Foothills County encompasses a diverse rural landscape in which leadership and planning support a strong agricultural heritage, vibrant communities, a balanced economy and the stewardship of natural capital for future generations.
The County is a rural municipality located adjacent to and immediately south of the City of Calgary. Covering an area of approximately 3,600 square kilometres in area, located in the foothills of sunny southern Alberta, Foothills County surrounds the Towns of Okotoks, High River, Turner Valley, and Black Diamond, the Village of Longview, and the Eden Valley Reserve.
Population
The results of the 2021 Census indicated that 23,199 people live in Foothills County.
Services
Foothills County provides a number of services -- directly or jointly with other municipalities -- to the residents of the rural area and the Hamlets of Aldersyde, Blackie, Cayley, De Winton, Hartell, Heritage Pointe, Millarville, Naptha, Priddis and Priddis Greens. These services include general administration, road construction and maintenance, fire protection, ambulance service, garbage disposal, planning and development administration, agricultural services, recreation and parks, family and community support services, and bylaw enforcement. Water services are provided in the hamlets of Aldersyde, Blackie and Cayley, and waste water services are provided in the hamlets of Blackie and Cayley. Foothills County staff are responsible for the administration of the Foothills Regional Services Commission, which operates the Foothills Regional Waste Management Facility and the Frank Lake Effluent Pumping System.
Roads and Transportation
The County maintains over 2,000 kilometres of road. Two Provincial primary highways -- Highway No. 2 and Highway No. 22 -- run north/south through the municipality, giving easy access to Canadian and US markets. Our proximity to the Rocky Mountains and the City of Calgary makes Foothills County an ideal location for small or large businesses. The Foothills County is one of the fastest growing districts in Alberta.
Taxation and Finance Basics
Alberta has the lowest overall tax structure in Canada and is the only province that does not have a provincial sales tax. Foothills County does not levy a business tax.
Map of Foothills County
