Red Deer County
Red Deer County is a municipal district in central Alberta, Canada within Census Division No. 8 and surrounding the City of Red Deer. The neighbouring municipalities of Red Deer County are Clearwater County to the west, Lacombe County to the north, the County of Stettler No. 6 to the east, Kneehill County to the southeast and Mountain View County to the south. It is located approximately midway between Edmonton and Calgary, bisected by the Queen Elizabeth II Highway and bounded on the north and east by the Red Deer River.
Agriculture
Red Deer County is largely an agricultural area, and much of the rural land is actively used for growing crops, feeding livestock and providing lumber and mineral resources. The County has initiated several projects to ensure that agriculture and the environment are represented as it continues to grow.An Agricultural Profile has been created to detail the County's existing agriculture, land and water resources. The County was divided into 19 distinct geographic areas called County Neighbourhoods. These delineations distinguish variations in drainage, soil type, water resources, and primary production. County Neighbourhoods have specific characteristics that will assist future growth and development plans.
Livestock and crop production are an important part of the economy. The County has dairies that make cheese, U-pick vegetable and fruit farms and the largest organic farm in Alberta. Amenities for trout fishing exist at a U-fish pond. The County also has elk, deer, and apiary farms as well as a mouse farm, which raises white mice for the pet food industry.
Development
Construction of residences and most buildings in Red Deer County require County-issued development permits to assure that proposed projects are in conformance with applicable County bylaws and statutory plans and are also consistent with requirements regulating property divisions and uses such as setbacks, minimum frontage, potable water supply and sewage disposal systems.As well, permits are often required from other agencies such as Alberta Transportation or Alberta Environment. Although the County has no jurisdiction in these areas, it can assist applicants through the process.
Demographics
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Red Deer County recorded a population of 19,541 living in 7,097 of its 8,440 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 18,316. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016.In the 2011 Census, Red Deer County had a population of 18,351 living in 6,643 of its 7,703 total dwellings, a -1.6% change from its 2006 adjusted population of 18,649. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2011.
Communities and localities
The following urban municipalities are surrounded by Red Deer County:
;Cities
- Red Deer
- Bowden
- Innisfail
- Penhold
- Sylvan Lake
- Delburne
- Elnora
- Jarvis Bay
- Norglenwold
;Hamlets
- Ardley
- Benalto
- Dickson
- Gasoline Alley
- Linn Valley
- Lousana
- Markerville
- Springbrook
- Spruce View
;Localities
- Balmoral
- *Balmoral NW
- *Balmoral SE
- Bouteiller Subdivision or Boutellier Subdivision
- Briggs
- Broderson Subdivision or Brodersons Subdivision
- Brownlee Acreage
- Burnt Lake
- Canyon Heights
- Central Park
- Coalbanks
- Cygnet
- Doan
- Elspeth
- Evarts
- Fleming
- Garrington
- Garrington Acres
- Gleniffer
- Green Ridge Park
- Half Moon Bay
- Harrison
- Henday
- Herder
- High Ridge Properties
- Hillsdown
- Horseshoe Lake
- Kevisville
- Knee Hill Valley
- Kountry Meadows or Kountry Meadow Estates
- Kuusamo
- Les Trailer Park
- McKenzie Subdivision
- Melody Meadows Trailer Park
- Milnerton
- Mintlaw
- Mountain House
- New Hill
- Niobe
- Nisbet
- Pine Lake
- Poplar Ridge or Poplar Ridge Subdivision
- Prevo
- Raven
- Red Deer Junction
- Ridgewood Terrace
- Riverview Park
- Shady Pine Trailer Park
- South Park Village
- Spruce Lane Acres
- Trueman Subdivision
- Tuttle
- West Ridge Estates
- Wild Rose
- Woodland Hills
The following are business parks located within Red Deer County:
- Belich Business Park
- Blindman Industrial Park
- Burnt Lake Business Park
- Clearview Industrial Park
- Energy Business Park
- Gasoline Alley Business Park
- Kuusomo Industrial Park
- McKenzie Industrial Business Park
- Petrolia Business Park
- Piper Creek Business Park
- Red Deer Industrial Park