The New Town of Grande Cache was incorporated on September 1, 1966. The purpose of creating a new town was to open the area for the development of coal mines. New town status allowed the town to use the Government of Alberta as a guarantor for debt. Construction of Grande Cache began in 1969. By 1971 a hospital, schools, stores, and the first homes were built. Grande Cache received town status on September 1, 1983. The community suffered a boom-bust cycle due to the dependence on a single employer that depended on a single commodity: coal. In an attempt to diversify the economy additional industries were encouraged to develop in the area. This included a wood chip plant and a federal prisonoperated by the Correctional Service of Canada. In recent years, wilderness tourism is an increasing industry. In September 2018, Grande Cache's Town Council determined that, due to a reduction in population and the subsequent loss in tax revenue, the town was no longer financially sustainable. On September 25, 2018, town residents voted to dissolve the town into a hamlet under the jurisdiction of the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16. Out of 1,100 ballots cast in the vote, 1,065 were votes in favour of dissolution, 32 were in favour of remaining a town, and 3 ballots were rejected. The dissolution came into effect on January 1, 2019, rendering Grande Cache a hamlet in the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16.
Geography
The town is built on a plateau that is just below the subalpine level of the Rocky Mountains. The town site is surrounded by three valleys: to the north is the Smoky River; to the west is the Sulphur River; to the south is Victor Lake and Grande Cache Lake. To the east of town is Grande Mountain.
Climate
Grande Cache experiences a subarctic climate. Summertime is usually very mild, but can also be very cool or warm depending on the movement of different airmasses in the area. Wintertime is very cold and snowy, lasting from November into March, and sometimes even later.
Demographics
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Grande Cache recorded a population of 3,571 living in 1,296 of its 1,759 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 4,319. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016. In the 2011 Census, Grande Cache had a population of 4,319 living in 1,563 of its 1,752 total dwellings, a 14.2% change from its 2006 population of 3,783. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2011.
Grande Cache is connected to Grande Prairie and Hinton via Highway 40. There is a community bus service to Grande Prairie once a week and to Hinton once a month. Grande Cache Airport is outside of town. There are no scheduled flights into Grande Cache Airport.
