# 2015 Alberta municipal censuses

Alberta has provincial legislation allowing its municipalities to conduct municipal censuses between April 1 and June 30 inclusive. Municipalities choose to conduct their own censuses for multiple reasons such as to better inform municipal service planning and provision, to capitalize on per capita based grant funding from higher levels of government, or to simply update their populations since the last federal census.
Alberta had 357 municipalities between April 1 and June 30, 2015, which marked the closure of the 2015 legislated municipal census period. This was reduced to 356 on July 1, 2015 when the former Village of Minburn dissolved to become a hamlet under the jurisdiction of the County of Minburn No. 27. At least 52 of these municipalities (14.6%) conducted a municipal census in 2015. Alberta Municipal Affairs recognized those conducted by 50 of these municipalities. By municipal status, it recognized those conducted by 12 of Alberta's 18 cities, 20 of 108 towns, 5 of 92 villages, 3 of 5 specialized municipalities, 2 of 64 municipal districts, and all 8 Metis settlements. In addition to those recognized by Municipal Affairs, censuses were conducted by the villages of Kitscoty and Warburg.
Some municipalities achieved population milestones as a result of their 2015 censuses. Red Deer became the third city in Alberta to exceed 100,000 residents, while Grande Prairie not only surpassed 60,000 people, but also overtook both St. Albert and Medicine Hat to become Alberta's fifth-largest city. Spruce Grove grew beyond the 30,000 mark, while both the Town of Blackfalds and the County of Vermilion River eclipsed 8,000. The Town of Westlock's population resurfaced above 5,000 after first doing so in 2006 but dropping back below in 2008. The Village of Thorsby surpassed 1,000, making it eligible to apply for town status.

