Athabasca County
Economic Development

Living in
Athabasca County

About Athabasca County

Athabasca County is situated in the geographic center of Alberta with major highways 2, 55, 63 & 813 connecting the region to Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Slave Lake and the Wabasca-Demarais area. With access to the CN railway, the Athabasca Regional Airport, the CANAMEX Corridor, and with
fibre optic connection in key areas, Athabasca County is the modern gateway to the north. The region has a population of just over 11,000 residents which includes the Town of Athabasca, the Village of Boyle, 8 Summer Villages and 11 Hamlets all located within county limits.

Demographics

Population

6,959

Families

2,120

Median Age

47.6

Average Household Income

$105K

Average Value of Dwellings

$385K

Comunity Resources

Healthcare

There are a range of healthcare services in the Town of Athabasca including a 24/7 emergency department at the Athabasca Healthcare Centre and two medical clinics, the Athabasca Family Health Centre and the Athabasca Medical Centre. Diagnostic imaging services are provided by the Aspen Diagnostic Imaging clinic. In Boyle, there is the Boyle Health Care Centre to provide healthcare and emergency services and the Silver Birch Medical Centre for family physicians. Other health-related professional services available in the County are dental, optometry, massage, physiotherapy, chiropractic and much more!

Education

There are seven schools in the Aspen View School Division, which covers education in Athabasca, Rochester, Boyle and Grassland. The Northern Lights School Division serves Wandering River & Caslan. The two schools both offer dual credit and apprenticeship opportunities, international experience programs and French Immersion. Post Secondary education and training can be achieved through Northern Lakes College, Portage College and Athabasca University.

Housing

Athabasca Region provides many choices to accommodate different types of residential properties for owners. These include single family homes, country residential acreages, apartments & condominiums, manufactured home parks, farm properties, recreation properties & commercial properties. Cost of living (monthly shelter costs) is roughly 14% below Alberta costs & median house prices were roughly 12% below Alberta prices. For specific age groups, the region offers housing in senior care facilities, assisted living facilities, lowincome housing, and adult living communities.

Community Services

In Athabasca County, the Village of Boyle, and the Town of Athabasca, emergency services include by-law enforcement and fire protection services from volunteer fire departments. There are RCMP Detachments in Athabasca & Boyle. Call 911 in an emergency and the Call Answer Service will identify your physical location and connect you to Fire, Ambulance or Police Services. STARS has a fuel cache at the Athabasca Regional Airport and provides emergency transport.

Recreation

The Athabasca region is uniquely situated on the Alberta Boreal forest’s lower edge and bisected by the Athabasca River. Its untouched forests, pristine lakes, and other natural features are an outdoor enthusiasts’ delight. From parks, arts and cultural activities and festivals to golf courses and fitness facilities, Athabasca has something for everyone. The Athabasca Regional Multiplex offers walking, running, hockey, figure skating, soccer, swimming, basketball, badminton, tennis, lacrosse, dance, gymnastics and more. The Multiplex is also available for conferences, weddings, trade shows, graduations, parties, and meetings of all sorts.