Strathcona County | |
|---|---|
 Logo | |
 Location withinAlberta | |
| Coordinates:53°31′24″N113°18′32″W / 53.52333°N 113.30889°W /53.52333; -113.30889 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Edmonton Metropolitan Region |
| Census division | No. 11 |
| -Municipal district | 1943 |
| -Specialized municipality | January 1, 1996 |
| Named after | Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rod Frank |
| • Governing body | Strathcona County Council
|
| • Seat | Sherwood Park |
| Area (2021)[2] | |
| • Land | 1,170.65 km2 (451.99 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Total | 99,225 |
| • Density | 84.8/km2 (220/sq mi) |
| • Municipal census (2024) | 103,829[3] |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Website | strathcona.ca |
Strathcona County is aspecialized municipality in theEdmonton Metropolitan Region withinAlberta, Canada betweenEdmonton andElk Island National Park. It forms part ofCensus Division No. 11.
Strathcona County is both urban and rural in nature. Approximately73% of its population lives inSherwood Park, which is anurban service area east of Edmonton, remains an unincorporatedhamlet. The balance lives beyond Sherwood Park within a rural service area.
InTreaty 6, the First Nations ceded their title to the land that would become Strathcona County. Local governance began in 1893 when theNorth-West Territorial Legislature established an area east of Edmonton asStatute Labour District No. 2.[6] It then grew in size over the following decade and was renamedLocal Improvement District (LID) No. 517 in 1913.[6] In 1918,LID No. 517 became amunicipal district under the name of theMunicipal District (MD) of Clover Bar No. 517.[6] At the same time, the neighbouring LID No. 518 to the south became theMD of Strathcona No. 518.[6]
TheMD of Clover Bar No. 517 and theMD of Strathcona No. 518amalgamated on March 1, 1943, into a larger municipal district under the name of theMD of Strathcona No. 517.[7] It was subsequently renumbered as theMD of Strathcona No. 83 in 1945.[6] Upon further amalgamating with theClover Bar School Division No. 13,[6] theMD of Strathcona No. 83 incorporated as acounty under the name of theCounty of Strathcona No. 20 on January 1, 1962.[7] Its county status reverted to municipal district status in 1995 when theCounty Act was repealed by the provincial legislature though its name remainedCounty of Strathcona No. 20.[6] Its name was officially changed toStrathcona County on April 26, 1995.[7] Shortly thereafter, Strathcona County's status was changed from municipal district to specialized municipality on January 1, 1996.[7]
The purpose of Strathcona County's change to specialized municipality status was to provide "for the unique needs of a municipality that includes both a large urban centre and a significant rural territory and population."[7] The status change specifically designated Strathcona County's large urban centre,Sherwood Park, as an urban service area deemed equivalent to a city.[8] Its remaining rural territory was specifically designated a rural service area deemed equivalent to a municipal district.[8]
Strathcona County is in the central portion of the province of Alberta[9] and forms the eastern portion of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region.[10] It bordersLamont County to the northeast,Improvement District No. 13 (Elk Island National Park) to the east,Beaver County to the southeast,Leduc County to the south, the City of Edmonton to the west, theCity of Fort Saskatchewan to the northeast, andSturgeon County to the north.[9] TheNorth Saskatchewan River forms its municipal boundary with Sturgeon County.[9] Some of its water bodies includeCooking Lake,Half Moon, andHastings Lake.[9]
The followingurban municipalities are surrounded by Strathcona County.
| The followinghamlets are located within Strathcona County.[12]
|
The followinglocalities are located within Strathcona County.[13]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 6,293 | — |
| 1936 | 6,844 | +8.8% |
| 1941 | 6,725 | −1.7% |
| 1946 | 6,383 | −5.1% |
| 1951 | 7,591 | +18.9% |
| 1956 | 8,873 | +16.9% |
| 1961 | 12,075 | +36.1% |
| 1966 | 16,185 | +34.0% |
| 1971 | 25,634 | +58.4% |
| 1976 | 42,278 | +64.9% |
| 1981 | 51,579 | +22.0% |
| 1986 | 49,802 | −3.4% |
| 1991 | 56,573 | +13.6% |
| 1996 | 64,176 | +13.4% |
| 2001 | 71,986 | +12.2% |
| 2006 | 82,511 | +14.6% |
| 2011 | 92,490 | +12.1% |
| 2016 | 98,044 | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 99,225 | +1.2% |
| Source:Statistics Canada [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][2] | ||
The population of Strathcona County according to its2024 municipal census is 103,829, a change of3.5% from its2022 municipal census population of 100,362.[3] Its 2024 population includes 75,575 or72.8% living in the Sherwood Park urban service area and 28,253 or27.2% in the rural service area.[3]
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Strathcona County had a population of 99,225 living in 37,128 of its 38,203 total private dwellings, a change of1.2% from its 2016 population of 98,024. With a land area of 1,170.65 km2 (451.99 sq mi), it had a population density of84.8/km2 (219.5/sq mi) in 2021.[2]
| Component[24] | 2024 population[3] | 2022 population[25] | 2018 population[24] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwood Park urban service area | 75,575 | 73,000 | 71,332 |
| Rural service area | 28,253 | 27,362 | 27,049 |
| – Hamlet ofAntler Lake | 428 | 435 | |
