16, 1920 240 245 −2.0% 0.67 358.2/km2
Munson Starland County May 5, 1911 192 204 −5.9% 2.53 75.9/km2
Myrnam Two Hills No. 21, County of August 22, 1930 339 370 −8.4% 2.79 121.5/km2
Nampa Northern Sunrise County January 1, 1958 364 362 +0.6% 1.71 212.9/km2
Paradise Valley Vermilion River, County of January 1, 1964 179 174 +2.9% 0.63 284.1/km2
Rockyford Wheatland County March 28, 1919 316 325 −2.8% 1.08 292.6/km2
Rosalind Camrose County January 1, 1966 188 190 −1.1% 0.62 303.2/km2
Rosemary Newell, County of December 31, 1951 396 342 +15.8% 0.59 671.2/km2
Rycroft Spirit River No. 133, MD of March 15, 1944 612 628 −2.5% 1.92 318.8/km2
Ryley[d] Beaver County April 2, 1910 483 497 −2.8% 2.61 185.1/km2
Spring Lake[e] Parkland County January 1, 1999 699 533 +31.1% 2.33 300.0/km2
Standard Wheatland County April 29, 1922 353 379 −6.9% 2.35 150.2/km2
Stirling Warner No. 5, County of September 3, 1901 978 1,090 −10.3% 2.71 360.9/km2
Veteran Special Area No. 4 June 30, 1914 207 249 −16.9% 0.84 246.4/km2
Vilna Smoky Lake County June 23, 1923 290 249 +16.5% 0.96 302.1/km2
Warburg Leduc County December 31, 1953 766 789 −2.9% 2.68 285.8/km2
Warner Warner No. 5, County of November 12, 1908 373 331 +12.7% 1.16 321.6/km2
Waskatenau Smoky Lake County May 19, 1932 186 255 −27.1% 0.6 310.0/km2
Youngstown Special Area No. 3 December 31, 1936 154 178 −13.5% 1.11 138.7/km2
Total 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] 		Land
area
(km²)[30] 		Population
density
(per km²)[30]
Argentia Beach Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of January 1, 1967 27 15 +80.0% 0.73 37.0/km2
Betula Beach Parkland County January 1, 1960 16 10 +60.0% 0.25 64.0/km2
Birch Cove Lac Ste. Anne County December 31, 1988 45 45 0.0% 0.3 150.0/km2
Birchcliff Lacombe County January 1, 1972 117 112 +4.5% 1.03 113.6/km2
Bondiss Athabasca County January 1, 1983 110 106 +3.8% 1.23 89.4/km2
Bonnyville Beach Bonnyville No. 87, M.D. of January 1, 1958 84 95 −11.6% 0.17 494.1/km2
Burnstick Lake Clearwater County December 31, 1991 15[31] 16 −6.2% 0.18 83.3/km2
Castle Island Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1955 10 19 −47.4% 0.05 200.0/km2
Crystal Springs Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of January 1, 1957 51 90 −43.3% 0.57 89.5/km2
Ghost Lake Bighorn No. 8, M.D. of December 31, 1953 82 81 +1.2% 0.67 122.4/km2
Golden Days Leduc County January 1, 1965 160 141 +13.5% 2.28 70.2/km2
Grandview Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of January 1, 1967 114 108 +5.6% 0.79 144.3/km2
Gull Lake Lacombe County September 1, 1993 176 122 +44.3% 0.7 251.4/km2
Half Moon Bay Lacombe County January 1, 1978 42 38 +10.5% 0.11 381.8/km2
Horseshoe Bay St. Paul No. 19, County of January 1, 1985 49[f] 37 +32.4% 1.14 43.0/km2
Island Lake Athabasca County January 1, 1958 228 243 −6.2% 1.85 123.2/km2
Island Lake South Athabasca County January 1, 1983 61 72 −15.3% 0.67 91.0/km2
Itaska Beach Leduc County June 30, 1953 23 20 +15.0% 0.29 79.3/km2
Jarvis Bay Red Deer County January 1, 1986 213 203 +4.9% 0.53 401.9/km2
Kapasiwin Parkland County September 1, 1993 10 10 0.0% 0.3 33.3/km2
Lakeview Parkland County October 25, 1913 30 26 +15.4% 0.35 85.7/km2
Larkspur Westlock County January 1, 1985 44 38 +15.8% 0.26 169.2/km2
Ma-Me-O Beach Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of December 31, 1948 110 113 −2.7% 0.52 211.5/km2
Mewatha Beach Athabasca County January 1, 1978 90 79 +13.9% 0.8 112.5/km2
Nakamun Park Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1966 96 36 +166.7% 0.45 213.3/km2
Norglenwold Red Deer County January 1, 1965 273 232 +17.7% 0.62 440.3/km2
Norris Beach Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of December 31, 1988 38 46 −17.4% 0.2 190.0/km2
Parkland Beach Ponoka County January 1, 1984 153 124 +23.4% 0.95 161.1/km2
Pelican Narrows Bonnyville No. 87, M.D. of July 1, 1979 151 162 −6.8% 0.72 209.7/km2
