| Settlement Type: | Municipal district |
| Seal Type: | Logo |
| Image Map1: | AB locator CYPRESS COUNTY.svg |
| Mapsize1: | 200 |
| Map Caption1: | Location within Alberta |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Alberta |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Southern Alberta |
| Subdivision Type3: | Census division |
| Subdivision Name3: | 1 |
| Leader Title: | Reeve |
| Leader Name: | Dan Hamilton |
| Leader Title1: | Governing body |
| Leader Name1: | Cypress County Council |
| Leader Title2: | Administrative office |
| Leader Name2: | Dunmore |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1985 |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Established Date2: | 1985 |
| Area Footnotes: | (2021) |
| Area Land Km2: | 12977.99 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Total: | 7524 |
| Population Density Km2: | 0.6 |
| Timezone: | MST |
| Utc Offset: | −7 |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −6 |
Cypress County is a municipal district in southeastern Alberta, Canada that surrounds the City of Medicine Hat and the Town of Redcliff. The municipality is part of Census Division 1, Alberta.[1] The first farm in the area was settled in 1890.[2]
The Cypress County landscape is dominated by a shortgrass prairie ecosystem.[3] The land is flat to slightly rolling. The Cypress Hillsregion features mixed grasslands, wetlands and montane habitats.[4] Major hydrological features include the South Saskatchewan and Milk rivers.Extensive coulee systems have formed adjacent to major rivers resulting in badlands terrain.
Near Walsh, Alberta at 50.0106°N -110.1134°W lies the Badlands Guardian. Here the landscape takes the form of a head wearing a feathered headdress. The head is approximately wide and deep. This unusual geographic feature is a result of natural erosion of the surrounding prairie.
The following urban municipalities are surrounded by Cypress County.[5]
The following hamlets are located within Cypress County.
The following localities are located within Cypress County.[6]
Cypress County has a semiarid climate[3] with cold, dry winters and warm to hot summers. The winter cold is occasionally temperedby mild and dry chinook winds blowing from the west. Hot summer daytime temperatures are made tolerable by low humidity and rapid cooling in the eveninghours. Maximum precipitation typically occurs in late spring and early summer.[1]
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cypress County had a population of 7,524 living in 2,658 of its 3,149 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 7,662. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2021.[8]
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cypress County had a population of 7,662 living in 2,689 of its 3,222 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 7,214. With a land area of 13173.25km2, it had a population density of in 2016.[9]
Agriculture and the oil and gas industry are the primary economic activities within the county. Agricultural sectors include ranching, wheat and oil seed crops, irrigated alfalfa and other specialty crops.[1] Irrigation water is supplied by the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) and other smaller water co-operatives. Oil and gas production is extensive throughout the county. Natural gas is gathered through pipe networks and processed in gas production plants near Hilda.[1]
Cypress County has a Municipal Council of 9 elected Councillors. Councillors are elected by the eligible electors (Cypress County residents) who vote for a candidate in their electoral ward. Municipal elections organized by Alberta Municipal Affairs are held on the 3rd Monday in October every four years. Each October, the Councillors elect the Reeve and Deputy Reeve.[10]
The Cypress County Council (elected in October 2021) consists of:
Cypress County is served by the Provincial Electoral Division of Cypress-Medicine Hat and represented in the Alberta Legislature by UCP MLA Justin Wright (politician).
Cypress County is served by the Federal Electoral Division of Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner and represented in the House of Commons of Canada by Conservative MP Glen Motz.
Cypress County is home to Canadian Forces Base Suffield.The base provides an extensive training area for both Canadian and British Armed Forces.[11] Defence Research and Development Canada facilities are located here as well.[12]
Fire Services
Cypress County Fire Services serves the entirety of Cypress County, excluding the city of Medicine Hat. They are a municipal paid-on-call fire department with 140 firefighters who respond to a yearly average of 250 calls for service. They have 9 fire halls located in Dunmore, Elkwater, Hilda, Irvine, One Four, Schuler, Seven Persons, and Walsh.[13]
Cypress County provides municipal services through various departments. Services include agricultural programs, road maintenance, bylaw enforcement, land use planning, development advice and approvals, fire protection, recreation, street lighting, waste collection, recycling, water and sewer, emergency services, and family and community support.[1]
The Prairie Rose School Division #8 serves the needs of public school students.Schools within this district include Eagle Butte High School, Burdett School, Bow Island Elementary, Senator Gershaw School, Parkside School, I. F. Cox School, Margaret Wooding School, Irvine School, Schuler School, Oyen Public School, New Brigden School, Ralston School, Seven Persons School, Beyond Walls Alternative Outreach School andElkwater Hutterite Colony and six other colony schools.[14] The division office is located in Dunmore.[1]
The Medicine Hat Catholic Separate Regional School Division #20 serves the needs ofRoman Catholic students. District schools located in Medicine Hat and Bow Island includeMcCoy High School, St. Mary's School, Notre-Dame Academy, St. Louis School, St. FrancisXavier School, St. Michael's School, Mother Teresa School and St. Patrick's School.[15] The division office is located in Medicine Hat.[1]
Christian Education K-12 is provided by Cornerstone Christian School.
The Medicine Hat College is a junior college located in Medicine Hat.The college offers university transfer programs, applied degrees and apprenticeshipprograms. Athletics include basketball, volleyball, and soccer.