Hamlets in the Canadian province of Alberta are unincorporated communities administered by, and within the boundaries of, specialized municipalities or rural municipalities (municipal districts, improvement districts and special areas). They consist of five or more dwellings (a majority of which are on parcels of land that are smaller than 1,850 m2), have a generally accepted boundary and name, and contain parcels of land used for non-residential purposes.[1][2]
Section 59 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA) enables specialized municipalities and municipal districts to designate a hamlet, while Section 590 of the MGA enables the Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs to designate a hamlet within an improvement district.[1] The Minister may also designate a hamlet within a special area pursuant to Section 10 of the Special Areas Act.[3]
A hamlet can be incorporated as a village when its population reaches 300. However, Alberta has not had a hamlet incorporate as a village since January 1, 1980, when both Barnwell and Wabamun incorporated as villages.[4][5] Since then, it has been more common for urban municipalities to dissolve from their current municipal status to that of a hamlet under the jurisdiction of its surrounding specialized or rural municipality. As such, the number of hamlets in Alberta has steadily grown over the years.
As of 2024, Alberta has 433 hamlets recognized by Alberta Municipal Affairs,[6] which is up from 403 in 2023.[7] A 434th hamlet, Harmony in Rocky View County, was designated in June 2024[8] though is not yet recognized by Alberta Municipal Affairs.[6]
Alberta's two largest hamlets – Sherwood Park within Strathcona County and Fort McMurray (formerly a city) within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo – have been further designated as urban service areas by Municipal Affairs. If they were to incorporate as cities, Sherwood Park and Fort McMurray would rank sixth and seventh respectively among Alberta's largest cities by population. Lac La Biche (formerly a town) within Lac La Biche County is a third hamlet also designated as an urban service area.[6]
- ^ a b "Municipal Government Act". Alberta King's Printer. September 17, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "Types of municipalities in Alberta | Alberta.ca". Government of Alberta. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "Special Areas Act". Alberta Queen's Printer. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ "The Alberta Gazette, Order in Council 1164/79 – Incorporation of the Village of Barnwell" (PDF). Province of Alberta. January 31, 1980. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "The Alberta Gazette, Order in Council 1163/79 – Incorporation of the Village of Wabamun" (PDF). Province of Alberta. January 31, 1980. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
2024municodeswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "2023 Municipal Codes" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. January 23, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Harmonywas invoked but never defined (see the help page).