According to results from this year's municipal census, the population of Blackfalds now totals 9,900 people.

In 2017, the town welcomed 400 new residents, a four per cent increase from last year.

It's growth -- just not at the pace Blackfalds has seen in the past, says chief administrative officer Myron Thompson.

“It’s not as high as what we’ve had but still double the provincial average,” Thompson says.

“We have to prepare for that. We have a lot of pending development we’re working on right now, especially with commercial development. And commercial development will spur residential growth so I think that we’re looking at some really exciting things.”

Not only is the town growing, it's also young.

Half the town's population is between 19 to 40 years old. The largest single age group is made up of those aged zero to five.

After that, it's 31 to 35 year olds.

Thompson says Blackfalds offers a lot for youth, including amenities like trails, parks, playgrounds and the Abbey Centre.

Looking at the long-term trend, Blackfalds is booming. In just the last 10 years, the town's population has doubled, making it Alberta's fastest-growing municipality.

That rapid growth is demanding on municipal staff. Thompson says periods of slower growth offer “breathing time” where administration can prepare for the next boom cycle.

“But we don’t get that here. It’s go, go, go and hitting priorities. We enjoy that. We like a challenge and we enjoy that type of growth,” he says.