Nestled along Highway 2A in central Alberta, Blackfalds sits approximately 13.5 kilometres north of Red Deer, placing it within easy reach of one of the province’s largest cities. The community has grown steadily into one of Alberta’s more prominent towns, drawing residents who appreciate its central location and expanding range of local amenities. With a land area of 16.58 square kilometres, Blackfalds recorded a population density of 641.0 people per square kilometre in the 2021 federal census.
A Growing Community
Few Alberta towns have experienced the kind of sustained population growth that Blackfalds has seen in recent decades. The 2016 federal census recorded 9,328 residents, representing a remarkable 48.1% increase from the 6,300 counted in 2011. By the 2021 census, that figure had climbed to 10,627, a further 13.9% rise. The town’s own 2021 municipal census placed the population at 11,015, up 9.7% from 10,125 recorded in 2018. Under Alberta’s Municipal Government Act, a town becomes eligible for city status once it surpasses 10,000 residents, meaning Blackfalds has now crossed that threshold and stands as one of the largest towns in the province.
History, Facilities, and Community Life
The community’s origins trace back to the early twentieth century. Originally known as Waghorn, after postmaster Walter Waghorn, the settlement was renamed in 1903 to honour Blackfalds, a small hamlet in Scotland. That Scottish connection remains embedded in the town’s identity to this day. Residents enjoy a solid collection of public facilities, including the Eagle Builders Centre, formerly the Blackfalds Multiplex, which serves as the home arena for the Blackfalds Bulldogs ice hockey team of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The Blackfalds Abbey Centre provides a multi-purpose fitness facility alongside an outdoor aquatic centre, while the Blackfalds All Wheels Park and Blackfalds Bike Skills Park, located on Womacks Road off Vista Trail, offer recreational space for cyclists and skaters. The Tayles Water Spray Park sits adjacent to the Cultural Centre, and the Blackfalds All-Star Park occupies the southwest corner of town. The Blackfalds Public Library is housed within the Eagle Builders Centre on Waghorn Street. Education in Blackfalds is served by four public schools within the Wolf Creek school district, operating under the Iron Ridge campus system, as well as St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, part of the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools district. For news and media, residents turn to regional outlets including rdnewsNOW, the Red Deer Advocate, and the Lacombe Express, along with several radio stations broadcasting from Red Deer and Lacombe.