## Municipal census results

The following summarizes the results of the numerous municipal censuses conducted in 2015.
| 2015 municipal census summary | 2015 municipal census summary | 2015 municipal census summary | 2015 municipal census summary | 2011 federal census comparison | 2011 federal census comparison | 2011 federal census comparison | 2011 federal census comparison | Previous municipal census comparison | Previous municipal census comparison | Previous municipal census comparison | Previous municipal census comparison |
| Municipality | Status | Census date | 2015 pop. | 2011 pop. | Absolute growth | Absolute change | Annual growth rate | Prev. pop. | Prev. census year | Absolute growth | Annual growth rate |
| Airdrie | City | April 15, 2015 | 58,690 | 42,564 | 16,126 | 37.9% | 8.4% | 54,891 | 2014 | 3,799 | 6.9% |
| Barnwell | Village | June 1, 2015 | 960 | 771 | 189 | 24.5% | 5.6% | 812 | 2011 | 148 | 4.3% |
| Beaumont | Town | April 15, 2015 | 16,768 | 13,284 | 3,484 | 26.2% | 6.0% | 15,828 | 2014 | 940 | 5.9% |
| Big Valley | Village | May 11, 2015 | 347 | 364 | −17 | -4.7% | −1.2% | 300 | 1991 | 47 | 0.6% |
| Blackfalds | Town | May 1, 2015 | 8,793 | 6,300 | 2,493 | 39.6% | 8.7% | 7,858 | 2014 | 935 | 11.9% |
| Brooks | City | May 1, 2015 | 14,185 | 13,676 | 509 | 3.7% | 0.9% | 13,581 | 2007 | 604 | 0.5% |
| Buffalo Lake | Metis settlement | May 24, 2015 | 676 | 492 | 184 | 37.4% | 8.3% | 701 | 2012 | −25 | −1.2% |
| Calgary | City | April 1, 2015 | 1,230,915 | 1,096,833 | 134,082 | 12.2% | 2.9% | 1,195,194 | 2014 | 35,721 | 3.0% |
| Chestermere | City | May 1, 2015 | 18,496 | 14,824 | 3,672 | 24.8% | 5.7% | 17,203 | 2014 | 1,293 | 7.5% |
| Coalhurst | Town | May 20, 2015 | 2,522 | 1,963 | 559 | 28.5% | 6.5% | 2,301 | 2013 | 221 | 4.7% |
| Cochrane | Town | April 10, 2015 | 23,084 | 17,580 | 5,504 | 31.3% | 7.0% | 20,708 | 2014 | 2,376 | 11.5% |
| East Prairie | Metis settlement | May 24, 2015 | 459 | 366 | 93 | 25.4% | 5.8% | 345 | 2012 | 114 | 10.0% |
| Elizabeth | Metis settlement | May 24, 2015 | 690 | 654 | 36 | 5.5% | 1.3% | 671 | 2012 | 19 | 0.9% |
| Elk Point | Town | April 17, 2015 | 1,646 | 1,412 | 234 | 16.6% | 3.9% | 1,571 | 2012 | 75 | 1.6% |
| Fishing Lake | Metis settlement | May 24, 2015 | 491 | 436 | 55 | 12.6% | 3.0% | 425 | 2012 | 66 | 4.9% |
| Fort Saskatchewan | City | April 20, 2015 | 24,040 | 19,051 | 4,989 | 26.2% | 6.0% | 22,808 | 2014 | 1,232 | 5.4% |
| Gift Lake | Metis settlement | May 24, 2015 | 651 | 662 | −11 | -1.7% | −0.4% | 791 | 2012 | −140 | −6.3% |
| Grande Prairie | City | April 17, 2015 | 68,556 | 55,032 | 13,524 | 24.6% | 5.6% | 50,227 | 2007 | 18,329 | 4.0% |
| Hay Lakes | Village | June 4, 2015 | 492 | 425 | 67 | 15.8% | 3.7% | 429 | 2008 | 63 | 2.0% |
| High Level | Town | March 1, 2015 | 3,823 | 3,641 | 182 | 5% | 1.2% | 3,849 | 2004 | −26 | −0.1% |
| Innisfail | Town | May 4, 2015 | 7,953 | 7,876 | 77 | 1% | 0.2% | 7,922 | 2012 | 31 | 0.1% |
| Kikino | Metis settlement | May 24, 2015 | 918 | 964 | −46 | -4.8% | 0.0% | 810 | 2012 | 108 | 4.3% |
| Kitscoty | Village | | | 846 | | | | 967 | 2013 | | |
| Leduc | City | April 28, 2015 | 29,304 | 24,279 | 5,025 | 20.7% | 4.8% | 28,583 | 2014 | 721 | 2.5% |
| Lethbridge | City | April 1, 2015 | 94,804 | 83,517 | 11,287 | 13.5% | 3.2% | 93,004 | 2014 | 1,800 | 1.9% |
| Lloydminster | City | April 1, 2015 | 31,377 | 27,804 | 3,573 | 12.9% | 3.1% | 31,483 | 2013 | −106 | −0.2% |
| Mackenzie County | Specialized municipality | March 1, 2015 | 11,750 | 10,927 | 823 | 7.5% | 1.8% | 9,687 | 2003 | 2,063 | 1.6% |
| Magrath | Town | March 30, 2015 | 2,398 | 2,217 | 181 | 8.2% | 2.0% | 2,376 | 2013 | 22 | 0.5% |
| Medicine Hat | City | April 10, 2015 | 63,018 | 60,005 | 3,013 | 5% | 1.2% | 61,180 | 2012 | 1,838 | 1.0% |
| Milk River | Town | April 13, 2015 | 892 | 811 | 81 | 10% | 2.4% | 846 | 2007 | 46 | 0.7% |
| Okotoks | Town | May 6, 2015 | 28,016 | 24,511 | 3,505 | 14.3% | 3.4% | 27,331 | 2014 | 685 | 2.5% |
| Opportunity No. 17MD of Opportunity No. 17 | Municipal district | April 1, 2015 | 3,214 | 3,074 | 140 | 4.6% | 1.1% | 3,061 | 2013 | 153 | 2.5% |
| Oyen | Town | May 8, 2015 | 1,006 | 973 | 33 | 3.4% | 0.8% | 1,070 | 2012 | −64 | −2.0% |
| Paddle Prairie | Metis settlement | May 24, 2015 | 530 | 562 | −32 | -5.7% | −1.5% | 464 | 2012 | 66 | 4.5% |
| Peavine | Metis settlement | May 24, 2015 | 639 | 690 | −51 | -7.4% | −1.9% | 651 | 2012 | −12 | −0.6% |
| Rainbow Lake | Town | March 1, 2015 | 938 | 870 | 68 | 7.8% | 1.9% | 1,082 | 2007 | −144 | −1.8% |
| Raymond | Town | May 15, 2015 | 4,139 | 3,743 | 396 | 10.6% | 2.5% | 4,081 | 2014 | 58 | 1.4% |
| Red Deer | City | April 1, 2015 | 100,807 | 90,564 | 10,243 | 11.3% | 2.7% | 98,585 | 2014 | 2,222 | 2.3% |
| Rocky Mountain House | Town | April 1, 2015 | 7,220 | 6,933 | 287 | 4.1% | 1.0% | 7,300 | 2012 | −80 | −0.4% |
| Spruce Grove | City | April 8, 2015 | 32,036 | 26,171 | 5,865 | 22.4% | 5.2% | 29,526 | 2014 | 2,510 | 8.5% |
| Stirling | Village | May 11, 2015 | 1,215 | 1,090 | 125 | 11.5% | 2.8% | 1,147 | 2013 | 68 | 2.9% |
| Stony Plain | Town | April 1, 2015 | 16,127 | 15,051 | 1,076 | 7.1% | 1.7% | 14,177 | 2010 | 1,950 | 2.6% |
| Strathcona County | Specialized municipality | May 1, 2015 | 95,597 | 92,490 | 3,107 | 3.4% | 0.8% | 92,403 | 2012 | 3,194 | 1.1% |
| Strathmore | Town | April 15, 2015 | 13,327 | 12,305 | 1,022 | 8.3% | 2.0% | 12,352 | 2012 | 975 | 2.6% |
| Sylvan Lake | Town | April 14, 2015 | 14,310 | 12,327 | 1,983 | 16.1% | 3.8% | 13,015 | 2013 | 1,295 | 4.9% |
| Taber | Town | May 6, 2015 | 8,380 | 8,104 | 276 | 3.4% | 0.8% | 7,935 | 2011 | 445 | 1.4% |
| Thorsby | Village | April 19, 2015 | 1,025 | 951 | 74 | 7.8% | 1.9% | 947 | 2012 | 78 | 2.7% |
| Turner Valley | Town | May 15, 2015 | 2,511 | 2,167 | 344 | 15.9% | 3.8% | 2,022 | 2008 | 489 | 3.1% |
| Vermilion RiverCounty of Vermilion River | Municipal district | April 29, 2015 | 8,116 | 7,905 | 211 | 2.7% | 0.7% | 7,900 | 2008 | 216 | 0.4% |
| Warburg | Village | | | 789 | | | | 696 | 2009 | | |
| Westlock | Town | April 15, 2015 | 5,147 | 4,823 | 324 | 6.7% | 1.6% | 4,964 | 2008 | 183 | 0.5% |
| Wood BuffaloRM of Wood Buffalo | Specialized municipality | April 1, 2015 | 81,948 | 65,565 | 16,383 | 25% | 5.7% | 74,631 | 2012 | 7,317 | 3.2% |

