Major municipalities

The largest municipality in the Calgary Region, according to the 2006 Statistics Canada Census, was the City of Calgary with a population of 988,193 ¹. More recently, the municipal census of 2010 showed 1,071,515 residents in Calgary, an 8.0% increase from the 2006 municipal census number². According to the 2006 federal census, the municipality in the Calgary Region with the highest population growth between 2001 and 2006 was the Town of Chestermere, which experienced an increase of 148.0% or 5,708 residents over that period. The municipal census of 2010 showed 14,285 individuals in Chestermere, which was a 50.7% increase from the previous municipal census of 2006. High growth was also seen in the City of Airdrie, which grew by 37.2% between 2006 and 2010.

Economic Indicators: Calgary Region

Major Municipalities	Status	2006 Population	5 Year % Change	1996 Population	10 Year % Change
Calgary	City	988,193	12.4%	767,059	28.8%
Rocky View No. 44, M.D.	Municipal District	34,171	14.2%	23,326	46.5%
Airdrie	City	28,927	41.8%	15,946	81.4%
Foothills No. 31, M.D.	Municipal District	19,736	18.9%	14,349	37.5%
Okotoks	Town	17,145	46.7%	8,510	101.5%
Cochrane	Town	13,760	14.3%	7,424	85.3%
Canmore	Town	12,039	11.6%	9,015	33.5%
High River	Town	10,716	14.2%	7,359	45.6%
Strathmore	Town	10,225	34.2%	5,273	93.9%
Chestermere	Town	9,564	148.0%	1,911	400.5%

*Top 10 cities, town, villages and municipal districts in region, based on population in latest census year

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^{1 Note: the Census under-estimates the overall population totals for any region or municipality as some people are not counted. The reasons for this under-coverage can range from some households not receiving a census questionnaire to individuals not being included in the questionnaire completed for a household.
2 Numerical differences between the federal and municipal censuses may be ascribed to slight variations in the definition of “usual residence,” as well as how “shadow populations” are treated. While municipalities define the “shadow population” as “temporary residents of a municipality who are employed by an industrial or commercial establishment in the municipality for a minimum of 30 days” and include them in their official population numbers if they consist at least 10% of the municipality’s population or a minimum of 1,000 individuals, the shadow population of transient workers is not accounted for in population counts conducted by Statistics Canada.}

Date Updated:
RDP-2361