Fort McMurray has been popular because of the oil sands production which attracts thousands of people to move to Fort McMurray and work . Fort McMurray and Waterways amalgamated as the village of McMurray ( the `` Fort '' was dropped until 1962 , when it was restored to reflect its heritage ) by 1947 , and became a town a year later . Fort McMurray was granted the status of new town so it could get more provincial funding .