Red Deer County facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Red Deer County
Municipal district
Highway 11 passing through ranch land and aspen parkland in Red Deer County
Location within Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Central Alberta
Census division	8
Established	1944
Incorporated	1963
Area  (2021)
• Land	3,919.25 km2 (1,513.23 sq mi)
Population  (2021)
• Total	19,933
• Density	5.1/km2 (13/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Forward sortation area	T4E

Red Deer County is a special type of area in central Alberta, Canada, known as a municipal district. It completely surrounds the City of Red Deer. This county is located about halfway between two big cities, Edmonton and Calgary. The main Queen Elizabeth II Highway cuts right through it. The Red Deer River forms its northern and eastern borders.

Exploring Red Deer County

Red Deer County is surrounded by other municipal areas. To the west, you'll find Clearwater County. To the north is Lacombe County, and to the east is the County of Stettler No. 6. To the southeast, there's Kneehill County, and to the south, Mountain View County.

Towns and Villages Nearby

Even though Red Deer County is a large area, it has several smaller towns and villages within its borders or right next to them. These are places where people live and work.

• Cities:
  • Red Deer (the main city it surrounds)
• Towns:
  • Bowden
  • Innisfail
  • Penhold
  • Sylvan Lake
• Villages:
  • Delburne
  • Elnora
• Summer Villages: These are small communities, often near lakes, where people might have summer homes.
  • Jarvis Bay
  • Norglenwold

Hamlets and Localities

Within Red Deer County, there are also smaller communities called hamlets and localities. Hamlets are usually small settlements, while localities are even smaller places that might not have many services.

• Hamlets:
  • Ardley
  • Benalto
  • Dickson
  • Gasoline Alley
  • Markerville
  • Springbrook
  • Spruce View
• Some Localities:
  • Pine Lake (known for its lake)
  • Evarts

People and Population

In 2021, a count of the population showed that Red Deer County had 19,933 people living there. This was a small increase from 2016, when the population was 19,531. The county covers a large area of about 3,919 square kilometers (1,513 square miles). This means there are about 5 people living in each square kilometer, showing it's a mostly rural area.

Economy and Jobs

The economy of Red Deer County is largely based on farming. Many people work with livestock, like cows and pigs, or grow crops.

• Farming Fun:
  • You can find dairies that make cheese.
  • There are "U-pick" farms where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables.
  • The largest organic farm in Alberta is located here.
  • Some farms raise special animals like elk, deer, and even mice (for pet food!).
• Other Resources:
  • The county also has important timber (wood from trees) and mineral resources, which are natural materials found in the ground.