## Breakdowns
### Lloydminster

The following is a breakdown of the results of the City of Lloydminster's 2015 municipal census by provincial component.
| 2015 municipal census summary | 2015 municipal census summary | 2015 municipal census summary | 2011 federal census comparison | 2011 federal census comparison | 2011 federal census comparison | 2011 federal census comparison | 2011 federal census comparison | 2013 municipal census comparison | 2013 municipal census comparison | 2013 municipal census comparison | 2013 municipal census comparison | 2013 municipal census comparison |
| Provincial component | 2015 pop. | Prov. percent | 2011 pop. | Prov. percent | Absolute growth | Absolute change | Annual growth rate | 2013 pop. | Prov. percent | Absolute growth | Absolute change | Annual growth rate |
| Alberta portion | 19,740 | 63% | 18,032 | 65% | 1,708 | 9.5% | 2.3% | 20,011 | 64% | −271 | -1.4% | −0.7% |
| Saskatchewan portion | 11,637 | 37% | 9,772 | 35% | 1,865 | 19.1% | 4.5% | 11,472 | 36% | 165 | 1.4% | 0.7% |
| Total Lloydminster | 31,377 | 100% | 27,804 | 100% | 3,573 | 12.9% | 3.1% | 31,483 | 100% | −106 | -0.3% | −0.2% |

