Southern New Brunswick Cities

Southern New Brunswick is home to several cities, including the province's capital, Fredericton, which is known as The City of Stately Elms thanks to its remarkable Victorian architecture and aristocratic air. The city boasts around 460 hectares of parkland, including Odell Park and The Green along the river. Another major city in the region is Moncton, named after Lt. Col. Robert Monckton, though misspelt during its incorporation. Moncton has a diverse range of Acadian, Scots, Irish, and Mi'kmaq roots. The city is famous for its Tidal Bore, where twice daily, the high tide from Shepody Bay surges up the Petit-codiac River.

Other notable cities in Southern New Brunswick include Saint John, one of the Three Saints cities, along with St. Andrews and St. Stephen, which are steeped in history and natural wonders. Saint John is Canada's oldest incorporated city, founded in 1785 by Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. St. Stephen, meanwhile, is a chocoholic's dream, as it is home to Ganong's, the inventors of the chocolate bar.

Saint John, St. Andrews, and St. Stephen are cities rich in history

Saint John played a significant role during the American Revolution, with American privateers raiding the city in 1775 and briefly controlling it in 1777. The construction of Fort Dufferin and Carleton Martello Tower, one of Canada's fourteen martello towers, reflects the city's strategic importance during the War of 1812. The city also experienced significant growth in the 19th century due to Irish migration, becoming the third-largest city in British North America by 1851. However, a devastating fire in 1877 destroyed a large portion of the central business district, leaving 13,000 people homeless.

St. Andrews, located in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, is a national historic site of Canada. The town reflects characteristics of a typical 18th-century British colonial settlement, including the original grid layout and classical architecture. Settled in 1783 by Penobscot Loyalists, the street grid designed by Charles Morris remains intact today. The town's defensive sites, public spaces, and street names with royal and colonial associations further showcase its historical significance. Between 1820 and 1860, St. Andrews welcomed Irish immigrants, and by the 1851 census, more than 50% of the town's population was born in Ireland. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, St. Andrews became a popular seaside resort destination, with the opening of the Argyll hotel in 1881 and The Algonquin resort in 1889, which became Canada's first seaside resort.

St. Stephen, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River, is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick. The Peskotomuhkati people, formerly known as the Passamaquoddy, were the first inhabitants of the region. St. Stephen has a rich history, including the Raid on St. Stephen in 1704 during Queen Anne's War and the controversy over the HBRC railway in the late 19th century. The town was officially incorporated in 1871 and has faced challenges such as a devastating fire in 1877 and fluctuations in its local economy. Today, St. Stephen is known for its chocolate heritage and hosts an annual Chocolate Fest, celebrating its delicious legacy.

Fredericton is New Brunswick's capital

Fredericton is the capital of New Brunswick, Canada, and has been since 1785. It is the third-largest city in the province by population, with 108,610 residents as of 2021. The city lies on the St. John River, occupying the site of the French Fort Nashwaak (1692) and the Acadian settlement of St. Anne’s Point (1731). It was laid out by loyalists (Tories) in 1785 and named for Frederick, son of King George III.

Fredericton was chosen as the capital by New Brunswick's first governor, Thomas Carleton, who decided to move the local seat of government from Saint John. This decision sparked a century-long quarrel between the two cities. Saint John, which was the original capital when New Brunswick became a separate province in 1784, was a larger and more established settlement at the time.

Carleton's decision was influenced by the central location of Fredericton within the province. However, it took two years to complete the move, as Fredericton was just a small hamlet at the time. The construction of a legislative building in Fredericton was blocked by Saint John representatives until 1800.

Despite its small size, Fredericton was favoured as the capital due to its central location, which made it more accessible for travel in those days. Fredericton's status as the capital was challenged on multiple occasions in the 19th century, but it retained its position.

Today, Fredericton is primarily an administrative and educational centre. It is home to the University of New Brunswick, Canada's first university, founded in 1785, as well as St. Thomas University, founded in 1910. The city also boasts a rich literary history, with notable writers such as Jonathan Odell and Julia Catherine Hart having lived or been born in the area.

Moncton is named after Lt. Col. Robert Monckton

Moncton, a city in southern New Brunswick, is named after Lt. Col. Robert Monckton, a British Army officer and colonial administrator in British North America. Monckton had a distinguished military and political career, playing a significant role in the French and Indian War, which was the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War.

Monckton was born in 1726 and entered military service at the age of 15, securing a commission in the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards. He saw action in the War of the Austrian Succession and rose through the ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant colonel in command of the 47th Foot in 1752. In 1753, he was called to Halifax to preside over a court-martial and was asked to stay on as a member of the colonial council. During his time in Halifax, he handled a minor uprising by German settlers, known as the Hoffman Insurrection, with decency and humanity.

