Vilna is located in Smoky Lake County, on Highway 28, 150 km (93.2 mi) northeast of the city of Edmonton.

[3] The main community started to coalesce in 1919, when the railroad reached the area and the first grain elevator was built.

[4] On February 5, 1967, Vilna experienced a meteor air burst with a yield estimated at 600 tonnes of TNT (2.5 TJ).

[citation needed] Subsequently, two very small meteorite fragments were found – 48 milligrams (0.74 grains) and 94 milligrams (1.45 gr) which are now stored at University of Alberta, in Edmonton.

[7] The town claims to be home to the world's largest metal sculpture mushroom.