Point Alison Parkland County December 31, 1950 10 15 −33.3% 0.16 62.5/km2
Poplar Bay Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of January 1, 1967 103 80 +28.8% 0.67 153.7/km2
Rochon Sands Stettler No. 6, County of May 17, 1929 86 65 +32.3% 2.16 39.8/km2
Ross Haven Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1962 160 137 +16.8% 0.71 225.4/km2
Sandy Beach Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1956 278 223 +24.7% 2.4 115.8/km2
Seba Beach Parkland County August 20, 1920 169 143 +18.2% 0.86 196.5/km2
Silver Beach Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of December 31, 1953 65 52 +25.0% 0.64 101.6/km2
Silver Sands Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1969 160 85 +88.2% 2.41 66.4/km2
South Baptiste Athabasca County January 1, 1983 66 52 +26.9% 0.93 71.0/km2
South View Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1970 67 35 +91.4% 0.41 163.4/km2
Sunbreaker Cove Lacombe County December 31, 1990 81 69 +17.4% 0.5 162.0/km2
Sundance Beach Leduc County January 1, 1970 73 82 −11.0% 0.44 165.9/km2
Sunrise Beach Lac Ste. Anne County December 31, 1988 135 149 −9.4% 1.66 81.3/km2
Sunset Beach Athabasca County May 1, 1977 49 44 +11.4% 0.74 66.2/km2
Sunset Point Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1959 169 221 −23.5% 1.15 147.0/km2
Val Quentin Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1966 252 157 +60.5% 0.31 812.9/km2
Waiparous Bighorn No. 8, M.D. of January 1, 1986 49 42 +16.7% 0.41 119.5/km2
West Baptiste Athabasca County January 1, 1983 38 52 −26.9% 0.65 58.5/km2
West Cove Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1963 149 121 +23.1% 1.33 112.0/km2
Whispering Hills Athabasca County January 1, 1983 142 108 +31.5% 1.68 84.5/km2
White Sands Stettler No. 6, County of January 1, 1980 120 91 +31.9% 1.58 75.9/km2
Yellowstone Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1965 137 124 +10.5% 0.28 489.3/km2
Total summer villages — — 5,176 4,586 +12.9% 40.79 126.9/km2

Specialized 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 Métis 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
(specialized
municipality)[33] 		Council
size[33] 		Municipal
census
population
(year)[34] 		2021 Census of Population[35]
Population
(2021) 		Population
(2016) 		Change
(%) 		Land
area
(km2) 		Population
density
(/km2)
Crowsnest Pass, Municipality of Southern Alberta January 16, 2008 7   5,695 5,589 +1.9% 370.15 15.4
Jasper, Municipality of Alberta's Rockies July 20, 2001 7 4,584[g]
(2011)		 4,738 4,590 +3.2% 921.90 5.1
Lac La Biche County[h] Northern Alberta January 1, 2018 9 8,544
(2016)		 7,673 8,330 −7.9% 12,527.48 0.6
Mackenzie County Northern Alberta June 23, 1999 10 11,750
(2015)		 12,804 11,171 +14.6% 79,629.26 0.2
Strathcona County Edmonton Metro January 1, 1996 9 95,597
(2015)		 99,225 98,044 +1.2% 1,170.65 84.8
Wood Buffalo, Regional Municipality of Northern Alberta April 1, 1995 11 81,948[i]
(2015)		 72,326 71,589 +1.0% 60,843.88 1.2
Total specialized municipalities — 53 — 202,461 199,298 +1.6% 155,463.32 1.3
Province of Alberta — — —| 4,262,635 4,067,175 +4.8% 634,658.27 6.7

Rural 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) Incorporation
date[37] 		Census
division 		Council
size[37] 		Municipal
census
population
(year)[38] 		Population
(2016)[39] 		Population
(2011)[39] 		Change
(%)[39] 		Land
area
(km2)[39] 		Population
density
(per km2)[39]
AcadiaMD of Acadia No. 34 December 9, 1913 4 5 493 495 −0.4 1,082.60 0.5
Athabasca County January 1, 1947 13 9 7,869 7,662 2.7 6,124.43 1.3
Barrhead County of Barrhead No. 11 January 1, 1955 13 7 6,288 6,096 3.1 2,406.25 2.6
Beaver County February 1, 1943 10 5 5,905 5,689 3.8 3,317.57 1.8
Big Lakes Big Lakes County January 1, 1995 17 9 3,861
(2013)		 5,672 5,912 −4.1 13,942.43 0.4
Bighorn MD of Bighorn No. 8 January 1, 1988 15 5 1,334 1,341 −0.5 2,761.18 0.5
Birch Hills County January 1, 1995 19 7 1,553 1,582 −1.8 2,859.60 0.5
