The Foothills municipality is a large rural area to the south of Calgary covering a total of 3,600 square kilometres.  The municipality stretches from the southern outskirts of Calgary south to the town of Cayley and stretches east to west from the town of Blackie in the east to Longview in the west.  The population is approximately 18,000 people - that's 5 people per square kilometre (if you exclude the poulations living in towns).  The main industry in the area is agriculture with farm land and ranches stretching from the open prairies to the rolling foothills of the Rockies.

Other than the towns most of the housing is on parcels of land, referred to as acreages.  In many cases the acreage is remote from other properties and due to its location is likely to have its own well for water supply and septic tank for sewage disposal.  Living on an acreage is very much a lifestyle choice as it is a very different way of life compared to living in the cities and towns.

Some acreages that are close to Calgary are very expensive as they tend to combine the benefits of the lifestyle of living in the country with the convenience of work and leisure of the city.  Conversely, in general, the more remote the property the more affordable it becomes.

For more details about the Foothills municipality click on the website link above.