Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Municipal District of Greenview No. 16
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Municipal District of Greenview's administration building in Valleyview
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Location within Alberta
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| Country | Canada | |
| Province | Alberta | |
| Region | Northern Alberta | |
| Census division | 18 | |
| Established | 1994 | |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 32,925.53 km2 (12,712.62 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 8,584 | |
| • Density | 0.3/km2 (0.8/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
The Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 is a large area in Alberta, Canada. It is located in the northwest part of the province. Greenview is the largest municipal district in Alberta. It covers about 32,984 square kilometers (12,735 square miles). The main office for Greenview is in the town of Valleyview.
Contents
History of Greenview
People have lived in the Greenview area for a very long time. Archaeologists have found signs of native peoples living near Grande Cache over 10,000 years ago.
Modern Settlement Begins
More recently, people started settling here in the early 1900s. Settlers and homesteaders followed old trails. They built homes and started communities like DeBolt, Ridgevalley, and Grovedale. Many settlers used the Edson to Grande Prairie Trail to reach the northern and eastern parts of Greenview.
Becoming a Municipal District
In 1968, three smaller areas joined together to form Improvement District 16. At first, the Alberta government managed this district. Then, in 1996, Improvement District 16 became the MD of Greenview No. 16. This meant it could govern itself.
In January 2019, the town of Grande Cache changed. It became a hamlet (a smaller community) under Greenview's control.
Geography of Greenview
Greenview covers a huge area of land. It has many different natural features. The western edge of Greenview is along the border with British Columbia. This part includes some of the Canadian Rockies, which are tall mountains.
Rivers, Lakes, and Forests
The northern part of Greenview is in a region called Peace Country. Most of the southern and central areas are covered by thick boreal forest. Several rivers flow through or near Greenview. These include the Wapiti River, Simmonette River, Smoky River, and Little Smoky River.
Greenview also has many lakes. Some of the most well-known are Sturgeon Lake, Musreau Lake, and Swan Lake. A part of Snipe Lake is also in Greenview's northeast corner.
Communities and Neighbors
The MD of Greenview surrounds two towns: Valleyview and Fox Creek. It also includes three special areas managed by the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Greenview shares its borders with six other municipalities. It also borders Wilmore Wilderness Park to the southwest and British Columbia.
Rich in Resources
Greenview sits on a part of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. This area has some of the world's largest coal and oil deposits. Because of this, Greenview is known for its oil and gas resources. The hamlet of DeBolt even gives its name to a rock layer called the Debolt Formation. There are also many underground hot water reserves (geothermal reservoirs) in some parts of the district.
Communities and Localities in Greenview
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The following towns are found within the MD of Greenview No. 16: |
The following hamlets are located within the MD of Greenview No. 16:
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The following smaller places, called localities, are also in Greenview:
- Localities
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- Other places
Population of Greenview
In 2021, the MD of Greenview No. 16 had a population of 8,584 people. These people lived in 3,230 homes. This number was a bit lower than its population in 2016, which was 9,154 people.
Because Greenview is so large, its population density is very low. This means there are not many people living in each square kilometer. In 2021, there were only about 0.3 people per square kilometer.
Economy and Jobs
The main way people make a living in Greenview is through oil and gas. This industry is very important here. Forestry, which means working with trees and wood, is also a big part of the economy. Farming and growing crops (agriculture) are important too.
Fun Places to Visit
Greenview has many interesting places to explore:
- DeBolt and District Pioneer Museum
- Kakwa Wildlands Park
- Musreau Lake
- O'Brien Provincial Park
- Pierre Grey's Lakes Provincial Park
- Sturgeon Lake
- Willmore Wilderness Park
Transportation and Roads
Greenview is an important travel route for industries. Highway 43 runs through the district. This highway is part of the CANAMEX Corridor, a major trade route. The Bighorn Highway (Highway 40) and Highway 49 also help make Greenview a key transportation area in northern Alberta.
There are also several small airports and heliports in the area. These include the Valleyview Airport, Fox Creek Airport, and DeBolt Aerodrome. They are mostly used by local industries and for medical flights with smaller planes.