Bonnyville MD of Bonnyville No. 87 January 1, 1955 12 7 11,836
(2014)		 13,575 11,191 21.3 6,064.73 2.2
Brazeau County July 1, 1988 11 7 7,771 7,132 9.0 3,005.35 2.6
Camrose County January 1, 1944 10 7 8,458 8,004 5.7 3,324.21 2.5
Cardston County January 1, 1954 3 7 4,481 4,167 7.5 3,429.82 1.3
Clear Hills County January 1, 1995 17 7 2,829
(2012)		 3,023 2,801 7.9 15,125.49 0.2
Clearwater County January 1, 1985 9 7 11,947 12,278 −2.7 18,682.45 0.6
Cypress County January 1, 1985 1 9 7,662 7,214 6.2 13,173.25 0.6
Fairview MD of Fairview No. 136 December 9, 1914 19 5 1,604 1,673 −4.1 1,387.58 1.2
Flagstaff County January 1, 1944 7 7 3,738 3,591 4.1 4,067.58 0.9
Foothills County January 1, 1954 6 7 22,766 21,248 7.1 3,636.8 6.3
Forty Mile County of Forty Mile No. 8 January 1, 1954 1 7 3,581 3,336 7.3 7,249.31 0.5
Grande Prairie County of Grande Prairie No. 1 December 21, 1943 19 9 22,303 19,724 13.1 5,802.21 3.8
Greenview MD of Greenview No. 16 January 1, 1994 18 8 5,583 5,299 5.4 32,984.24 0.2
Kneehill County January 1, 1944 5 7 5,001 4,921 1.6 3,381.02 1.5
Lac Ste. Anne County January 1, 1944 13 7 10,899 10,260 6.2 2,850.38 3.8
Lacombe County January 1, 1944 8 7 10,343 10,307 0.3 2,765.16 3.7
Lamont County January 1, 1944 10 5 3,899 3,872 0.7 2,385.09 1.6
Leduc County January 1, 1944 11 7 13,780 13,494 2.1 2,601.49 5.3
Lesser Slave River MD of Lesser Slave River No. 124 January 1, 1995 17 7 2,803 2,929 −4.3 10,074.39 0.3
Lethbridge County January 1, 1954 2 7 10,353 10,046 3.1 2,836.64 3.6
Minburn County of Minburn No. 27 January 30, 1942 10 7 3,188 3,383 −5.8 2,913.02 1.1
Mountain View County January 1, 1944 6 7 13,074 12,359 5.8 3,782.64 3.5
Newell County of Newell January 1, 1953 2 10 7,524 7,138 5.4 5,904.67 1.3
Northern Lights County of Northern Lights January 1, 1995 17 7 4,200 4,117 2.0 20,755.37 0.2
Northern Sunrise County April 1, 1994 17 6 1,933
(2013)		 1,891 1,791 5.6 21,150.97 0.1
Opportunity MD of Opportunity No. 17 August 1, 1995 17 11 2,639
(2016)		 3,181 3,074 3.5 29,142.10 0.1
Paintearth County of Paintearth No. 18 January 1, 1944 7 7 2,102 2,029 3.6 3,283.36 0.6
Parkland County January 1, 1969 11 7 32,097 30,568 5.0 2,390.23 13.4
Peace MD of Peace No. 135 December 11, 1916 19 5 1,747 1,446 20.8 847.47 2.1
Pincher Creek MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 January 1, 1944 3 5 2,965 3,158 −6.1 3,482.05 0.9
Ponoka County January 1, 1952 8 5 9,806 8,856 10.7 2,814.26 3.5
Provost MD of Provost No. 52 March 1, 1943 7 7 2,205 2,288 −3.6 3,628.39 0.6
Ranchland MD of Ranchland No. 66 January 1, 1995 15 3 104
(2013)		 92 79 16.5 2,638.70 0
Red Deer County January 1, 1944 8 7 19,541 18,316 6.7 3,961.85 4.9
Rocky View County January 1, 1955 6 9 38,055[40]
(2013)		 39,407 35,754 10.2 3,836.33 10.3
Saddle Hills County January 1, 1995 19 7 2,225 2,288 −2.8 5,838.15 0.4
Smoky Lake County March 1, 1943 12 5 4,107 3,910 5.0 3,412.92 1.2
Smoky River MD of Smoky River No. 130 January 1, 1952 19 6 2,023 2,126 −4.8 2,840.14 0.7
Spirit River MD of Spirit River No. 133 December 11, 1916 19 4 700 713 −1.8 683.60 1
St. Paul County of St. Paul No. 19 January 30, 1942 12 7 6,168
(2012)		 5,827 5,405 7.8 3,309.44 1.8
Starland County February 1, 1943 5 5 2,071
(2013)		 2,066 2,057 0.4 2,559.95 0.8
Stettler County of Stettler No. 6 March 1, 1943 7 7 5,322 5,103 4.3 4,018.84 1.3
Sturgeon County January 1, 1955 11 7 20,495 19,578 4.7 2,090.13 9.8
Taber MD of Taber January 1, 1954 2 7 7,173
(2016)		 7,098 6,851 3.6 4,201.65 1.7
Thorhild County January 1, 1955 13 5 3,254 3,417 −4.8 2,001.74 1.6
Two Hills County of Two Hills No. 21 January 1, 1944 10 5 3,322 3,160 5.1 2,637.18 1.3
Vermilion River County of Vermilion River January 1, 1944 10 7 8,116
(2015)		 8,267 7,905 4.6 5,519.75 1.5
Vulcan County January 1, 1951 5 7 3,839
(2012)		 3,984 3,875 2.8 5,433.43 0.7
Wainwright MD of Wainwright No. 61 January 30, 1942 7 7 4,479 4,138 8.2 4,156.56 1.1
