the neighbourhood was designed to control urban sprawl and improve the delivery of services.

Whitemud Drive, located just to the south of the neighbourhood, provides good access to destinations on the south side, including the University of Alberta, Fort Edmonton Park, and the Southgate Centre shopping mall.

According to the 2001 federal census, development of the neighbourhood began in the 1960s when nearly one in five (17.2%) of residences were constructed.

However, the bulk of residential construction didn't occur until the 1970s when roughly six out of ten (59.8%) of residences were built.

[10] The 2005 municipal census also indicates the population of Thorncliff is highly mobile.