| – Hamlet ofArdrossan | 919 | 532 | |
| – Hamlet ofCollingwood Cove | 375 | 376 | |
| – Hamlet ofHalf Moon Lake | 187 | 214 | |
| – Hamlet ofHastings Lake | 102 | 104 | |
| – Hamlet ofJosephburg | 117 | 118 | |
| – Hamlet ofNorth Cooking Lake | 48 | 57 | |
| – Hamlet ofSouth Cooking Lake | 277 | 270 | |
| Total Strathcona County | 103,829 | 100,362 | 98,381 |
In the2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Strathcona County had a population of 98,044 living in 35,567 of its 36,354 total private dwellings, a change of6% from its 2011 population of 92,490. With a land area of 1,182.78 km2 (456.67 sq mi), it had a population density of82.9/km2 (214.7/sq mi) in 2016.[23]
| Panethnic group | 2021[26] | 2016[27] | 2011[28] | 2006[29] | 2001[30] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| European[a] | 83,940 | 85.89% | 85,990 | 88.63% | 82,960 | 90.67% | 75,970 | 92.82% | 67,930 | 95.11% |
| Indigenous | 4,600 | 4.71% | 3,880 | 4% | 3,480 | 3.8% | 2,270 | 2.77% | 1,510 | 2.11% |
| Southeast Asian[b] | 2,820 | 2.89% | 2,110 | 2.17% | 1,150 | 1.26% | 860 | 1.05% | 365 | 0.51% |
| South Asian | 2,650 | 2.71% | 1,820 | 1.88% | 1,425 | 1.56% | 805 | 0.98% | 485 | 0.68% |
| East Asian[c] | 1,315 | 1.35% | 1,280 | 1.32% | 1,015 | 1.11% | 980 | 1.2% | 545 | 0.76% |
| African | 985 | 1.01% | 775 | 0.8% | 455 | 0.5% | 450 | 0.55% | 360 | 0.5% |
| Latin American | 570 | 0.58% | 455 | 0.47% | 525 | 0.57% | 160 | 0.2% | 85 | 0.12% |
| Middle Eastern[d] | 370 | 0.38% | 325 | 0.33% | 175 | 0.19% | 160 | 0.2% | 50 | 0.07% |
| Other/multiracial[e] | 480 | 0.49% | 380 | 0.39% | 315 | 0.34% | 180 | 0.22% | 95 | 0.13% |
| Total responses | 97,730 | 98.49% | 97,020 | 98.96% | 91,495 | 98.92% | 81,845 | 99.19% | 71,420 | 99.21% |
| Total population | 99,225 | 100% | 98,044 | 100% | 92,490 | 100% | 82,511 | 100% | 71,986 | 100% |
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | ||||||||||
As of 2020[update] Strathcona County had over $12.0 billion worth of industrial projects completed, announced, or under construction.[31] This is aided in part by the concentration of oil refineries on the west side of Sherwood Park. This district, known asRefinery Row, includes some of the largest industrial facilities in Western Canada, such asImperial's Strathcona Refinery. Originally built in the 1940s, a new refinery was constructed in 1976 and is one of the largest refining facilities in Canada.[32] As well, theSuncor's Edmonton Refinery produces 142,000 barrels per day (22,600 m3/d) of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and aviation gasoline. This refinery sits on 247 hectares of land and has been operating for over 65 years.[33]A founding member ofAlberta's Industrial Heartland, Strathcona County is home to Canada's largest hydrocarbon refining cluster.[34]
In 2002, when reporting on the industrial growth of Strathcona County, theNational Post focused specifically on the companies Lockerbie & Hole Contracting andJireh Industries.[35] Regarding Jireh Industries, the National Post stated that the company "does aerospace quality machining and makes robots that inspect on-surface and underwater pipelines for cracks and corrosion."[35] As of 2020[update], the leading industries in Strathcona County were extraction, manufacturing, scientific, construction, trucking and engineering.
Strathcona County is home to more than 11,000 businesses, with 3,500 of those businesses comprising employees. A market area population of 1.4 million has resulted in household spending power of $5.6 billion. Strathcona County has over 15,800 highly-skilled graduates available with 94% of residents holding a diploma, certificate, or degree. Within the active business community, there are several resources available to local entrepreneurs to help support their businesses:[36][37]
Strathcona County Library is a publicly funded library with its main branch inSherwood Park. Itsbookmobile provides service to rural residents through 14 regular weekly stops.[38]
TheSmeltzer House Visual Arts Centre is operated by Strathcona County as arts and culture programming space. The main home is primarily used for art exhibitions, while the 1920 and 1950s garages have been outfitted as a glass and clay studio respectively.[39]
Elk Island National Park is adjacent to Strathcona County to the east.[9]
Unlike most Albertan municipal districts, where council appoints areeve, Strathcona County elects a mayor.Rod Frank waselected in 2017,[40] replacing Roxanne Carr who was elected in2013.
Strathcona County is home to two public airports.Cooking Lake Airport, which operates as a condo board, accommodates 87 per cent of Strathcona County's public aeronautical transportation needs.[41][42] It is also the oldest operating public airport in Canada and approved for international flights under the Canada Border Services AgencyCANPASS program.[43]
TheWarren Thomas Aerodrome, better known as the Josephburg Airport, serves the remaining 13 per cent of Strathcona County's public aeronautical transportation needs.
The followingprovincial highways service Strathcona County.[9]
Highway 14 (Poundmaker Highway)
Highway 15
Highway 16 (TCH) (Yellowhead Highway route ofTrans-Canada Highway)
Highway 21
Highway 38
Highway 216 (Anthony Henday Drive)
Highway 628
Highway 629
Highway 630 (Wye Road)
Highway 824
Highway 830![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(October 2021) |
Strathcona Druids RFC
Places adjacent to Strathcona County | |
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