Located in the central section of the province, Blackfalds covers 16.44 square kilometres near the communities of Lacombe, Labuma, Red Deer, and Gull Lake. The city of over 9,000 people is situated along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway to the west and is surrounded by multiple lakes.
Two other major roadways intersect in the city: Highways 2A and 597. Blackfalds, which was originally named Waghorn after the first postmaster in the area, Walter Waghorn, grew in population once the railway came here. The city still maintains a small-town feel to this day.
Country: Canada
Province: Alberta
Population: 9,328
Area: 16.44 km2
Residential areas, Queen Elizabeth II Highway, an industrial area, service providers, shops, parks, schools, restaurants, a recreation centre, a community centre, a community hall, a dog park, and an RCMP office can all be found in the western section of the city.
The central section of the city offers residential areas, parks, an arena, government offices, a community garden, schools, churches, service providers, restaurants, shops, accommodations, a post office, a cultural centre, and a fire hall.
In the eastern section of the city, there is an industrial area, residential areas, restaurants, shops, service providers, accommodations, schools, lakes, parks, and government offices.
Ellis Bird Farm, located between Blackfalds and Lacombe, is a working farm and a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of a number of bird species, including mountain bluebirds and tree swallows. The site offers a visitor centre, gardens, the world’s largest outdoor collection of bluebird nest boxes, walking trails, and an onsite café. Abbey Centre is an indoor recreational facility that offers an indoor playground, a fitness centre, a concession area, a childcare centre, a field house, an indoor track, an aquatic centre, an outdoor playground, a park, and an outdoor amphitheatre. A variety of drop-in and registered programs and classes at the centre are available for people of all ages.
Blackfalds has a number of parks, including Pine Crescent Park, with a trail system, greenspace, and an ice rink (winter); Centennial Park, which features a trail, an outdoor basketball court, a soccer field, a pond, and a treehouse-themed playground; Mickey Lang Park, which has a climbing structure, greenspace, tennis courts, a playground, benches, and a tobogganing hill (winter); and the Civic Centre Pirate Playground, with a pirate-themed playground and a spray park.
The majority of Blackfalds’ close to 300 businesses are in the construction, agriculture, manufacturing, natural resources, petrochemicals, and business services industries. Petrochemical plants in the area include those owned by Nova Chemical Corporation, Dow Canada, and Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait. Close to 2,000 residents are employed in the petrochemical industry. Agriculture in the area is based mostly on meat production, grains, and oilseeds. Agricultural companies operating in the area include Canadian Premium Meats, Olymel, RAHR Malting, and Permolex.
The Town of Blackfalds and the Blackfalds & District Chamber of Commerce both provide resources, support, and marketing for local businesses and the area’s economy in general.
The majority of the real estate options in the western section of Blackfalds are newer built single-family homes at mid-range prices. Condo options and row housing provide a slightly more affordable option for those looking at homeownership.
A mix of new and old single-family homes is common in the central section of the city, along with a few expensive luxury homes. Condos and row housing can also be found here.
Newly built condos, row houses, and single-family homes make up the real estate options found in the eastern section of Blackfalds. These options tend to come at mid-range prices. On the edges of the city, there are pricey vacant lots, as well as larger luxury homes that come at a high price.
Schools in Blackfalds include Iron Ridge Elementary Campus, Iron Ridge Intermediate Campus, and St. Gregory the Great Catholic School. Other nearby options include Terrace Ridge School, Lacombe Junior High School, Central Alberta Christian High School, James S. McCormick School, College Heights Christian School, Lacombe Composite High School, and Wolf Creek Academy.
There are no post-secondary options in Blackfalds, but residents can travel to nearby communities to access options such as Burman University, CDI College, Red Deer College, and Academy of Learning College.
