Strathcona is called a "county," yet its status is actually something that many people may not have heard of—it is classified by the Province of Alberta as a specialized municipality.

 

Strathcona County's status reverted to that of a municipal district when the County Act was repealed in January of 1995. On January 1, 1996, Strathcona County's status legally changed from that of a municipal district to that of a specialized municipality - only the second in Alberta.

 

This classification provides for the unique needs of a municipality that includes both a large urban centre and a significant rural territory and population.

 

The Sherwood Park Urban Service Area is recognized as the equivalent to a city by the Government of Alberta, and the Rural Service Area (meaning the territory of Strathcona County excluding the Sherwood Park Urban Service Area) for the purposes of enactments, is treated as a municipal district.

 

As a specialized municipality, Strathcona County consists of the urban area of Sherwood Park and an extensive rural area which includes eight rural hamlets. These are Antler Lake, Ardrossan, Collingwood Cove, Half Moon Lake, Hastings Lake, Josephburg, North Cooking Lake and South Cooking Lake.