And the population of Cochrane is ...

The results of Cochrane's spring municipal census are in!

In a new release this morning, the town announced Cochrane has an unofficial population of 37,011 that is expected to be confirmed by the provincial government.

Our thriving community's growth rate remains consistent with previous years – at approximately 5 per cent growth year-over-year since 2011. From 2016-2024, our population grew a whopping 43 per cent.

“Since the last federal census was conducted in 2021, just over an additional 4,800 people have chosen to make Cochrane their home,” states Stacey Loe, Cochrane's executive director of corporate services, in a news release. "This reflects that Cochrane continues to be a community of choice – across the province and the country.”

The 2021 federal census pegged Cochrane’s population at 32,199, a 24.5 per cent increase from the 2016 federal census. It ranked Cochrane as the fastest growing community in Alberta, and the 11th fastest in all of Canada.

The municipal census revealed nearly 25 per cent of Cochrane are under the age of 18.

“These numbers highlight a growing youth population and provide valuable insights into our community’s needs," states Loe. "This data supports our ongoing advocacy efforts to ensure adequate school spaces to support quality education for Cochrane's students and enhancing recreational amenities to meet the needs of our growing demographic.”

Census data is a crucial cornerstone for the town's long-term planning of social and infrastructure initiatives and emergency preparedness strategies. It enables the municipality to address the specific needs of different neighborhoods based on demographic trends and evolving population counts.

The census ran from April 2 to June 30, 2024, and resulted in a 97 per cent response rate.

Cochrane held its last municipal census in 2019.

The reintroduction of the municipal census followed a provincial government decision in 2023 to reintegrate municipality-collected data. That data impacts the amount of funding provided to the municipality from the provincial and federal government. 

READ MORE: Counting Yourself in Helps Town Get $$$

The census results have been submitted to Alberta Municipal Affairs to establish official population figures.