Cypress County, located in southeastern Alberta, Canada, is a municipal district that surrounds the City of Medicine Hat and the Town of Redcliff. This region, part of Census Division 1, Alberta, is steeped in history, with the first farm in the area settled in 1890.
The landscape of Cypress County is dominated by a shortgrass prairie ecosystem, with flat to slightly rolling terrain. The Cypress Hills region is a mix of grasslands, wetlands, and montane habitats. Major hydrological features include the South Saskatchewan and Milk rivers, and extensive coulee systems have formed adjacent to these rivers, resulting in badlands terrain.
One of the most intriguing geographical features is the Badlands Guardian, located near Walsh, Alberta. This natural erosion of the surrounding prairie has resulted in a landscape that resembles a head wearing a feathered headdress. The head is approximately 300 metres wide and 25 metres deep.
Cypress County experiences a semiarid climate, with cold, dry winters and warm to hot summers. The winter cold is occasionally tempered by mild and dry chinook winds blowing from the west. Hot summer daytime temperatures are made tolerable by low humidity and rapid cooling in the evening hours. Maximum precipitation typically occurs in late spring and early summer.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cypress County had a population of 7,524 living in 2,658 of its 3,149 total private dwellings, a change of -1.8% from its 2016 population of 7,662. With a land area of 12,977.99 km2, it had a population density of 0.6/km2 in 2021.
Cypress County offers a variety of attractions for visitors. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy camping, fishing, boating, and hiking at locations like Bullshead Reservoir, Cavan Lake Municipal Recreation Area, and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Golfers can tee off at Desert Blume Golf Club, while history buffs can explore local historical displays at the Irvine Prairie Memories Museum.
Cypress County is traversed by several major highways, including the Trans-Canada Highway (1), Crowsnest Highway (3), and Highway 41. The county has developed and maintains an extensive road network within its municipal jurisdiction, with paved, oiled, and graveled roads totaling more than 2700 km in length.
The Canadian Pacific Kansas City main line also traverses Cypress County, with major switching yards located in Dunmore. Several spur lines and side yards exist along the line's route to facilitate the handling of grain and other commodities.
Cypress County is home to a variety of infrastructure, including the Cypress County Welcome Centre, which provides information and resources for visitors and residents alike.
