Blackfalds

Blackfalds is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located along Highway 2A 13.5 km north of Red Deer. The town's name, Waghorn (for Walter Waghorn, post master), changed in 1903 to Blackfalds, after Blackfalds, a Scottish hamlet.

Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Blackfalds had a population of 10,470 living in 3,780 of its 3,952 total private dwellings, a change of NaN% from its 2016 population of 9,328. With a land area of 16.58 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

The population of the Town of Blackfalds according to its 2021 municipal census is 11,015, a change of NaN% from its 2018 municipal census population of 10,125. At its current population, Blackfalds is one of the largest towns in the province and is eligible for city status. According to Alberta's Municipal Government Act, a town is eligible for city status when it reaches 10,000 residents.

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Blackfalds recorded a population of 9,328 living in 3,302 of its 3,552 total private dwellings, a NaN% change from its 2011 population of 6,300. With a land area of 16.44 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

Amenities
The town has many public facilities such as:
 * Blackfalds Public Library, located in the Eagle Builders Centre on Waghorn Street.
 * Blackfalds All Wheels Park and Blackfalds Bike Skills Park are located on Womacks Road off of Vista Trail.
 * Tayles Water Spray Park, located next to the Cultural Centre.
 * Blackfalds All-Star Park, located in the southwest corner of Blackfalds.
 * Eagle Builders Centre, formerly Blackfalds Multiplex, home to the Blackfalds Bulldogs ice hockey team.
 * Blackfalds Abbey Centre, a Multi-Purpose Fitness Facility and Outdoor Aquatic Centre.

Education
The town has three public schools in the Wolf Creek school district and one catholic school in the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools district:
 * Iron Ridge Elementary Campus
 * Iron Ridge Intermediate Campus
 * Iron Ridge Junior Campus; and
 * St. Gregory the Great Catholic School.

Media
The Town of Blackfalds is primarily served by regional weekly newspapers and one major daily. As of 2018, the town no longer has a newspaper of their own as the Blackfalds LIFE, which began circulation in August 2014, closed.

Blackfalds has access to rdnewsNOW, and receives the Red Deer Advocate and Lacombe Express.

Blackfalds is served by numerous radio stations from Red Deer and Lacombe, including Kraze 101.3 (CKIK), Real Country 95.5, Zed 99, Sunny 94, Big 105, X 100.7 (CKEX) and 106.7 Rewind Radio.

Sports
The Blackfalds Bulldogs, formerly the Calgary Mustangs, of the AJHL relocated to Blackfalds in 2021. On February 1, 2024, the Bulldogs announced their move to the British Columbia Hockey League.