Ponoka County


Ponoka County is a municipal district in Alberta, Canada. It covers and it claims to "embody the essence of rural Alberta".

History

Ponoka County was founded on January 1, 1952. The county's first public officials were Mr. Bruce Ramsey, who directed municipal affairs, Mr. Peter McDonald as secretary-treasurer, and Mr. L.G. Saunders was head of the school system. The town gets its name from the Blackfoot word for Elk.

Geography

Communities and localities


The following urban municipalities are surrounded by Ponoka County.
;Cities
  • none
;Towns
  • Ponoka
  • Rimbey
;Villages
  • none
;Summer villages
  • Parkland Beach
The following hamlets are located within Ponoka County.
;Hamlets
  • Bluffton
  • Hoadley
  • Leedale
  • Maskwacis
The following localities are located within Ponoka County.
;Localities
  • Alberta Hospital
  • Crestomere
  • Frank Subdivision
  • Homeglen
  • Lavesta
  • Menaik
  • Morning Meadows Subdivision
  • Nugent
  • Paulson Pasture
  • Pleasant Hill Subdivision
  • Rimbey Ridge Estates
  • Springdale
  • Sunnyside
  • Tristram
  • Viewmar Estates
  • Willesden Green
  • Woodland Park

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Ponoka County had a population of 9,998 living in 3,689 of its 4,255 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 9,806. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2021.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Ponoka County had a population of 9,806 living in 3,535 of its 4,199 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 8,856. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016.

Government

The chief administrative officer of Ponoka County is Charlie Cutforth. The five members of council, Nancy Hartford, Bryce Liddle, Mark Matejka, Paul McLauchlin, and Doug Weir, were elected October 21, 2013. Councillor Paul McLauchlin, from electoral division 4, was selected the reeve in a 2013 organizational meeting.