Warner County of Warner No. 5 January 1, 1954 2 7 3,847 3,841 0.2 4,531.55 0.8
Westlock County February 1, 1943 13 7 7,220 7,644 −5.5 3,171.83 2.3
Wetaskiwin County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 February 1, 1943 11 7 11,181 10,866 2.9 3,132.06 3.6
Wheatland County January 1, 1955 5 7 8,788 8,285 6.1 4,545.92 1.9
Willow Creek MD of Willow Creek No. 26 January 1, 1954 3 7 5,179 5,107 1.4 4,558.14 1.1
Woodlands County January 1, 1994 13 7 4,612
(2014)		 4,754 4,306 10.4 7,669.13 0.6
Yellowhead County January 1, 1994 14 9 10,995 10,469 5.0 22,293.16 0.5
Total municipal districts — — 437 — 479,167 4,560,664 5.1 399,087.25 1.2

Improvement 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] Land
area
(km2)[41] 		Population
density
(per km2)[41] 		Remarks
004Improvement District No. 4 (Waterton) January 1, 1944 88 160 −45.0 480.58 0.18 Coincident with Waterton Lakes National Park
009Improvement 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 Banff
012Improvement 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 Jasper
013Improvement District No. 13 (Elk Island) April 1, 1958 10 21 −52.4 165.28 0.06 Coincident with Elk Island National Park
024Improvement 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 222
025Improvement District No. 25 (Willmore Wilderness) January 2, 1994 0 0 — 4,604.97 0.0 Coincident with Willmore Wilderness Park
KananaskisKananaskis Improvement District January 1, 1983 249 429 −42.0 4,210.72 0.06 Consists mostly of Kananaskis Country
Total 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 (km2)[44] Population
density (/km2)[44]
Special Area No. 2 April 7, 1959 1,905 2,025 −5.9 9,347.57 0.20
Special Area No. 3 April 7, 1959 1,042 1,122 −7.1 6,625.58 0.16
Special Area No. 4 January 1, 1969 1,237 1,352 −8.5 4,402.64 0.28
Total special areas — 4,184 4,499 −7.0 20,375.79 0.21

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Urban 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, 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 year
Abee Thorhild County 27 2009[50]
Acadia Valley Acadia No. 34, MD of 143 2021[51]
Aetna Cardston County 109
Alcomdale Sturgeon County 65
Alder Flats Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of 137
Aldersyde Foothills County 64 2003[52]
Alhambra Clearwater County 64 1991[53]
Altario Special Area No. 4 26
Antler Lake Strathcona County 412 2021[51]
Anzac Wood Buffalo, RM of 506
Ardley Red Deer County 17 1991[53]
Ardmore Bonnyville No. 87, MD of 346 2021[51]
Ardrossan Strathcona County 898
Armena Camrose County 37
Ashmont St. Paul No. 19, County of 125
Atmore Athabasca County 10
Balzac Rocky View County 1 2006[52]
Beauvallon Two Hills No. 21, County of 7 1991[53]
Beaver Crossing Bonnyville No. 87, MD of 18
Beaver Lake Lac La Biche County 467 2021[51]
Beaver Mines Pincher Creek No. 9, MD of 85
Beaverdam 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 198
Benchlands Bighorn No. 8, MD of 59
Bezanson Grande Prairie No. 1, County of 133
Bindloss Special Area No. 2 14 1991[53]
Bircham Kneehill County 5 2021[51]
Blackfoot Vermilion River, County of 386
Blackie[N 7] Foothills County 360
Blue Ridge Woodlands County 211
Bluesky Fairview No. 136, MD of 113
Bluffton Ponoka County 140
Bodo Provost No. 52, MD of 30
Botha Stettler No. 6, County of 180
Bottrel 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 65
Brule Yellowhead County 127
Buck Creek Brazeau County 107 2005[58]
Buck Lake Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of 60 2021[51]
Buford Leduc County 33
Burdett[N 8] Forty Mile No. 8, County of 331
Busby Westlock County 135
Byemoor Stettler No. 6, County of 30
Cadogan[N 9] Provost No. 52, MD of 108
Cadomin Yellowhead County 54
Cadotte Lake Northern Sunrise County 23
Calahoo Sturgeon County 143
Calling Lake Opportunity No. 17, MD of 375
Campsie Barrhead No. 11, County of
Canyon Creek Lesser Slave River No. 124, MD of 318 2021[51]
