Clearwater County, Alberta

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 Burnstick Lake and three Indian reserves. Clearwater County's 2021 census population was 11,865, which was prior to amalgamation with Caroline in 2025.

Bighorn River Valley and Crescent Falls

Clearwater County
Municipal district
Seal
Rocky Mountain House Caroline Nordegg Alhambra
Location within Alberta
Coordinates: 52°22′31″N 114°55′18″W
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Central Alberta
Census division	9
Incorporated (municipal district)[1]	January 1, 1985
Name change[1]	July 1, 2000
Amalgamated[2]	January 1, 2025
Government [3]
• Governing body	Clearwater County Council Jim Duncan Timothy Hoven Theresa Laing Cammie Laird Daryl Lougheed Michelle Swanson John Vandermeer
• CAO	Rick Emmons
• Administrative office	Rocky Mountain House
• Reeve	Michelle Swanson
Area  (2021)[4]
• Land	18,605.71 km2 (7,183.70 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[4]
• Total	11,865
• Density	0.6/km2 (2/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Website	Official website

History

The Municipal District of Clearwater No. 99 was incorporated as a municipal district from Improvement District No. 10 on January 1, 1985.^[1] Its name was changed to Clearwater County on July 1, 2000.^[1] Clearwater County amalgamated with the Village of Caroline to form a new municipality on January 1, 2025, retaining the name "Clearwater County".^[2] Caroline became a hamlet in the new municipality.^[2]

Geography

Communities and localities

The following urban municipalities are surrounded by Clearwater County.[5] Cities none Towns Rocky Mountain House Villages none Summer villages Burnstick Lake

The following hamlets are located within Clearwater County.[5] Hamlets Alhambra Caroline Condor Leslieville Nordegg Withrow

The following localities are located within Clearwater County.^[6]

Localities

Alexo Ancona Baptiste River Bingley Brazeau Brower Subdivision Butte Carlos Chedderville Clearwater Subdivision Cline River Cline Settlement Codner Congresbury

Crammond Crimson Lake Dovercourt Evergreen Ferrier (designated place) Ferrier Acres Trailer Court Garth Goldeye Gray Subdivision Harlech Horburg Improvement District No. 10 James River Bridge Lochearn

Martins Trailer Court (designated place) Morrish Subdivision Oras Pinewoods Estates Ricinus Saunders Stauffer Stolberg Strachan Ullin Vetchland Westerner Trailer Court Woodland Estates Ya Ha Tinda Ranch

Other places

Phoenix, a former coal mining community between Nordegg and Rocky Mountain House,^[7] is also located within Clearwater County.

Demographics

In 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.^[4]

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]

Economy

The economy of the county is based on agriculture, oil and gas and forestry, with tourism increasing in importance in recent years.^[9]

Attractions

• 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

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of municipal districts in Alberta
• Division No. 9, Alberta

References

1. Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Clearwater County Municipal Profile". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved November 12, 2006.
2. "O.C. 358/2024". Alberta King's Printer. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
3. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
4. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
5. "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
6. "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.
7. "Google Books search result for "Phoenix, Alberta"". Retrieved April 8, 2010.
8. "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.
9. Clearwater County (February 2007). "Major Industry". Archived from the original on October 7, 2006. Retrieved March 5, 2007.

External links

• Official website