Drayton Valley is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located on Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail), approximately 133km southwest of Edmonton. It is surrounded by Brazeau County, which is known for its vast oil fields. The town is located in between the North Saskatchewan River and the Pembina River.The town was named after Drayton, Hampshire, the native home of an early postmaster's wife.HistoryPrior to the 1953 oil boom, the community of Drayton Valley was sparsely populated. The main economic activities were farming and logging. Drayton Valley was incorporated as a village in 1956 and officially became a town in 1957. In 1955 a ferry was built to cross the North Saskatchewan River. The original bridge that replaced the ferry was eventually replaced by a new bridge in 2014.DemographicsIn the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Drayton Valley recorded a population of 7,235 living in 2,782 of its 3,116 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 7,118. With a land area of 30.72km2, it had a population density of in 2016.In the 2011 Census, the Town of Drayton Valley had a population of 7,049 living in 2,740 of its 2,899 total dwellings, a 2.3% change from its 2006 population of 6,893. With a land area of 12.27km2, it had a population density of in 2011. Following its 2011 and 2012 annexations, Statistics Canada adjusted Drayton Valley's 2011 population by an additional 69 people to 7,118.