Carbondale Sturgeon County 78
Cardiff Sturgeon County 1,033
Carseland Wheatland County 542
Carvel 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 83
Cherhill 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 767
Colinton Athabasca County 169
Collingwood Cove Strathcona County 377
Compeer[N 14] Special Area No. 4 21 1991[53]
Condor Clearwater County 99
Conklin Wood Buffalo, RM of 154 2021[51]
Conrich Rocky View County 15
Craigmyle[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 39
Dapp Westlock County 30
De 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 of
Derwent[N 17] Two Hills No. 21, County of 96 2021[51]
Desert Blume Cypress County 835
Dewberry Vermilion River, County of 161 2021[64]
Diamond City[N 18] Lethbridge County 204 2021[51]
Dickson Red Deer County 50
Dimsdale 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 46
Dunmore[N 19] Cypress County 1,088
Duvernay 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 5
Elmworth 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 145
Ensign Vulcan County 26 2007[52]
Entwistle[N 22] Parkland County 429 2021[51]
Erskine[N 23] Stettler No. 6, County of 319
Etzikom Forty Mile No. 8, County of 54 1991[53]
Evansburg[N 24] Yellowhead County 717 2021[51]
Exshaw Bighorn No. 8, MD of 449
Fabyan 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 60
Ferintosh[N 25] Camrose County 180
Flatbush Lesser Slave River No. 124, MD of 30
Fleet Paintearth No. 18, County of 28 1991[53]
Fort Assiniboine[N 26] Woodlands County 158 2021[51]
Fort Chipewyan Wood Buffalo, RM of 798
Fort Kent Bonnyville No. 87, MD of 254
Fort 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 36
Gainford Parkland County 118
Galahad[N 30] Flagstaff County 125
Gasoline 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 557
Grassland Athabasca County 46
Grassy Lake[N 34] Taber, MD of 856
Green 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 166
Grovedale 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 163
Hastings Lake Strathcona County 94
Haynes Lacombe County 15
Hays Taber, MD of 196
Hayter Provost No. 52, MD of 84
Heinsburg 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 40
Hilliard Lamont County 35 1991[53]
Hoadley Ponoka County 9
Huallen Grande Prairie No. 1, County of 28
Huxley 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 103
Jean 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 126
Josephburg Strathcona County 127
Joussard Big Lakes County 334
Kathyrn Rocky View County 21
Kavanagh Leduc County 39
Keephills Parkland County 57
Kelsey Camrose County 15
Keoma Rocky View County 95
Kimball 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 179
Lac des Arcs Bighorn No. 8, MD of 146
Lac La Biche[N 45] Lac La Biche County 3,120
Lafond 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 81
Looma Leduc County 33
Lottie 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 43
Lundbreck Pincher Creek No. 9, MD of 289
Lyalta Wheatland County 480
Madden Rocky View County 10
Mallaig St. Paul No. 19, County of 210
Manola Barrhead No. 11, County of 29 1991[53]
Manyberries Forty Mile No. 8, County of 96
Marie Reine Northern Sunrise County 67 2010[82]
Markerville Red Deer County 38 2021[51]
Marlboro Yellowhead County 97
Marten 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. 15
Mirror[N 52] Lacombe County 481
Monarch[N 53] Lethbridge County 217
Monitor[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 447
Musidora 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 30
New Brigden Special Area No. 3 24 1991[53]
New Dayton Warner No. 5, County of 47
New Norway[N 57] Camrose County 307 2021[51]
New Sarepta[N 58] Leduc County 495
Newbrook Thorhild County 63
Nightingale Wheatland County 37
Nisku 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 17
Ohaton[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 91
Pelican Point Camrose County 117
