Cypress County

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Municipal district in Alberta, Canada

title: "Cypress County" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cypress-county", "municipal-districts-in-alberta", "1985-establishments-in-alberta", "populated-places-established-in-1985"] description: "Municipal district in Alberta, Canada" topic_path: "general/cypress-county" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypress_County" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Municipal district in Alberta, Canada ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
settlement_typeMunicipal district
image_skylineCypress County sign.JPG
image_captionWelcome sign
image_sealLogo of Cypress County, Alberta, Canada.png
seal_typeLogo
floatcenter
labelMedicine Hat
markWestern Canada Map Assets City.svg
marksize10
label_size120
positionbottom
lat_deg50.041667
lon_deg-110.6775}}
labelRedcliff
markWestern Canada Map Assets Town.svg
marksize8
label_size110
positionleft
lat_deg50.079167
lon_deg-110.778333}}
labelWalsh
markWestern Canada Map Assets Hamlet.svg
marksize4
positionright
lat_deg49.9472
lon_deg-110.0425}}
labelIrvine
markWestern Canada Map Assets Hamlet.svg
marksize4
positionbottom
lat_deg49.9553
lon_deg-110.2767}}
labelSchuler
markWestern Canada Map Assets Hamlet.svg
marksize4
positionleft
lat_deg50.331389
lon_deg-110.1075}}
labelSuffield
markWestern Canada Map Assets Hamlet.svg
marksize4
positiontop
lat_deg50.218333
lon_deg-111.161111}}
image_map1AB locator CYPRESS COUNTY.svg
mapsize1200
map_caption1Location within Alberta
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameCanada
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_name1Alberta
subdivision_type2Region
subdivision_name2Southern Alberta
subdivision_type3Census division
subdivision_name31
government_footnotes
leader_titleReeve
leader_nameDan Hamilton
leader_title1Governing body
leader_name1Cypress County Council
leader_title2Administrative office
leader_name2Dunmore
established_titleEstablished
established_date1985
established_title2Incorporated
established_date21985
area_footnotes(2021)
area_land_km212977.99
population_as_of2021
population_footnotes
population_total7524
population_density_km20.6
timezoneMST
utc_offset−7
timezone_DSTMDT
utc_offset_DST−6
elevation_footnotes
website
::

| other_name = | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Municipal district | motto = | image_skyline = Cypress County sign.JPG | image_caption = Welcome sign | image_seal = Logo of Cypress County, Alberta, Canada.png | seal_type = Logo | image_map = |caption = |float = center |places = |label = Medicine Hat |mark = Western Canada Map Assets City.svg |marksize = 10 |label_size = 120 |position = bottom |lat_deg = 50.041667 |lon_deg = -110.6775}} |label = Redcliff |mark = Western Canada Map Assets Town.svg |marksize = 8 |label_size = 110 |position = left |lat_deg = 50.079167 |lon_deg = -110.778333}} |label = Walsh |mark = Western Canada Map Assets Hamlet.svg |marksize = 4 |position = right |lat_deg = 49.9472 |lon_deg = -110.0425}} |label = Irvine |mark = Western Canada Map Assets Hamlet.svg |marksize = 4 |position = bottom |lat_deg = 49.9553 |lon_deg = -110.2767}} |label = Schuler |mark = Western Canada Map Assets Hamlet.svg |marksize = 4 |position = left |lat_deg = 50.331389 |lon_deg = -110.1075}} |label = Suffield |mark = Western Canada Map Assets Hamlet.svg |marksize = 4 |position = top |lat_deg = 50.218333 |lon_deg = -111.161111}} | image_map1 = AB locator CYPRESS COUNTY.svg | mapsize1 = 200 | map_caption1 = Location within Alberta | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Canada | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Alberta | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Southern Alberta | subdivision_type3 = Census division | subdivision_name3 = 1 | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Reeve | leader_name = Dan Hamilton | leader_title1 = Governing body | leader_name1 = Cypress County Council | leader_title2 = Administrative office | leader_name2 = Dunmore | established_title = Established | established_date = 1985 | established_title2 = Incorporated | established_date2 = 1985 | area_footnotes = (2021) | area_land_km2 = 12977.99 | population_as_of = 2021 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 7524 | population_density_km2 = 0.6 | population_blank1_title = | population_blank1 = | population_blank2_title = | population_blank2 = | timezone = MST | utc_offset = −7 | timezone_DST = MDT | utc_offset_DST = −6 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | website = | footnotes =

