Clearwater County is a municipal district in west central Alberta, Canada in Division No. 9. Its northwest boundary is the Brazeau River. The municipal office is located in the Town of Rocky Mountain House. The county has a land area of 18,691.65 km2 (7,216.89 sq mi) and comprises close to 99% of Census Division No. 9's land area of 18,921.38 km2 (7,305.59 sq mi). Although the territory excluded is rather small in geographical area, it comprises the major population centre of Rocky Mountain House, which has one-third of Division No. 9's population, in addition to the communities of Caroline, Burnstick Lake and three Indian reserves. The county's 2021 census population was 11,865.
Clearwater County | |
|---|---|
 Seal | |
 Location within Alberta | |
| Coordinates: 52°22′31″N 114°55′18″W / 52.37528°N 114.92167°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Census division | 9 |
| Established | 1985 |
| Incorporated | 2000 |
| Government | |
| • Governing body | Clearwater County Council
|
| • CAO | Rick Emmons |
| • Administrative office | Rocky Mountain House |
| • Reeve | Michelle Swanson |
| Area (2021)[2] | |
| • Land | 18,605.71 km2 (7,183.70 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Total | 11,865 |
| • Density | 0.6/km2 (2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Website | Official website |
The economy of the county is based on agriculture, oil and gas and forestry, with tourism increasing in importance in recent years.[3]
On July 1, 2000, the name was changed from "Municipal District of Clearwater No. 99" to "Clearwater County".[4]
Geography
editCommunities and localities
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The following urban municipalities are surrounded by Clearwater County.[5]
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The following hamlets are located within Clearwater County.[5]
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The following localities are located within Clearwater County.[6]
- Localities
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- Other places
Phoenix, a former coal mining community between Nordegg and Rocky Mountain House,[7] is also located within Clearwater County.
Demographics
editIn the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Clearwater County had a population of 11,865 living in 4,817 of its 5,605 total private dwellings, a change of -0.7% from its 2016 population of 11,947. With a land area of 18,605.71 km2 (7,183.70 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.6/km2 (1.7/sq mi) in 2021.[2]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Clearwater County had a population of 11,947 living in 4,699 of its 5,486 total private dwellings, a -2.7% change from its 2011 population of 12,278. With a land area of 18,682.45 km2 (7,213.33 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.6/km2 (1.7/sq mi) in 2016.[8]
Attractions
edit- Rocky Mountain House Historic Site in Rocky Mountain House
- Historic minesite in Nordegg
- Hiking in the Bighorn Wildland
- Camping at Burnstick Lake campsite
- Canoeing on lakes; Rafting and kayaking on Clearwater River and North Saskatchewan River
- Cross-country skiing, snowmobile trail in the Chambers Creek area
- Fishing (cutthroat, rainbow, brook and lake trout, whitefish) and hunting
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ Clearwater County (February 2007). "Major Industry". Archived from the original on October 7, 2006. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Clearwater County Municipal Profile". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved November 12, 2006.
- ^ a b "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ "Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2006, Economic Regions: 4809002 - Clearwater County, geographical codes and localities, 2006". Statistics Canada. March 5, 2010. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
- ^ "Google Books search result for "Phoenix, Alberta"". Retrieved April 8, 2010.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