Peoria Birch Hills County 12 1986[66]
Perryvale Athabasca County 10 2021[51]
Pibroch Westlock County 35
Pickardville Westlock County 303
Pincher Station Pincher Creek No. 9, MD of 26
Pine 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 267
Purple 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 315
Red Willow Stettler No. 6, County of 63
Reno Northern Sunrise County 20
Ribstone 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 46
Rivercourse Vermilion River, County of 16 2015[90]
Riverview St. Paul No. 19, County of 49 1991[53]
Rivière Qui Barre Sturgeon County 91 2021[51]
Robb Yellowhead County 144
Rochester Athabasca County 72
Rochfort 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 71
Rosebud[N 64] Wheatland County 112
Round Hill Camrose County 125
Rowley Starland County 8 2013[62]
Rumsey[N 65] Starland County 64
Sandy Lake[N 66] Opportunity No. 17, MD of 163 2021[51]
Sangudo[N 67] Lac Ste. Anne County 298
Saprae Creek Wood Buffalo, RM of 508
Scandia Newell, County of 169
Schuler Cypress County 86
Sedalia Special Area No. 3 15 1991[53]
Seven Persons Cypress County 277 2021[51]
Shaughnessy Lethbridge County 388
Sherwood 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 10
Smith Lesser Slave River No. 124, MD of 227 2021[51]
South Cooking Lake Strathcona County 288
Spedden 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 138
St. 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 39
St. Vincent St. Paul No. 19, County of 43
Star Lamont County 32
Streamstown Vermilion River, County of 20 2015[92]
Strome[N 69] Flagstaff County 232 2021[51]
Suffield[N 70] Cypress County 190
Sunnybrook Leduc County 50
Sunnynook Special Area No. 2 13 1991[53]
Sunnyslope Kneehill County 28 2021[51]
Swalwell[N 71] Kneehill County 93
Tangent 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 35
Therien 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 130
Tomahawk Parkland County 113
Torrington[N 74] Kneehill County 306
Travers 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 10
Valhalla Centre Grande Prairie No. 1, County of 40
Veinerville Cypress County 70
Venice 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 183
Violet 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) 158
Watino 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 18
Westerose 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 257
Willingdon Two Hills No. 21, County of 249
Wimborne Kneehill County 15
Winfield Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of 193
Withrow 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 58
Zama 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 Alberta

Métis settlements[edit]

Main article: Métis in Alberta

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:

Métis settlements of Alberta List of Metis settlements in Alberta
Name Municipal district
or specialized
municipality[97] 		2021 Census of Population[35]
Population
(2021) 		Population
(2016) 		Change
(%) 		Land
area
(km2) 		Population
density
(/km2)
Buffalo Lake Smoky Lake County 379 712 −46.8% 335.68 1.1
East Prairie Big Lakes County 310 304 +2.0% 328.42 0.9
Elizabeth BonnyvilleMD of Bonnyville No. 87 594 653 −9.0% 246.45 2.4
Fishing Lake BonnyvilleMD of Bonnyville No. 87 414 446 −7.2% 348.64 1.2
Gift Lake[j] Big Lakes County
Northern Sunrise County		 625 658 −5.0% 803.29 0.8
Kikino[k] Smoky Lake County
Lac La Biche County		 978 934 +4.7% 441.69 2.2
Paddle Prairie Northern LightsCounty of Northern Lights 551 544 +1.3% 1,726.45 0.3
Peavine Big Lakes County 387 607 −36.2% 798.95 0.5
Total Metis settlements 4,238 4,858 −12.8% 5,029.57 0.8
Province of Alberta 4,262,635 4,067,175 +4.8% 634,658.27 6.7
*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[edit]

Main 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 by
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada 		First Nation(s) Ethnic/national group Tribal council Treaty Area Population[98] Notes
