The County of Lac La Biche has released a new Municipal Census, which shows the local population has decreased by 5 percent.
The 2016 census says 8,544 people are now permanently living within the county’s borders and 987 “shadow residents” who are in the area temporarily for work. In 2013 those numbers were 9,094 and 3,126 respectively. The particularly harsh drop in shadow residents can be explained by a large pipeline project that was underway in 2013.
Broken down by hamlet, Lac La Biche remains by far the largest with 2,682 residents, with Beaver Lake having 527 and Plamondon 348. The tiny communities of Hylo and Venice have 31 and 22 residents each.
The county also has 752 summer homes, 344 vacant houses and 26 residences under construction. Most the population lives in single detached homes, making nearly two thirds of the total. Next are mobile homes at 11.5 percent. Taking up third is the “collective dwelling” category which includes hospitals, nursing homes, work camps and hotels. 9.7 percent of Lac La Biche County residents live in these types of buildings.
The fulll report can be viewed here.