Cypress County is a municipal district in southeastern Alberta, Canada that surrounds the City of Medicine Hat and the Town of Redcliff. The municipality is part of Census Division 1, Alberta. The first farm in the area was settled in 1890.

Geography

The Cypress County landscape is dominated by a shortgrass prairie ecosystem. The land is flat to slightly rolling. The Cypress Hills region features mixed grasslands, wetlands and montane habitats. Major hydrological features include the South Saskatchewan and Milk rivers. Extensive coulee systems have formed adjacent to major rivers resulting in badlands terrain.

Near Walsh, Alberta at lies the Badlands Guardian. Here the landscape takes the form of a head wearing a feathered headdress. The head is approximately 300 m wide and 25 m deep. This unusual geographic feature is a result of natural erosion of the surrounding prairie.

Communities and localities

The following urban municipalities are surrounded by Cypress County. ;Cities

The following localities are located within Cypress County. ;Localities

Climate

Cypress County has a semiarid climate with cold, dry winters and warm to hot summers. The winter cold is occasionally tempered by mild and dry chinook winds blowing from the west. Hot summer daytime temperatures are made tolerable by low humidity and rapid cooling in the evening hours. Maximum precipitation typically occurs in late spring and early summer.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cypress County had a population of 7,524 living in 2,658 of its 3,149 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 7,662. With a land area of 12977.99 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cypress County had a population of 7,662 living in 2,689 of its 3,222 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 7,214. With a land area of 13173.25 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

Economy

Agriculture and the oil and gas industry are the primary economic activities within the county. Agricultural sectors include ranching, wheat and oil seed crops, irrigated alfalfa and other specialty crops. Irrigation water is supplied by the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) and other smaller water co-operatives. Oil and gas production is extensive throughout the county. Natural gas is gathered through pipe networks and processed in gas production plants near Hilda.

Attractions

Government

Municipal

Cypress County has a Municipal Council of 9 elected Councillors. Councillors are elected by the eligible electors (Cypress County residents) who vote for a candidate in their electoral ward. Municipal elections organized by Alberta Municipal Affairs are held on the 3rd Monday in October every four years. Each October, the Councillors elect the Reeve and Deputy Reeve.

The Cypress County Council (elected in October 2021) consists of:

  • Councillor Michelle McKenzie
  • Councillor Blaine Brost
  • Councillor Lloyd Want
  • Councillor Robin Kurpjuweit
  • Reeve Dan Hamilton
  • Councillor Dustin Vossler
  • Deputy Reeve Richard Oster
  • Councillor Shane Hok
  • Councillor Keith Ritz (elected in byelection February 2022)

Provincial

Cypress County is served by the Provincial Electoral Division of Cypress-Medicine Hat and represented in the Alberta Legislature by UCP MLA Justin Wright (politician).

Federal

Cypress County is served by the Federal Electoral Division of Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner and represented in the House of Commons of Canada by Conservative MP Glen Motz.

Military

Cypress County is home to Canadian Forces Base Suffield. The base provides an extensive training area for both Canadian and British Armed Forces. Defence Research and Development Canada facilities are located here as well.

Fire Services

Cypress County Fire Services serves the entirety of Cypress County, excluding the city of Medicine Hat. They are a municipal paid-on-call fire department with 140 firefighters who respond to a yearly average of 250 calls for service. They have 9 fire halls located in Dunmore, Elkwater, Hilda, Irvine, One Four, Schuler, Seven Persons, and Walsh.