ha acre 2016 2011 %
difference
Ɂejëre Kʼelnı Kuę́ 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 Territories
Alexander 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 5,691.6
Alexander 134B[102] Alexander Beaver Hills Cree Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 3.4 8.4
Alexis 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 11,517.6
Alexis Elk River 233[105] Alexis Nakota Sioux Nakoda Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 98.0 242.2
Alexis Whitecourt 232[106] Alexis Nakota Sioux Nakoda Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation 6 3,544.9 8,759.6
Allison 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 5,763.2
Assineau River 150F[109] Swan River Woods Cree Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council 8 71.6 176.9
Beaver 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 8 240.0 593.1
Beaver Ranch 163B[113] Tallcree Tribal Government Anishinaabe North Peace Tribal Council 8 226.0 558.5
Big Horn 144A[114] Bearspaw
Chiniki
Stoney
Wesley		 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 8 354.1 875.0
Blood 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 4,872.2
Blue Quills First Nation Indian Reserve[118] Beaver Lake Cree
Cold Lake
Frog Lake
Heart Lake
Kehewin Cree
Saddle Lake		 Cree
Chipewyan
Cree
Cree
Cree
Beaver Hills Cree		 Tribal Chiefs Ventures Incorporated 6 96.2 237.7
Boyer 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 2,558.0
Bushe 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 64.5 159.4
Child 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 49,600.0
Chipewyan 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 47.9
Chipewyan 201C[127] Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 18.2 45.0
Chipewyan 201D[128] Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 4.3 10.6
Chipewyan 201E[129] Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 4,165.5 10,293.2
Chipewyan 201F[130] Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 66.4 164.1
Chipewyan 201G[131] Athabasca Chipewyan Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 905.3 2,237.0
Clear Hills 152C[132] Horse Lake Cree / Dane-zaa Western Cree Tribal Council 8 1,547.1 3,823.0
Clearwater 175[133] Fort McMurray #468 Cree / Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 915.4 2,262.0
Cold 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 5,000.2
Collin Lake 223[138] Mikisew Cree Woodland Cree 8 36.4 89.9
Cornwall Lake 224[139] Mikisew Cree Woodland Cree 8 69.3 171.2
Cowper Lake 194A[140] Chipewyan Prairie Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 143.0 353.4
Devil's Gate 220[141] Mikisew Cree Woodland Cree 8 819.1 2,024.0
Dog 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] Bearspaw
Chiniki
Stoney
Wesley		 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 135
Enoch Cree Nation No. 135A[147] Enoch Cree Beaver Hills Cree 6 2.0 4.9
Ermineskin 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 Headquartered
in the NWT
Fort McKay 174[150] Fort McKay Cree / Dene Athabasca Tribal Council 8 3,106.7 7,676.8
Fort McKay 174C[151] Fort McKay Cree / Dene Athabasca Tribal Council 8 3,381.4 8,355.6
Fort McKay 174D[152] Fort McKay Cree / Dene Athabasca Tribal Council 8 660.8 1,632.9
Fort 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 0
Gregoire Lake 176B[157] Fort McMurray #468 Cree / Chipewyan Athabasca Tribal Council 8 17.0 42.0
Hay 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 20.5
Hokedhe Túe 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 Territories
Horse 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 8 103.6 256.0
Janvier 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 Túe 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 Territories
Kapawe'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

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