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Future of our Hamlets
A Hamlet, as defined by Section 59 of the MGA, is
an unincorporated community consisting of a
minimum five dwellings, non-residential uses, and
an accepted boundary and name.
It is possible that the majority of population growth
and residential development in the County of
Newell in the future will occur within and near its
Hamlets. To this end, it is important to identify
which Hamlets are best suited to accommodate
this growth and which ones are best to be
maintained in their current state.
Community in the Hamlets
The Hamlets in the County are defined by a strong
sense of community. This is evident through the
Advisory Boards that represent residents’ best
interests. The nine Hamlets have an average
population of 153 according to the 2020 Census.
Notes from Administration
When it comes to day-to-day operations, the
designation of Hamlets and their boundaries
marginally affects the County’s maintenance
obligations. However, the cost of maintaining
infrastructure in Hamlets is greater due to their
more urban characteristics.
Hamlet Capacities Assessment
In 2021, MPE Engineering prepared a summary on
the available water and wastewater system
capacities for some of the County’s Hamlets. The
report concluded Lake Newell Resort, Scandia,
and Tilley have capacity for development, and
Patricia, Rainier, and Rolling Hills have little
capacity for more development.
State of Non-residential Uses
A Hamlet must have non-residential uses to be
considered as such. Within the County, there is a
disparity between the Hamlets in regard to the
amount of commercial, industrial, and institutional
developments that exists. Some, like Tilley, have a
great variety of non-residential developments.
Others, like Lake Newell Resort, are devoid of a
significant non-residential presence. This has an
impact on who is willing to move into a Hamlet.
The availability of spaces for social interactions
also impacts the sense of community.
Categorization of Hamlets
The Hamlets within the County of Newell can be
categorized based on their growth potential.
Growth Hamlets are expected to accommodate
the most growth and have the capacity both in
servicing and in availability of land to do so. Rural
Hamlets are expected to maintain their numbers
or decline. This is mostly due to the lack of
capacity for expansion of available services.
As part of the conversation, the County’s Hamlets
will be identified either as Growth Hamlets or Rural
Hamlets. The MDP’s policies will be written to
address the future conditions and expectations of
each category.
Hamlet Pop. (2020) Com. Inst.
Bow City 16 No No
Cassils 22 Yes No
Gem 29 No Yes
Lake Newell
Resort 437 No No
Patricia 88 Yes Yes
Rainier 21 No Yes
Rolling Hills 263 Yes Yes
Scandia 169 Yes Yes
Tilley 335 Yes Yes
The Future
It is impossible to precisely predict the future of the
County’s Hamlets, but better preparations can be
made for many outcomes.