### Urban and rural service areas
#### Strathcona County

| 2015 municipal census summary | 2015 municipal census summary | 2012 municipal census comparison | 2012 municipal census comparison | 2012 municipal census comparison |
| Area | 2015 population | Previous population | Absolute growth | Annual growth rate |
| Sherwood Park urban service area | 68,782 | 65,465 | 3,317 | 1.7% |
| Rural service area | 26,815 | 26,938 | −123 | −0.2% |
| Total Strathcona County | 95,597 | 92,403 | 3,194 | 1.1% |

#### Wood Buffalo

| 2015 municipal census summary | 2015 municipal census summary | 2012 municipal census comparison | 2012 municipal census comparison | 2012 municipal census comparison |
| Area | 2015 population | Previous population | Absolute growth | Annual growth rate |
| Fort McMurray urban service area | 78,382 | 70,964 | 7,418 | 3.4% |
| Rural service area | 3,566 | 3,667 | −101 | −0.9% |
| Total RM of Wood Buffalo | 81,948 | 74,631 | 7,317 | 3.2% |

### Hamlets

The following is a list of hamlet populations determined by 2015 municipal censuses conducted by the County of Vermilion River, Strathcona County and the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo excluding the urban service areas of Fort McMurray and Sherwood Park that are presented above.
| 2015 municipal census summary | 2015 municipal census summary | 2015 municipal census summary | Previous census comparison | Previous census comparison | Previous census comparison | Previous census comparison |
| Hamlet | Municipality | 2015 population | Previous population | Previous census year | Absolute growth | Annual growth rate |
| Antler Lake | Strathcona County | 469 | 353 | 2012 | 116 | 9.9% |
| Anzac | Wood BuffaloRM of Wood Buffalo | 763 | 714 | 2012 | 49 | 2.2% |
| Ardrossan | Strathcona County | 412 | 514 | 2012 | −102 | −7.1% |
| Blackfoot | Vermilion RiverCounty of Vermilion River | 422 | 269 | 2011 | 151 | 11.1% |
| Clandonald | Vermilion RiverCounty of Vermilion River | 107 | 109 | 2011 | −2 | −0.5% |
| Collingwood Cove | Strathcona County | 360 | 362 | 2012 | −2 | −0.2% |
| Conklin | Wood BuffaloRM of Wood Buffalo | 376 | 318 | 2012 | 58 | 5.7% |
| Fort Chipewyan | Wood BuffaloRM of Wood Buffalo | 1,014 | 1,008 | 2012 | 6 | 0.2% |
| Fort MacKay | Wood BuffaloRM of Wood Buffalo | 51 | 59 | 2012 | −8 | −4.7% |
| Gregoire Lake Estates | Wood BuffaloRM of Wood Buffalo | 232 | 275 | 2012 | −43 | −5.5% |
| Half Moon Lake | Strathcona County | 195 | 226 | 2012 | −31 | −4.8% |
| Hastings Lake | Strathcona County | 87 | 92 | 2012 | −5 | −1.8% |
| Islay | Vermilion RiverCounty of Vermilion River | 209 | 208 | 2011 | 1 | 0.1% |
| Janvier | Wood BuffaloRM of Wood Buffalo | 155 | 171 | 2012 | −16 | −4.8% |
| Josephburg | Strathcona County | 117 | 233 | 2012 | −116 | −20.5% |
| McLaughlin | Vermilion RiverCounty of Vermilion River | 41 | | | | |
| North Cooking Lake | Strathcona County | 59 | 66 | 2012 | −7 | −3.7% |
| Rivercourse | Vermilion RiverCounty of Vermilion River | 16 | | | | |
| Saprae Creek | Wood BuffaloRM of Wood Buffalo | 977 | 925 | 2012 | 52 | 1.8% |
| South Cooking Lake | Strathcona County | 302 | 294 | 2012 | 8 | 0.9% |
| Streamstown | Vermilion RiverCounty of Vermilion River | 20 | | | | |
| Tulliby Lake | Vermilion RiverCounty of Vermilion River | 22 | | | | |

## Shadow population counts

Alberta Municipal Affairs defines shadow population as "temporary residents of a municipality who are employed by an industrial or commercial establishment in the municipality for a minimum of 30 days within a municipal census year." The RM of Wood Buffalo conducted a shadow population count in 2015. The following presents the results of this count for comparison with its concurrent municipal census results.
| Municipality | Status | Municipal census population | Shadow population | Combined population |
| Wood BuffaloRM of Wood Buffalo | Specialized municipality | 81,948 | 43,084 | 125,032 |