Brunswick's Historical Timeline

Brunswick is a common place name with many locations sharing the name. The historical English name for the German city of Braunschweig is Brunswick. In Canada, New Brunswick is one of the country's 13 provinces and territories. It is one of the four Atlantic provinces and one of three Maritime provinces. In the United States, there are several towns and cities called Brunswick, including in Georgia, Maine, Maryland, and Ohio.

Brunswick, Maryland, US

The construction of the B&O Railroad reaching Berlin in 1834, and the subsequent moving of the B&O Railroad's large freight yard to the town in 1890, caused a boom in the population, which reached 5,000 by 1910. The railroad reduced its yard operations in the 1950s, but Brunswick remains on the National Register of Historic Places as an example of a town built by a railroad.

Today, Brunswick has a population of over 8,000, and is a major stop on the Maryland Rail commuter (MARC) Train line to Washington, D.C. The city offers its citizens modern facilities, including emergency services, schools, churches, health services, a library, parks, and fishing and boating on the river. The Brunswick Heritage Museum, established in 1974, features the history of the city and a large model railroad. The city also hosts several annual events, including Railroad Days, a festival celebrating its heritage, and a Veterans Day Parade, which has taken place every year since 1932.

Brunswick, Maine, US

Brunswick, located in Cumberland County, Maine, has a rich history that dates back to the early 17th century. The area was first settled by Thomas Purchase and other fishermen in 1628 and was known by its Indian name, Pejepscot, meaning "the long, rocky rapids part [of the river]". The village was burned and abandoned during King Philip's War in 1676 but was later rebuilt and incorporated as a township in 1717, when it was renamed Brunswick in honour of the House of Brunswick and its scion, King George I.

Brunswick has a long history of industry and commerce, with the Androscoggin River providing water power for lumber, cotton milling, and the manufacture of paper, textiles, and other products. Shipbuilding was also a significant industry in Brunswick, with at least 99 vessels built between 1789 and 1807. The town became home to Bowdoin College, which was founded in 1794 and is known for its notable alumni, including explorers Robert E. Peary and Donald B. MacMillan.

The town is also known for its cultural significance, with Harriet Beecher Stowe writing "Uncle Tom's Cabin" while residing in Brunswick. The book is said to have influenced the start of the Civil War, and Brunswick was home to another important figure of that period, Joshua L. Chamberlain, a Bowdoin professor who became a Civil War hero.

Today, Brunswick has a population of over 17,000 people and is known for its vibrant main street, active arts and entertainment culture, and quintessential New England charm. It is served by Amtrak's Downeaster train service, which connects the town to Portland and Boston. The town has a strong educational system, with institutions such as Bowdoin College, Southern Maine Community College Midcoast Campus, and the Children's School of Arts & Science.

Brunswick also has a number of historic districts recognised on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge, the Brunswick Commercial Historic District, the Lincoln Street Historic District, and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, among others. The town covers a total area of 54.34 square miles, with a dense downtown area along Maine Street that features locally-owned shops, restaurants, and bars.

Brunswick, Ohio, US

According to the 2020 census, Brunswick has a population of 35,426 people, a figure that was 34,255 in the 2010 census and 33,388 in the 2000 census. The population density in 2020 was 2,673.9 pop/sq mi (1,032.4 pop/km2). The racial makeup of the city was predominantly White (90.9% non-Hispanic and 2.1% Hispanic) as of 2021, with the second-largest group being those identifying as Two+ (non-Hispanic) (2.47%), and the median household income was $74,353. The city's total area is 12.96 square miles (33.57 km2), of which 12.92 square miles (33.46 km2) is land, and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.

Public education in Brunswick is provided by the Brunswick City School District, which operates seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and Brunswick High School. The high school is the seventh-largest in Ohio in terms of enrolment, with 2,500 students and 132 teachers as of 2015. It offers a comprehensive curriculum, including Advanced Placement Courses and Honours-Level programming, as well as a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

New Brunswick, Canada

The first inhabitants of New Brunswick were the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet First Nations. In 1604, the first New France colony, Acadia, was founded by Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua de Mons on Saint Croix Island. However, due to difficult living conditions, the settlement was quickly abandoned and moved to Port-Royal, the capital of Acadia. For 150 years after its founding, Acadia changed hands multiple times between France and the United Kingdom. From 1755 to 1764, the British deported Acadians en masse, an event known as the Great Upheaval, which, along with the Treaty of Paris, solidified Acadia as British property.

In 1784, the colony of New Brunswick was officially created, separating it from Nova Scotia, following the arrival of many loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. The capital was established at Fredericton, and in the same year, Saint John became the first incorporated city in Canada. In 1867, New Brunswick joined with Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada (now Quebec and Ontario) to form the Dominion of Canada.

Brunswick, Georgia, US

Located on the southeastern coastline of Georgia, Brunswick is the county seat of Glynn County. With a population of 15,210 as of the 2020 census, it is the second-largest urban area on the Georgia coastline, after Savannah. The city is situated on a peninsula, bordered by several rivers, including the Brunswick River, the East River, and the Turtle River. It is also home to the Port of Brunswick, one of Georgia's two deep-water ports, which has been a vital economic hub for the city.

Brunswick's economy is primarily based on tourism and logistics, with a metropolitan GDP of $3.9 billion as of 2013. The city's progressive economy is driven by its port, which handles a significant portion of the US roll-on/roll-off trade. The Port of Brunswick is also a major automobile port, exporting vehicles for Ford, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz, among others.

In addition to its economic significance, Brunswick boasts a vibrant cultural scene. The city is known for its historic architecture, including 19th-century Victorian-style homes and colonial buildings. The downtown area features shops, galleries, restaurants, and theaters, providing a unique experience for visitors and locals alike. The city is also home to the College of Coastal Georgia, which offers a variety of academic and athletic programs.

Brunswick has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the arrival of its first European settler, Mark Carr, in 1738. The area was once inhabited by the Mocama, a Timucua-speaking people. During the 18th century, the British claimed the lands south of the Altamaha River, and the town of Brunswick was laid out in a formal grid similar to Savannah, with streets and squares bearing colonial names.

Throughout its history, Brunswick has played a significant role in shipbuilding and military strategy. During World War II, the city served as a strategic military location, with an operational base for blimps and a shipbuilding facility for the US Maritime Commission. The naval blimps based at Glynco Naval Air Station patrolled the southern Atlantic coast for German U-boats.

Brunswick has also faced its share of challenges, including a yellow fever epidemic in 1893 and several hurricanes that caused significant damage to the city. Despite these hardships, the city has persevered and continues to thrive as a cultural and economic hub in southeastern Georgia.

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