Strathcona County is a specialized municipality in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region within Alberta, Canada between Edmonton and Elk Island National Park. It forms part of Census Division No. 11.
Strathcona County is both urban and rural in nature. Approximately of its population lives in Sherwood Park, which is an urban service area east of Edmonton, remains an unincorporated hamlet. The balance lives beyond Sherwood Park within a rural service area.
History In Treaty 6, the First Nations ceded their title to the land that would become Strathcona County. Local governance began in 1893 when the North-West Territorial Legislature established an area east of Edmonton as Statute Labour District No. 2. It then grew in size over the following decade and was renamed Local Improvement District (LID) No. 517 in 1913. In 1918, LID No. 517 became a municipal district under the name of the Municipal District (MD) of Clover Bar No. 517. At the same time, the neighbouring LID No. 518 to the south became the MD of Strathcona No. 518.
The MD of Clover Bar No. 517 and the MD of Strathcona No. 518 amalgamated on March 1, 1943, into a larger municipal district under the name of the MD of Strathcona No. 517. It was subsequently renumbered as the MD of Strathcona No. 83 in 1945. Upon further amalgamating with the Clover Bar School Division No. 13, the MD of Strathcona No. 83 incorporated as a county under the name of the County of Strathcona No. 20 on January 1, 1962. Its county status reverted to municipal district status in 1995 when the County Act was repealed by the provincial legislature though its name remained County of Strathcona No. 20. Its name was officially changed to Strathcona County on April 26, 1995. Shortly thereafter, Strathcona County's status was changed from municipal district to specialized municipality on January 1, 1996.
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." The status change specifically designated Strathcona County's large urban centre, Sherwood Park, as an urban service area deemed equivalent to a city. Its remaining rural territory was specifically designated a rural service area deemed equivalent to a municipal district.
Geography Strathcona County is in the central portion of the province of Alberta and forms the eastern portion of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. It borders Lamont 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, the City of Fort Saskatchewan to the northwest, and Sturgeon County to the north. The North Saskatchewan River forms its municipal boundary with Sturgeon County. Some of its water bodies include Cooking Lake, Half Moon Lake, and Hastings Lake.
Communities and localities
The following urban municipalities are surrounded by Strathcona County. Cities Fort Saskatchewan Towns none Villages none Summer villages none
The following hamlets are located within Strathcona County. Hamlets Antler Lake Ardrossan Collingwood Cove Half Moon Lake Hastings Lake Josephburg North Cooking Lake Sherwood Park (urban service area) South Cooking Lake The following localities are located within Strathcona County. Localities
Adam Lily Acres Akenside Akenside Estates Arddmoor-Rosswood Ardmoor Artesian Estates Aspen Heights Aspen View Aurora Place Avery Park Ball Meadows Baronwood Beaver Brook Estates Beaver Valley Estates Beck Estates Belvedere Heights Belvedere Heights East Belvedere Heights West Berry Hill Best Estates Beverly Hills Birch Park Birchwood Village Brecken Woods Bremner Bretona Bretville Junction Bristol Estates Brookville Estates Busenius Estates Calebo Estates Camelot Square Campbelltown Campbelltown Heights Carriage Lane Caswellem Century Estates Century Meadows Chrenek Acres Chrenek Estates Claireridge Estates Clarkdale Meadows Clover Bar Cloverlea Colonel Younger Estates Colonial Estates Cooking Lake Country Club Estates Craigavon Cranston Place Croftland Dasmarinas Estates Deer Horn Estates Deville Dixon Crescent Dixon Place Donaldson Park Dowling Estates Dunbar East Edmonton East Whitecroft Easton Acres Eastwood Estates Elk Island Elkland Estates Executive Estates Farrell Estates Farrell Properties Forest Hills Country Estates Fulham Park Galloway Park Subdivision Garden Estates Garden Heights Glenwood Park Estates Good Hope Graham Heights Gray Drive Estates Greenbrae Greenhaven Greenhaven Estates Greenwood Estates Griesbach Gunnmanor Half Moon Estates Hanson Estates Hercules Heritage Hills High Ridge Place Highroad Estates Hillsdale Hillside Park Holland Subdivision Horton Place Hulbert Crescent Hunter Heights Hunter Hill Estates Hyland Hills Ireland Subdivision Ithacan Drive Jidaro Valley Subdivision Keding Estates Lakeland Village Lakeland Village Trailer Park Lakeview Lakeview Estates Lakewood Acres Lark Hill Farms Las Villas Laurina Estates Levder's Ridge Subdivision Lina Country Estates Lincoln Green Lindale Lindale Park Lindberg Lueder Ridge Lynley Ridge Mark Iv Estates Marler Subdivision Marvin Gardens McConnell Estates Meadow Court Meadow Land Estates Meadowbrook Heights Meyers Lakeshore Estates Midway Estates Military Point Miniskic Estates Newton Estates North Queensdale Place Ordze Park and Wye Road Garden Parker Ridge Parklane Estates Parkside Estates Parkview Ridge Parkwood Place Partridge Hill Paso Valley Subdivision Patricia