Infrastructure

Transportation

;Highways The Trans-Canada Highway (1), Crowsnest Highway (3) and Highway 41 traverse Cypress County. The Trans-Canada enters the eastern part of the County near Walsh and travels west through Dunmore and on to Medicine Hat. From Medicine Hat the highway travels in a north westerly direction passing near Suffield and on to Calgary. Planning has begun to upgrade The Trans Canada to true freeway status. The Crowsnest highway enters the County near Seven Persons and travels in a north westerly direction to Medicine Hat. Highway 41 begins at the U.S. border (Port of Wild Horse) and passes through the county in a northerly direction. Highway 41 intersects the Trans Canada Highway near Dunmore and continues on in a northerly direction until it exits the County near Sandy Point Recreational Area at the county's most northerly limits.

;Road network Cypress County has developed and maintains an extensive road network within its municipal jurisdiction. Paved, oiled and graveled roads total more than 2700 km in length.

;Rail The Canadian Pacific Kansas City main line traverses Cypress County. The line enters the eastern part of the county near Walsh and travels west through Dunmore and on to Medicine Hat. From Medicine Hat the line travels in a north westerly direction passing near Suffield and on to Calgary. A secondary line joins the main at Dunmore and travels in a south westerly direction passing near Seven Persons and on to Lethbridge. Major switching yards are located in Dunmore. Several spur lines and side yards exist along the lines route to facilitate the handling of grain and other commodities.

Municipal services

Cypress County provides municipal services through various departments. Services include agricultural programs, road maintenance, bylaw enforcement, land use planning, development advice and approvals, fire protection, recreation, street lighting, waste collection, recycling, water and sewer, emergency services, and family and community support.

Education

Secondary schools

The Prairie Rose School Division #8 serves the needs of public school students. Schools within this district include Eagle Butte High School, Burdett School, Bow Island Elementary, Senator Gershaw School, Parkside School, I. F. Cox School, Margaret Wooding School, Irvine School, Schuler School, Oyen Public School, New Brigden School, Ralston School, Seven Persons School, Beyond Walls Alternative Outreach School and Elkwater Hutterite Colony and six other colony schools. The division office is located in Dunmore.

The Medicine Hat Catholic Separate Regional School Division #20 serves the needs of Roman Catholic students. District schools located in Medicine Hat and Bow Island include McCoy High School, St. Mary's School, Notre-Dame Academy, St. Louis School, St. Francis Xavier School, St. Michael's School, Mother Teresa School and St. Patrick's School. The division office is located in Medicine Hat.

Christian Education K-12 is provided by Cornerstone Christian School.

Post-secondary education

The Medicine Hat College is a junior college located in Medicine Hat. The college offers university transfer programs, applied degrees and apprenticeship programs. Athletics include basketball, volleyball, and soccer.

References

References

  1. {{AMOS
  3. http://www.albertafirst.com/profiles/statspack/20662.html {{Webarchive. link. (2009-03-10 AlbertaFirst.Com)
  4. Cypress Hills (Alberta) Historical Society. (1991). "Cypress Hills country". Cypress Hills (Alberta) Historical Society.
  5. http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sag6303?OpenDocument Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
  6. http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/cypresshills/naturalregions.asp {{Webarchive. link. (June 20, 2010 Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation)
  7. (January 2024). "Medicine Hat, City (Census Subdivision), Alberta". [[Statistics Canada]].
  8. {{AltaML
  9. (2010-03-05). "Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2006, Economic Regions: 4801003 - Cypress County, geographical codes and localities, 2006". [[Statistics Canada]].
  10. "Ghost Towns of Alberta: Alderson". Susan Foster and Johnnie Bachusky.
  11. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". [[Statistics Canada]].
  12. (February 8, 2017). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". [[Statistics Canada]].
  13. "Cypress County - Elections".
  14. "Canadian Forces Base Suffield".
  15. "Research Centres".
  16. "Cypress County - Fire Services".
  17. http://prrdweb.com/Public-Schools.php {{Webarchive. link. (2011-08-25 Prairie Rose School Division (Official Site))
  18. "Medicine Hat Catholic Home Page".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

cypress-countymunicipal-districts-in-alberta1985-establishments-in-albertapopulated-places-established-in-1985