Wheatland County, Alberta


Wheatland County is a municipal district in south-central Alberta, Canada, east of Calgary. Located in Census Division No. 5, its municipal office is located east of the Town of Strathmore on Highway 1.

History

On January 1, 1955, Improvement District No. 41, part of Improvement District No. 42, part of the Municipal Districts of Bow Valley No. 40, Serviceberry No. 43, and Kneehill No. 48, were merged into one new municipal district to be known as the Municipal District of Wheatland No. 40 for the first time.
The Municipal District of Wheatland No. 40 and the Wheatland School Division No. 40 joined together on January 1, 1961, and became known as the County of Wheatland No. 16.
On March 6, 1996, the name was changed from the County of Wheatland No. 16 to the name currently used, Wheatland County.

Education

Wheatland County is part of the .
There are two schools within Wheatland County boundaries: the , and the .
Carseland School is one of the oldest schools in the region. It was originally built in 1930 then rebuilt in 1993. It serves the hamlet of approximately 700 people as well as the surrounding rural area.
The Wheatland Crossing School is located in rural Wheatland County and serves students living in Rockyford, Rosebud, Standard, Cluny, Gleichen, Hussar, and east Wheatland. The official grand opening for Wheatland Crossing took place on September 26, 2017.
Located in Strathmore, Alberta, there are additional schools belonging to the Golden Hills School Division. There are three elementary schools, one junior high school, and one high school. In 2018, a new regional K-12 school opened and will be serving Strathmore and rural Wheatland County students.
Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division also provides education services to the region with a K-6 School and grade 7 to 12 school in Strathmore.
In September 2008, Trinity Christian Academy opened at the former Covenant Bible College property in Strathmore. Trinity Christian is a Christian school providing Kindergarten through grade 9 and is publicly funded.

Recreation

After the sod turning in 2016, the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre opened its doors to the public on February 23, 2019. The unique partnership between Golden Hills School Division #75, the Town of Strathmore, and Wheatland County made the project possible. The facility will serve as a regional recreational centre for visitors and residents of Strathmore and Wheatland County. The facility offers an indoor space to play soccer, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, badminton, pickleball, and walking/running on the indoor track.

Demographics

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Wheatland County recorded a population of 8,788 living in 2,836 of its 3,117 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 8,285. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016.
In the 2011 Census, Wheatland County had a population of 8,285 living in 2,659 of its 2,941 total dwellings, a 2.2% change from its 2006 adjusted population of 8,109. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2011.

Communities and localities


The following urban municipalities are surrounded by Wheatland County:
;Cities
  • none
;Towns
  • Strathmore
;Villages
  • Hussar
  • Rockyford
  • Standard
;Summer villages
  • none
The following hamlets are located within Wheatland County:
;Hamlets
  • Carseland
  • Chancellor
  • Cheadle
  • Cluny
  • Gleichen
  • Lyalta
  • Namaka
  • Nightingale
  • Rosebud
The following localities are located within Wheatland County:
;Localities
  • Ardenode
  • Baintree
  • Bartstow
  • Caruso
  • Crowfoot
  • Dalum
  • Dunshalt
  • Eagle Lake
  • Gayford
  • Grierson
  • Grieseach
  • Hamlet
  • Hawick
  • Makepeace
  • Phidias
  • Redland
  • Rosebud Creek
  • Stobart
  • Strangmuir
  • Towers
  • Tudor
The following Hutterite Colonies are located within Wheatland County:
  • Hillview Colony
  • Hutterian Brethren Colony
  • Mountain View Colony
  • Rideland Colony
  • Rosebud Colony
  • Springvale Colony
  • Stahlville Colony
  • Standard Colony
  • Sunshine Colony
  • Twin Creek Colony
  • Wheatland Colony
  • Wintering Hills Colony