New Brunswick, located on Canada’s Atlantic coast, is a Maritime province known for its beautiful landscapes and unique adventures.[1] It is the largest of Canada’s three Maritime Provinces, with a total area of approximately 72,908 sq. km ( 28,142 sq. miles).[2] Joined to Nova Scotia by the narrow Isthmus of Chignecto and separated from Prince Edward Island by the Northumberland Strait, New Brunswick forms the land bridge linking this region to continental North America.[3] It is bounded in the north by Quebec and in the west by the US (Maine).[3] As of 2023, the estimated population of New Brunswick was 834,6913, and by 2024, it is projected to reach 850,8944.[4] The province is Canada’s only officially bilingual province, with French and English having equal status.[5]
The economy of New Brunswick is diverse. In 2023, the province’s economy grew by 1.3%, reaching $34.8 billion.[6] The province’s economic growth in 2023 was supported by record-breaking population and employment figures, along with robust increases in income, household spending, investment in building construction, and retail sales.[6] Key industries include agriculture, forestry, mining, fisheries, and tourism8. Notable products from New Brunswick include King Cole Tea, McCain french fries, Crosby’s Molasses, Ganong Chocolate, Beausoleil Oysters, Barbours spices, and Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar.[7] New Brunswick is home to several National and Provincial Parks including Fundy National Park The Hopewell Rocks Ocean Tidal Exploration Site. Kouchibouguac National Park, and many additional provincial parks. The province offers a mix of natural wonders and cultural heritage. The Bay of Fundy, home to the world’s highest tides, is a favorite among tourists. The city of Saint John, a major industrial center, operates the most extensive port facilities in the region. Other popular cities include Moncton and Fredericton.
Research your ancestors on MyHeritage
History of New BrunswickHistory of New Brunswick
New Brunswick, located on the eastern seaboard of North America, has a rich and diverse history. The lands encompassing present-day New Brunswick were inhabited for millennia by several First Nations groups, most notably the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, and the Passamaquoddy.
The first recorded European exploration of present-day New Brunswick was by French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1534.[8] French explorers first arrived in the area during the 16th century and began to settle the region in the following century, as a part of the colony of Acadia. By the early 18th century, the region experienced an influx of Acadian refugees moving into the area, after the French surrendered their claim to Nova Scotia in 1713.[9].
In 1784, the British divided Nova Scotia at the Chignecto Isthmus, naming the west and north portion New Brunswick after the German duchy of Brunswick-Lunenburg.[3] New Brunswick was one of the first provinces, along with Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia, to join together to form the Dominion of Canada in 1867.[10]
During the 19th century, New Brunswick saw an influx of settlers that included formerly deported Acadians, Welsh migrants, and a large number of Irish migrants.[3] The province’s extensive forest resources and large rivers, which had contributed so much to the square timber and lumber industries in the past, still held the key for New Brunswick to enter the modern industrial era.[11] The 19th century was a high point for the development of timber exports to England and of the province’s shipyards.[3]
The province of New Brunswick experienced an economic downturn during the late 19th century, although its economy began to expand again in the early 20th century.[3] During the 1960s, the government embarked on an equal opportunity program that rectified inequities experienced by the province’s French-speaking population.[12] In the early 20th century, the provincial economy was marked by the opening of many pulp and paper mills around the province.[3]
Agriculture, a traditional sector of the economy, strongly marked the history of New Brunswick.[13] The challenges were many and progress came rather slowly, despite efforts in the individual regions. Colonial agriculture, a traditional, subsistence way of life, lasted up to World War II in some places.[13]
Demographics of New BrunswickDemographics of New Brunswick
The demographic distribution of the [state] population is as follows:[14]
About 60% of the population of New Brunswick has roots in the British Isles, while 31% are French Canadian or Acadian. Other ethnicities in the province include First Nations, Asian Canadian, Irish and other European nations. Both English and French are official languages in New Brunswick and it is the only province in the nation to be bilingual. Approximately 34% of the population speaks both languages.
Most common surnames in New BrunswickMost common surnames in New Brunswick
Researching family history in New BrunswickResearching family history in New Brunswick
The Provincial Archives of New Brunswick collects, preserves, and makes available for research, documents and records bearing upon the history of New Brunswick. The Library and Archives of Canada has extensive online resources for all the provinces. Centre D'Etudes Acadiennes Ansleme Chiasson (Anselme-Chiasson Acadian Studies Center)
New Brunswick counties and municipality regionsNew Brunswick counties and municipality regions
in 1794, shortly after the creation of New Brunswick county, it was divided into 15 counties.[16]
| Albert | Carleton | Charlotte | Gloucester |
| Kent | Kings | Madawaska | Northunberland |
| Queens | Restigouche | Saint John | Sunbury |
| Victoria | Westmorland | York |
The counties were eliminated by the 1955 Municipalities Act [17]are further divided into 107 municipalities, 8 cities, 30 towns, 21 villages, 17 rural communities, and 1 regional municipality.[18] The status of the municipalities can change.[19]
See alsoSee also
Explore more about New BrunswickExplore more about New Brunswick
MyHeritage.com has 5 helpful collections of records from New Brunswick including Canadian Censu records, Canada, New Brunswick Marriages, and Canada, New Brunswick Births, 1801-1921. The rest of the records can be found in the New Brunswick Collection Catalog.
References
- ↑ 110 Fun and Interesting New Brunswick Facts
- ↑ New Brunswick Maps & Facts
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 New Brunswick
- ↑ Population estimates for New Brunswick, Canada 2023
- ↑ Frequently Asked Questions – OCOLNB – CLONB
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The New Brunswick Economy - Government of New Brunswick
- ↑ Made In New Brunswick
- ↑ Jacques Cartier
- ↑ History of Acadia
- ↑ New Brunswick History
- ↑ New Brunswick Forest Products Industry National Historic Event
- ↑ Assessing the Editorial Discourse Around the Equal Opportunity Program in New Brunswick
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Provincial Archives of New Brunswick
- ↑ New Brunswick Population 2024
- ↑ Most Common Surnames in New Brunswick, With Meanings
- ↑ RSNB 1973, c T-3 | Territorial Division Act
- ↑ Municipal Act
- ↑ Local Governance Act
- ↑ List of municipalities - New Brunswick