While many rural communities have been declining in population, Drumheller appears to be holding its own.
On February 8, StatsCan released the population and dwelling count from the 2016 census and Drumheller’s population fell by a mere 47 when compared to the 2011 census. Between 2006 and 2011, Drumheller grew by about 100 residents.
This represents 0.6 per cent change. Surrounding communities such as Hanna lost 4.3 per cent and Stettler grew by 3.5 percent. Starland County saw a slight increase of 9 per cent, Kneehill County saw 1.6 per cent growth and Wheatland County saw a 6.1 per cent increase. The largest decrease in Alberta for a small town was Bonnyville, which lost 12.9 per cent of its population.
Drumheller falls in Census Division 5, which stretches from Huxley in the north to Carmangay in the south, east to Hanna and west to Lyalta. This area grew by 2,445.
Mayor Terry Yemen says Drumheller’s numbers are positive
“As far as small towns in Alberta we are faring a whole lot better than a lot of them,” said Yemen.
A consistent population is important for a community says Yemen as many grants used population as a factor in its calculation. The Gas Tax Fund is one that is granted on a per capita basis.
Alberta’s population has grown by about 11.6 per cent to 4,067,175
This was the first release of the information from the 2016 census. On May 3 there will be a release showing age and sex as well as type of dwelling. The census of agriculture will be released on May 10. August 1 will show families, households and marital status well as languages and the numbers on income will be released September 13. On October 25, there will be a release of immigration and ethnocultural diversity, housing and aboriginal peoples, and November 29 will see the release of numbers on education, labour, journey to work, languages of work, mobility, and migration.
2016 also saw the reintroduction of the long form census.
