Roughly 40 kilometres south of Edmonton, Millet sits in central Alberta along Highway 2A, within reach of the County of Wetaskiwin. The surrounding area is rooted in agriculture and recreation, reflecting the character of many small communities across this part of the province. Millet carries a population of approximately 1,890 residents according to the 2021 Census, a modest decline from the 1,955 recorded in 2016 and the 2,092 counted in 2011. The town covers a land area of 6.62 square kilometres, giving it a population density of around 285 people per square kilometre. Public education is provided through Wetaskiwin Regional Division No. 11, with Griffiths-Scott School serving students from early childhood through grade 8, and Wetaskiwin Composite High School handling high school grades.
The town’s name is widely believed to honour August Millet, thought to have been a canoeist for Father Lacombe, though another theory ties it to French painter Jean-François Millet, a favourite of railway tycoon William Cornelius Van Horne. Millet was proclaimed a village by Order-in-Council of the Northwest Territories on June 17, 1903, and formally became a town on September 1, 1983, with community celebrations held on October 15 of that year. A damaging fire in October 1927 destroyed much of the east side of Railway Street, and Northwestern Utilities brought natural gas to residents in 1953. The Millet and District Museum, Archives and Visitor Information Centre, established in 1985, sits at the north end of town on the west side of Highway 2A. Each year, community events like Millet Days in June, featuring a parade, trade show, softball and soccer tournaments, and fireworks, and the Millet Massacre music festival in May bring residents and visitors together.