Sitting along Highway 2A in the Calgary Metropolitan Region, Crossfield lies roughly 43 kilometres north of Calgary and is entirely surrounded by Rocky View County. It occupies a position within the busy Calgary-Edmonton Corridor, with the city of Airdrie to its south and the town of Olds to its north. The town covers a land area of 11.89 square kilometres and recorded a population of 3,599 in the 2021 federal census, reflecting growth of over 20 per cent compared to the 2016 figure of 2,983 residents. That earlier census had itself shown a modest increase from the 2,853 people counted in 2011, pointing to a consistent pattern of gradual expansion. By 2021, the town’s population density had reached approximately 302.7 people per square kilometre. Crossfield is a member of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board and is considered part of that broader regional governance structure.
The community traces its origins to 1892, when it was established as a station along the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, which was leased and operated at the time by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The town takes its name from an engineer who was part of the original survey crew for that railway line. By 1904, Crossfield had developed enough to support a post office, a general store, a hotel, and a school. The first grain elevator followed in 1906, and the community was incorporated as a village in 1907. It was elevated to town status in 1980. Agriculture, agricultural services, and natural gas processing form the economic backbone of the area. The Crossfield Gas Plant, located just south of town and owned by TAQA North, has been operating since 1965. For families, the community is served by two schools: Crossfield Elementary School for kindergarten through grade five, and WG Murdoch School for grades six through twelve, along with a preschool located on the elementary school property.