South Cooking Lake

South Cooking Lake is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County.^[2] It is located on Highway 14, approximately 19 km (12 mi) southeast of Sherwood Park.

Community Hall

South Cooking Lake
Hamlet
Cooking Lake
South Cooking Lake Show map of Strathcona County South Cooking Lake Show map of Alberta
Coordinates: 53°24′44″N 113°07′10″W
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Edmonton Region
Specialized municipality	Strathcona County
Settled	1931
Government
• Type	Unincorporated
• Mayor	Rod Frank
• Governing body	Strathcona County Council Dave Anderson Katie Berghofer Brian Botterill Linton Delainey Glen Lawrence Robert Parks Paul Smith Bill Tonita
Area  (2021)[1]
• Land	2.31 km2 (0.89 sq mi)
Elevation	737 m (2,418 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	288
• Density	124.8/km2 (323/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
Postal code span	T8G
Area code	+1-780
Highways	Highway 14
Website	Strathcona County

The Cree, Blackfoot and the Sarcee were the first to inhabit the area, and that is where the name originally came from. Cooking Lake was fished commercially until 1926. Large numbers of buffalo, lynx, fox, mink, muskrat, elk, deer, moose, wolves, coyotes, and black bears roamed the area.

Today it is still possible to see a variety of wildlife and birds throughout the area. There is a day-use park, which is a great place for family picnics, boating, and windsurfing. There is a boat launch, walking trails, picnic sites, and waterfowl viewing areas. The community hall has been completely renovated and is available for rent.^[3]

Demographics

Business district of South Cooking Lake

The population of South Cooking Lake according to the 2022 municipal census conducted by Strathcona County is 277,^[4] an increase from its 2018 municipal census population count of 270.^[5]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, South Cooking Lake had a population of 288 living in 133 of its 138 total private dwellings, a change of 19.5% from its 2016 population of 241. With a land area of 2.31 km² (0.89 sq mi), it had a population density of 124.7/km² (322.9/sq mi) in 2021.^[1]

As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, South Cooking Lake had a population of 241 living in 105 of its 117 total private dwellings, a change of -16.3% from its 2011 population of 288. With a land area of 2.3 km² (0.89 sq mi), it had a population density of 104.8/km² (271.4/sq mi) in 2016.^[6]

Transportation

Edmonton/Cooking Lake Airport is located nearby and serves the community.

See also

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of designated places in Alberta
• List of hamlets in Alberta

References

1. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
2. "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
3. South Cooking Lake Archived 2008-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Strathcona County Census Results". Strathcona County. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
5. "Census 2018 Results Report" (PDF). Strathcona County. August 30, 2018. pp. 3–4. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
6. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.