Special Areas is a unique rural municipal area covering approximately 2.1 million hectares in southeastern Alberta. The Special Areas is administered by a board of three people which is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. There are 3 Special Areas; Special Area 2 is based out of Hanna, Special Area 3 is based out of Oyen and Special Area 4 is based out of Consort. The areas were established under the Special Areas Act in 1938 due to extreme hardship of the drought years of the 1930s.  The Special Areas Act has more or less remained intact although there were some amendments in 1966 and 1985. An advisory council of 13 is elected in accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act. The population of the Special Areas is 5,314. The Special Areas provides municipal services and long-term land resource management.

These services include:
• Maintenance of local roads (6,000 km) includes graveling, grading, oiling, snowplowing, replacement of signs, culverts, etc.

• Construction of local roads, approximately 60 km per year.

• Maintenance of parks including planting of trees, maintaining grass and park facilities.

• Provision of water services.  Some hamlets have cooperatives that are responsible for testing the water.
For those that do not, Special Areas employees check the water and send samples to the Provincial
Public Health Lab.

• To support the construction and maintenance activities the Special Areas Board runs a 19 bay shop with
9 mechanics.  There are also 10 outlying shops which are used for routine maintenance and storage
of equipment.

• Public land management – leasing and supervision of approximately 2,722,000 acres of public land.  Permitted activities on leases includes grazing, cultivation and oil and gas development.

• Maintain and operate 173,744 acres of community pasture which accepts livestock from patrons on a seasonal basis.

• Agricultural development and conservation services are conducted by 3 Agriculture Service Boards
and fieldmen.

• Responsible for emergency and protective services.

• Rural stabilization and economic development through a series of partnerships which allow exploration and development of community supported activities.