County of Athabasca No. 12

In 1883, the Northwest Territorial Council passed the Municipal Ordinance, allowing for the establishment of local government areas. In response to this ordinance, many townships -- typically comprised of 36 sections of land --, organized to form herd districts (1883), fire districts (1886), and statute labor districts (1887). In 1897, all three ordinances amalgamated with the passing of the Local Improvement Ordinance. Local improvement districts maintained public works such as road building, management of fires, noxious fumes, and animals. A 1903 amendment of the Local Improvement Ordinance allowed local improvement districts to include between 3 and 6 townships.

In 1912, with the passing of the Rural Municipality Act, the Province of Alberta created the Department of Municipal Affairs. The Act allowed 9 townships to apply for incorporation as a rural municipality as long as the land contained 1 person/square mile. Under this provision some local improvement districts organized as municipalities while others chose to continue as local improvement districts. In 1918, the Government of Alberta required the organization of all local improvement districts into municipalities with the Municipal Districts Act.

The Municipal History of the County of Athabasca No. 12 began in 1913, when Local Improvement District 637 organized from a territorial unit. In 1914, Local Improvement District 637 organized as Rural Municipality of Cartier 637. In 1917, the Rural Municipality of Cartier 637 organized to form the Municipal District of Cartier 637. In 1945, the Municipal District of Cartier 637 renumbered as the Municipal District of Cartier 103. In 1947, the Municipal District of Cartier 103, the Municipal District of Nelson 105, the Municipal District of Grosmont 106, Improvement District 102, and Improvement District 122 merged to from the Municipal District of Athabasca 103. In 1958, the Municipal District of Athabasca 103, and Athabasca School Division 42 amalgamated to form the County of Athabasca No. 12. In 2002, the Summer Village of White Gull dissolved to become part of the County of Athabasca No. 12.