Strathcona County, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Strathcona County is a specialized municipality
Specialized municipalities of Alberta
A specialized municipality is a type of municipal status used in the Canadian Province of Alberta. Alberta specialized municipalities are unique local governments that can be formed without resorting to special acts of Alberta's legislature...
in central Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
between Edmonton and Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park , is one of 43 national parks and park reserves administered by the Parks Canada Agency. This “island of conservation” is located 35 km east of Edmonton, Alberta along the Yellowhead Highway, which nearly bisects the park...
.
It is located in Division No. 11
Division No. 11, Alberta
Division No. 11 is a census division in Alberta, Canada. Surrounding the City of Edmonton, the majority of the division comprises Alberta's Capital Region, while the western and southern portions of the division are located within central Alberta...
and is also part of the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area
Edmonton Capital Region
The Edmonton Capital Region , also commonly referred to as the Alberta Capital Region, Greater Edmonton or Metro Edmonton, is a conglomeration of municipalities centred around Edmonton – Alberta's provincial capital....
. More than half of the population lives in Sherwood Park
Sherwood Park, Alberta
Sherwood Park is a large hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County that is recognized as an urban service area. It is located adjacent to the City of Edmonton's eastern boundary, generally south of Highway 16 , west of Highway 21 and north of Highway 630...
, a large community east of Edmonton that has opted to retain hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
status. Strathcona County was designated as a specialized municipality on January 1, 1996, in order to accommodate the specific needs of an area that includes both urban and rural territory.
Governance
Unlike most Albertan municipal districts, where council appoints a reeve, Strathcona County elects a mayor. Linda Osinchuk was elected in 2010Strathcona County municipal election, 2010
The 2010 Strathcona County municipal election was held Monday, October 18, 2010. Since 1968, provincial legislation has required every municipality to hold triennial elections...
.
Demographics
The population of Strathcona County according to its 2009 municipal census is 87,998.In 2006, Strathcona County had a population of 82,511 living in 29,293 dwellings
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
, a 14.6% increase from 2001. The specialized municipality has a land area of 1179.43 km² (455.4 sq mi) and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 70 /km2.
According to the Canada 2001 Census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
, Strathcona County had a population of 71,986 (increased to 80,232 in 2005), a 12.2% increase from 1996. With a land area of 1182.11 square kilometres (456.4 sq mi) and 24,528 dwellings, it had a population density was 60.9 persons per square kilometre in 2001.
History
First officially recognized in 1893 by the territorial legislature (it was then part of the North West Territories) as Statute Labour District #2, Strathcona County has changed immensely since its inception. In 1913 Statute Labour District #2 was renamed to Local Improvement District #517 (Clover Bar), which then, in 1943, merged with Local Improvement District #518 (Strathcona) to become Municipal District #83 (Strathcona). By joining with local school divisions in 1962, Municipal District #83 officially became a countyCounty
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
. County status was subsequently revoked in 1995 when the County Act was repealed by the provincial legislature, but was quickly returned in 1996 when the County of Strathcona #20 officially changed its name to Strathcona County and received Specialized Municipality status.
On March 29, 2007 the county announced plans to create an entirely new urban settlement from scratch to complement Sherwood Park. This development is supposed to be more dense and pedestrian friendly, and could hold up to 200,000 people. However, opponents have pointed out that the development will destroy land of high agricultural value, and the City of Edmonton opposes it as another example of urban sprawl
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
in the region.
Communities
Hamlets- Antler LakeAntler Lake, AlbertaAntler Lake is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County. It is located on the shores of Antler Lake, approximately east of Sherwood Park...
- ArdrossanArdrossan, AlbertaArdrossan is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County. It is located on Highway 824, approximately east of Sherwood Park.Ardrossan has been identified as a growth hamlet and a concept plan has been approved that will see another of land developed for residential purposes.The...
- Collingwood CoveCollingwood Cove, AlbertaCollingwood Cove is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County. It is located at the terminus of Highway 629, approximately southeast of Sherwood Park....
- Half Moon LakeHalf Moon Lake, AlbertaAlthough the lake is surrounded by private land, visitors to Strathcona County will find the commercially run Half Moon Lake Resort at the south end of the lake, which provides access to the lake...
- Hastings LakeHastings Lake, AlbertaHastings Lake is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County. It is located on the south shore of Hastings Lake, approximately southeast of Sherwood Park. It is north of Highway 14....
- JosephburgJosephburg, AlbertaJosephburg is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County. It is located on Highway 830, east of Fort Saskatchewan. It is in close proximity to Alberta's Industrial Heartland, home to petrochemical industries....
- North Cooking LakeNorth Cooking Lake, AlbertaNorth Cooking Lake is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County. It is located on Highway 630 and on the northeast shore of Cooking Lake, approximately southeast of Sherwood Park...
- Sherwood ParkSherwood Park, AlbertaSherwood Park is a large hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County that is recognized as an urban service area. It is located adjacent to the City of Edmonton's eastern boundary, generally south of Highway 16 , west of Highway 21 and north of Highway 630...
(urban service area) - South Cooking LakeSouth Cooking Lake, AlbertaSouth Cooking Lake is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County. It is located on Highway 14, approximately southeast of Sherwood Park....
See also
- List of communities in Alberta
- Specialized municipalities of AlbertaSpecialized municipalities of AlbertaA specialized municipality is a type of municipal status used in the Canadian Province of Alberta. Alberta specialized municipalities are unique local governments that can be formed without resorting to special acts of Alberta's legislature...
- Strathcona County TransitStrathcona County TransitStrathcona County Transit provides local, commuter and school bus services to the community of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, which is situated just east of Edmonton in Strathcona County....
- Strathcona County LibraryStrathcona County LibraryStrathcona County Library is a publicly funded library in the special municipality of Strathcona County, Alberta, Canada. Its main branch is in Strathcona County's urban centre, Sherwood Park, while its Bookmobile provides service to rural residents through 12 regular weekly stops.The library has a...