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Census shows aging populations, some growth in High Country

Black Diamond sees the biggest increase in the 65+ demographic, with a drop in youth populations seen in both towns.

Census results show the population of Black Diamond isn’t getting any younger.

According to data released by Statistics Canada from the 2021 census, there were 825 seniors in Black Diamond as of last summer, making up more than 30 per cent of the town's population. Across Canada, seniors 65-and-older made up 19 per cent of the total population.

That is an increase of 34 per cent, or 210 people, in that age group since the last census in 2016.

At that time, 615 seniors made up about 23 per cent of the town’s population.

Breaking it down, in Black Diamond in 2021 there were 275 people aged 65 to 69, making that the largest five-year age group in the town. There were 230 people in the 60-64 age group and 235 people aged 70-74, making them the second and third largest age groups, respectively.

The populations of people aged 0-14 and 15-64 each decreased by almost 10 per cent.

Overall, the town added 25 residents between 2016 and 2021, for a growth rate of 0.9 per cent. Population growth in the province averaged 4.8 per cent, while it was over five per cent nationally.

The average age in Black Diamond is 47 years old, and the total population is 2,730.

Turner Valley’s population grew by two per cent, meaning 52 more people called it home in 2021 than in 2016. At the time of the most recent census, 2,611 people were counted in Turner Valley.

The percentage of seniors (those 65 and over) also grew, with an additional 155 being counted. That age group makes up 22 per cent of the total population for the town, amounting to 585 people.

The number of people in the 0-14 age group fell by more than 12 per cent. The number of people in the 15-64 age group also fell, but by a lower margin of slightly under two per cent. The average age in Turner Valley is 44 years old.

Population growth in Foothills County amounted to an increase of 2.6 per cent from 2016-2021, growing from 22,616 to 23,199 people. The seniors demographic grew by over 36 per cent, from 3,410 people to 4,665.


Robert Korotyszyn

About the Author: Robert Korotyszyn

Robert Korotyszyn covers Okotoks and Foothills County news for WesternWheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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