Improvement districts
In the beginning, Parkland County was four townships, known as the Small Improvement Districts.
In 1913, the Local Improvement Districts (LID) replaced the Small Improvement Districts, and the eastern portion of what is now Parkland County became LID Number 519. The western portion became the Municipal District of Tomahawk Number 521, and between the two was LID Number 521. The three municipalities amalgamated in 1942 and, together, they formed the Municipal District of Stony Plain No. 520.
Successes over the next 25 years
Over the next 25 years, the MD of Stony Plain saw many successes:
- snowplowing and gravelling became part of the Public Works program;
- street lights were installed in Spruce Grove;
- a tractor-pulled road sprayer was purchased;
- an agricultural service board was set up and began promoting the construction of a seed cleaning plant;
- the vaccination of calves became compulsory;
- fire trucks were purchased; and
- a volunteer fire brigade was trained.
Restructuring of the school divisions
In July 1968, a public hearing discussed the possibility of combining the MD of Stony Plain and the Stony Plain School Division. In January 1969, the two groups united and were incorporated as the County of Parkland No. 31.
Though the County of Parkland No. 31 experienced growth in many areas, it faced challenges with the highs and lows of economic cycles, the impact of provincial restructuring and the loss of landmass due to annexation by the City of Edmonton. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, administrative changes, an improved communications strategy and adjustments to the County's boundaries and jurisdiction helped put the County back on the road to prosperity.
On January 1, 1995, with the provincial restructuring of the education system, the County of Parkland opted to separate the County and the school division, creating Parkland School Division No. 70. Later that year, the County of Parkland became Parkland County and began to flourish as a municipal corporation.
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