With a 10.6 percent population increase over the past 5 years, Central Alberta's census division 8, spanning from Bowden to Ponoka and Eckville to Alix, was the 3rd fastest growing region in the Province.
 
The only other two regions to beat Central Alberta were the Calgary and Edmonton areas.
 
Blackfalds’ population nearly doubled, and Mayor Melodie Stol says it's in large part due to the investment they've made into their community “we weren’t just trying to add people to our town, we were trying to build a full service community so you see a lot of new recreational amenities, lots of investments in schools and bringing in services like the RCMP detachment”.

Blackfalds in fact is one of Canada's fastest growing communities, ranked number one in communities with at least 5 thousand people outside of a metropolitan area.
 
Between 2011 and 2016 the town saw its population grow 48%, with 9,328 people now calling Blackfalds home.

Penhold also saw large growth with nearly 1000 new residents moving in.
 
Mayor Dennis Cooper says a few reasons come to mind “we still have that small community feel; we’ve made some of the sidewalks 2 meters wide so you can walk the community really nicely, and I think the other thing is we have K-12 right in the town so kids don’t have to travel on buses”.

Penhold grew by 38% over the past 5 years.
 
And Lacombe once again saw steady growth, at 11.5%.
 
Mayor Steve Christie says that's in large part to a younger demographic now taking over the family businesses “with new energy, new vim and vigor, they are marketing differently, supporting one another and creating a brand and in turn supporting City of Lacombe’s brand”.