Cochrane ( ) is a town in the Calgary Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. The town is located west of the Calgary city limits along Highway 1A. Cochrane is one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada, and with a population of 32,199 in 2021, it is one of the largest towns in Alberta. It is part of Calgary's census metropolitan area and a member community of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB). The town is surrounded by Rocky View County. History Cochrane was established in 1881 as the Cochrane Ranche, after Matthew Henry Cochrane, a local rancher. It became a village in 1903 and it had a newspaper and volunteer fire department by 1909. Cochrane incorporated as a town in 1971. Geography Cochrane is situated at the base of Big Hill in the Bow River Valley. It sits at an elevation of . The town is intersected by Highway 1A and Highway 22. Cochrane has a reputation for its western culture, which can easily be felt when one wanders the streets (particularly Main Street). The town is a popular destination for ice cream and coffee in its quaint western-oriented stores as well as for windsports, golfing, hiking and other adventure activities. Cochrane is also a small industrial centre. Major industries include lumber, construction, retail, and agriculture (ranching). It is notable as being one of very few communities in Canada with no business tax. The hill is also a popular training ground for cyclists from the area, who take advantage of its 7% grade and distance. Neighbourhoods The following neighbourhoods are located within Cochrane. Bow Meadows Bow Ridge Cochrane Heights Downtown East End Fireside Glenbow GlenEagles Greystone Heartland Heritage Hills Jumping Pound Ridge Precedence Rivercrest Riversong Riviera Riverview Rolling Range Estates Rolling Trails Southbow Landing South Ridge Sunset Ridge The Willows West Pointe West Terrace West Valley Sports The Cochrane Generals are a Junior B Hockey Club based out of Cochrane Alberta Canada. They are members of the South Division In the Heritage Junior Hockey League. They have been playing out of the Original Cochrane Arena from (1984-2001) - (2018-Present) Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Cochrane had a population of 32,199 living in 12,096 of its 12,578 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 25,853. With a land area of , it had a population density of in