It is surrounded by Beaver County, along Highway 14 between the City of Edmonton and the Town of Viking.

The City of Camrose is approximately 58 km (36 mi) south of Ryley.

The village was named in 1908 after George Urquhart Ryley, Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Land Commissioner at the time.

[6] As set out by the Alberta Municipal Government Act, and overseen by Alberta Municipal Affairs, the village is governed by five councillors, who are elected at-large every four years.

Ryley boasts many facilities, such as Alberta's only indoor swimming pool in a village, a school which operates four days a week, a museum, a three-sheet indoor curling rink, an outdoor skating rink, a skate park, and a community hall.