A village is an urban municipality status type used in the Canadian province of Alberta. Alberta villages are created when communities with populations of at least 300 people, where a majority of their buildings are on parcels of land smaller than 1,850 m2, apply to Alberta Municipal Affairs for village status under the authority of the Municipal Government Act. Applications for village status are approved via orders in council made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council under recommendation from the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
As of 2025, Alberta had 79 villages that had a cumulative population of 33,149 in the 2016 Census of Population. Alberta's largest and smallest villages are Duchess and Milo with population counts of 1,085 and 91.
When a village's population reaches or exceeds 1,000 people, the council may request a change to town status, but the change in incorporated status is not mandatory. Villages with populations less than 300, whether their populations have declined below 300 or they were incorporated as villages prior to the minimum 300 population requirement, are permitted to retain village status.
Village governance is delivered by 327 elected village officials (80 mayors and 247 councillors) throughout the province.
Administration
Pursuant to Part 5, Division 1 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), each municipality created under the authority of the MGA is governed by a council. As a requirement of the MGA, a village council consists of three councillors by default, one of which is the village's chief elected official (CEO) or mayor. A village council may consist of a higher number if council passes a bylaw altering its size. For the 2017–2021 term, 36 villages had a council of three, 1 had a council of four, and 44 had a council of five.
Village councils are governed by a mayor and typically an even number of councillors that are elected by popular vote, resulting in a total odd number of councillors to avoid tie votes on council matters. All council members are elected under the provisions of the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA). Mayoral or councillor candidates are required to be residents of their municipality for a minimum of six consecutive months prior to nomination day. The last municipal election was October 18, 2021.
Alberta Municipal Affairs, a ministry of the Cabinet of Alberta, is charged with coordination of all levels of local government.
Administrative duties of villages include public safety, roads, water service, drainage and waste collection, as well as coordination of infrastructure with provincial and regional authorities (including road construction, education, and health).
- Big Valley
- Beiseker
- Milo
- Rycroft
List
| Name | Rural municipality | Incorporation date (village) | Population (2016) | Population (2011) | Change (%) | Land area (km²) | Population density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| Hay Lakes | 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 | Beaver County | April 2, 1910 | 483 | 497 | −2.8% | 2.61 | 185.1/km2 |
| Spring Lake | 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 |
Notes:
- Bittern Lake was formerly known as Rosenroll prior to December 16, 1911.
- Delia was formerly known as Highland prior to December 9, 1915.
- Hay Lakes was formerly known as Hay Lake prior to January 1, 1932.
- Ryley was also known as Equity in 1909.
- Spring Lake was formerly known as Edmonton Beach prior to January 1, 1999.
Village status eligibility
Numerous Alberta hamlets meet the minimum population requirement for village status eligibility.
Town status eligibility
The villages of Duchess and Alberta Beach are currently eligible for town status having populations of 1,085 and 1,018.
Former villages
Of Alberta's 106 former urban municipalities, 85 of them were former villages prior to being dissolved, annexed, or amalgamated.
| Former village | Original name | Dissolution date |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Park | August 1, 1935 | |
| Alderson | Carlstadt | January 31, 1936 |
| Bellevue | January 1, 1979 | |
| Bellis | January 1, 1946 | |
| Blackie | August 31, 1997 | |
| Bow City | April 17, 1918 | |
| Burdett | January 1, 2003 | |
| Cadogan | January 1, 1946 | |
| Caroline | January 1, 2025 | |
| Cayley | June 1, 1996 | |
| Cereal | January 1, 2021 | |
| Chinook | April 1, 1977 | |
| Clairmont | January 1, 1946 | |
| Cluny | September 15, 1995 | |
| Commerce | Coalgate | May 13, 1926 |
| Compeer | December 31, 1936 | |
| Craigmyle | January 1, 1972 | |
| Crescent Heights | January 1, 1911 | |
| Derwent | September 1, 2010 | |
| Dewberry | January 1, 2021 | |
| Drinnan | April 1, 1957 | |
| Dunmore | February 4, 1919 | |
| Eaglesham | December 31, 1996 | |
| East Calgary | July 17, 1919 | |
| Enchant | February 1, 1945 | |
| Entwistle | December 31, 2000 | |
| Erskine | May 10, 1946 | |
| Evansburg | June 30, 1998 | |
| Evarts | May 27, 1916 | |
| Ferintosh | January 1, 2020 | |
| Fort Assiniboine | December 31, 1991 | |
| Frank | January 1, 1979 | |
| Gadsby | February 1, 2020 | |
| Galahad | January 1, 2016 | |
| Grassy Lake | July 1, 1996 | |
| Grouard | January 15, 1944 | |
| Hairy Hill | December 31, 1996 | |
| Halkirk | January 1, 2025 | |
| Hythe | July 1, 2021 | |
| Islay | March 15, 1944 | |
| Jenner | June 25, 1943 | |
| Kinuso | September 1, 2009 | |
| Langdon | January 1, 1946 | |
| Lavoy | April 30, 1999 | |
| Lille | ||
| Lundbreck | April 30, 1906 | |
| Minburn | July 1, 2015 | |
| Mirror | January 1, 2004 | |
| Monarch | December 31, 1938 | |
| Monitor | January 1, 1946 | |
| Mountain View | September 9, 1915 | |
| New Norway | November 1, 2012 | |
| New Sarepta | September 1, 2010 | |
| Newcastle | May 21, 1931 | |
| North Edmonton | July 22, 1912 | |
| North Red Deer | December 31, 1947 | |
| Ohaton | January 1, 1946 | |
| Pincher City | May 3, 1932 | |
| Plamondon | May 1, 2002 | |
| Port Cornwall | September 11, 1917 | |
| Radway | December 31, 1996 | |
| Ranfurly | January 1, 1946 | |
| Retlaw | March 1, 1939 | |
| Richdale | June 2, 1931 | |
| Riverside | ||
| Rosebud | January 1, 1946 | |
| Rouleauville | ||
| Rumsey | April 1, 1995 | |
| Sangudo | September 16, 2007 | |
| Stafford | January 1, 1913 | |
| Strome | January 1, 2016 | |
| Suffield | January 1, 1930 | |
| Swalwell | January 1, 1946 | |
| Thorhild | April 1, 2009 | |
| Tilley | August 31, 2013 | |
| Tollerton | January 26, 1918[citation needed] | |
| Torrington | December 31, 1997 | |
| Wabamun | January 1, 2021 | |
| Walsh | May 4, 1925 | |
| Wanham | December 31, 1999 | |
| Warspite | June 1, 2000 | |
| West Edmonton | Calder | April 5, 1917 |
| Wildwood | December 31, 1990 | |
| Willingdon | September 1, 2017 |
See also
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