Monckton is particularly known for his involvement in the capture of Fort Beauséjour in Acadia (present-day New Brunswick) and the deportation of the Acadian people from the region. In 1755, he led a fleet of 31 transports and three warships carrying British troops and New England militia to Fort Beauséjour. The British forces landed unopposed and quickly surrounded the fort, leading to a two-week siege. The French commander, Louis Du Pont Duchambon de Vergor, realising he was outnumbered, surrendered, and the fort was renamed Fort Cumberland. Following the capitulation, Monckton offered the French garrison passage to Fortress Louisbourg and pardoned the Acadian irregulars.

However, the capture of Fort Beauséjour had significant repercussions for the Acadian people. Governor Charles Lawrence of Nova Scotia used the presence of Acadian irregulars helping to defend the fort as a pretext to force the Acadian inhabitants of Nova Scotia to swear an oath of allegiance to the British crown. When they refused, Lawrence ordered their expulsion from the region, and Monckton was tasked with carrying out this order. Over 7,000 Acadian men, women, and children were ultimately forced from their homes, with Monckton imprisoning 400 Acadian men at Fort Cumberland to await deportation.

Monckton's military career continued to flourish after the events at Fort Beauséjour. He was named Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia in 1755 and played a significant role in the capture of Quebec, serving as second-in-command to General James Wolfe. He was also appointed Governor of the Province of New York and held several other administrative positions. In recognition of his military achievements, particularly at Fort Beauséjour, the city of Moncton, located about 50 kilometres west of the fort, was named after him.

Saint John River is mighty and magnificent

The Saint John River is mighty and magnificent. At 673 kilometres (418 miles) long, it is the longest river in Eastern Canada. It rises in Somerset County in northwestern Maine, flowing northeast to the Canadian border, before turning southeast to form an international boundary for 130 kilometres (80 miles). The river then enters Canada and passes through the New Brunswick settlements of Edmundston, Fredericton, Oromocto, and Saint John, before emptying into the Bay of Fundy.

The Saint John River is mighty not just for its length, but also for its cultural significance. Known as the "River of the Good Wave" to the Wolastoqiyik and Peskotomuhkatik First Nations, it remains a cultural centre of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The river was also significant in the rivalry between English and French fur traders in the 17th century. Today, the river's banks continue to be inhabited, with rolling farmlands and picturesque forests along its valley.

The Saint John River is also magnificent in its natural beauty. Its drainage basin is one of the largest on the East Coast, covering about 55,000 square kilometres (21,000 square miles). The river is mostly calm, except for the majestic waterfalls at Grand Falls and the Beechwood Dam. The lower basin, extending 140 kilometres (90 miles) to Saint John Harbour, consists of lakes, islands, wetlands, and a tidal estuary. The final tributary, the Kennebecasis River, is a fjord with a sill, a unique geological feature.

The Saint John River is further enhanced by the surrounding landscape. The middle section of the river, from the confluence of the Aroostook and Tobique rivers to the Mactaquac Dam, is the only place in Atlantic Canada where the Appalachian Hardwood Forest is found. This area is characterised by rolling hills and fertile soils, making it ideal for agriculture. The lower section of the river, on the other hand, is prone to flooding, with ice jams, high tides, and rapid snowmelt contributing to historic floods.

The Saint John River is truly a mighty and magnificent force of nature, shaping the history, culture, and landscape of Southern New Brunswick.

New Brunswick's largest city by population is Moncton

Moncton has a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1766 by Pennsylvania German immigrants. Initially an agricultural settlement, Moncton became a significant centre for wooden shipbuilding by the mid-1840s. However, the shipbuilding industry collapsed in the 1860s, causing the town to lose its civic charter. Moncton rebounded and regained its charter in 1875, mainly due to the growth of the railway industry. The Intercolonial Railway of Canada chose Moncton as its headquarters in 1871, and the city remained a railway hub for over a century.

Today, Moncton is a vibrant and growing city, known for its cultural institutions and museums, as well as its largest green space, Centennial Park. The city is home to a diverse range of attractions, including the Acadian Museum, Le Centre Culturel Aberdeen, Magnetic Hill, and Casino New Brunswick. With its strong economy, cultural offerings, and natural beauty, Moncton has become one of the country's fastest-growing cities and a popular destination for tourists and newcomers alike.

Moncton's urban area, including the neighbouring city of Dieppe and the town of Riverview, has a population of 157,717, making it the second-largest urban area in the Maritimes, after Halifax. The metropolitan area has a population of over 170,000 and is recognised as the fastest-growing CMA in Canada in 2022, with a growth rate of 5.3%. This growth has been termed the "Moncton Miracle", reflecting the city's ability to diversify and rebound from economic hardships.

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