Estates Pebble Court Penridge Estates Pine Grove Acres Pleasant View Pleasantview Acreages Pointe Aux Pins Estates Poplar Lake Estates Portas Gardens Queensdale Place Quesnel Country Estates Regency Park Estates Reno-Ville Richlyn Estates Rolling Forest Estates Roman Estates Rose Burn Estate Rossbrooke Estates Royal Estates Royal Gardens Ryedale Estates Sconadale Sconaglen Estates Scot Haven Scotford Shady Lanes Sherwood Place Sierra Grand Estates Silver Birch Hills Simmons Simpson Grange Smithson Acres South Bailey South Queensdale Place Springhill Estate Spruce Bend Estate Summerwood Sun Hill Estates Tanglewood Estates Tidan Heights Trans Oak Estates Trevithick Trevithick Subdivision Twin Island Air Park Uncas Valley Point Verden Place Voyageur Estates Wellington Estates West Whitecroft Westpark Estates Whitecroft Wildwood Village Williams Park Willow Lake Estates Willowdale Estates Winfield Heights Woodland Downs Woodland Park Woodville Estates Wye Haven Wye Knott Village Wyeclif Wyeknot Village
Demographics
The population of Strathcona County according to its 2024 municipal census is 103,829, a change of from its 2022 municipal census population of 100,362. Its 2024 population includes 75,575 or living in the Sherwood Park urban service area and 28,253 or in the rural service area.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Strathcona County had a population of 99,225 living in 37,128 of its 38,203 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 98,024. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
+ Strathcona County municipal census population breakdownComponent2024 population2022 population2018 population Sherwood Park urban service area Rural service area – Hamlet of Antler Lake – Hamlet of Ardrossan – Hamlet of Collingwood Cove – Hamlet of Half Moon Lake – Hamlet of Hastings Lake – Hamlet of Josephburg – Hamlet of North Cooking Lake – Hamlet of South Cooking Lake Total Strathcona County
In the 2016 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 of from its 2011 population of 92,490. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016.
Ethnicity + Panethnic groups in the Municipality of Strathcona County (2001−2021)Panethnicgroup20212016201120062001 European 83,940 85,990 82,960 75,970 67,930 Indigenous 4,600 3,880 3,480 2,270 1,510 Southeast Asian 2,820 2,110 1,150 860 365 South Asian 2,650 1,820 1,425 805 485 East Asian 1,315 1,280 1,015 980 545 African 985 775 455 450 360 Latin American 570 455 525 160 85 Middle Eastern 370 325 175 160 50 Other/multiracial 480 380 315 180 95 Total responses 97,730 97,020 91,495 81,845 71,420 Total population 99,225 98,044 92,490 82,511 71,986
Language English was the mother tongue of 88.0% of residents. Other common mother tongues were French (1.7%), Tagalog (1.3%), and German (1.3%). 1.3% claimed both English and a non-official language as first languages, while 0.4% listed both English and French. +Canada Census Mother Tongue - Strathcona County, Alberta Census Total Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % 86,435 0.5% 88.0% 1,655 9.3% 1.7% 440 72.5% 0.4% 8,320 3.3% 8.5% 86,005 4.8% 88.2% 1,825 4.3% 1.9% 255 21.4% 0.3% 8,605 15.4% 8.8% 82,090 12.4% 89.2% 1,750 29.6% 1.9% 210 40.0% 0.2% 7,455 2.0% 8.1% 73,030 13.8% 89.2% 1,350 0.7% 1.6% 150 100.0% 0.2% 7,310 25.6% 8.9% 64,175 12.5% 89.9% 1,340 34.7% 1.9% 75 15.4% 0.1% 5,820 9.7% 8.1% 57,055 n/a 89.5% 995 n/a 1.6% 65 n/a 0.1% 5,305 n/a 8.3%
Economy Industrial Strathcona County had over $12.0 billion worth of industrial projects completed, announced, or under construction. This is aided in part by the concentration of oil refineries on the west side of Sherwood Park. This district, known as Refinery Row, includes some of the largest industrial facilities in Western Canada, such as Imperial'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. As well, the Suncor's Edmonton Refinery produces of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and aviation gasoline. This refinery sits on 247 hectares of land and has been operating for over 65 years. A founding member of Alberta's Industrial Heartland, Strathcona County is home to Canada's largest hydrocarbon refining cluster.
In 2002, when reporting on the industrial growth of Strathcona County, the National Post focused specifically on the companies Lockerbie & Hole Contracting and Jireh Industries. 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." , the leading industries in Strathcona County were extraction, manufacturing, scientific, construction, trucking and engineering.
Commercial 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: Small Business Week and Conference Business Visitation Program Business Startup Seminars and Support Business Planning and Site Selection Resources
Arts and culture Strathcona County Library is a publicly funded library with its main branch in Sherwood Park. Its bookmobile provides service to rural residents through 14 regular weekly stops.
The Smeltzer 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.
Attractions Elk Island National Park is adjacent to Strathcona County to the east.
Government Unlike most Albertan municipal districts, where council appoints a reeve, Strathcona County elects a mayor. Rod Frank was elected in 2017, replacing Roxanne Carr who was elected in 2013.
Infrastructure
Airports