Fredericton: York Or Northumberland?

Fredericton is a city in York County, New Brunswick, Canada. It is the capital city of the Canadian province of New Brunswick and is located in the west-central portion of the province along the Saint John River. Fredericton was established in 1785 and was named after Frederick, the second son of King George III. The city has a population of 63,116 as of the 2021 Canadian census and is known for its rich cultural, artistic, and educational offerings, including two universities.

Fredericton is the capital of York County, New Brunswick

The city has a rich history, with archaeological evidence of a camp in the area dating back 12,000 years. In the late 1600s, French colonists built Fort Nashwaak on the north side of the Saint John River, serving as the capital of Acadia. The fort withstood a British attack in 1696, but the capital was later moved to Port Royal. In 1713, Acadians escaping the British takeover of Nova Scotia settled at Pointe Ste-Anne, which was later destroyed in 1758 when the population was exiled during the expulsion of the Acadians.

Fredericton's streets were laid out in a typical grid pattern of the time, with street names reflecting loyalist tendencies, such as Charlotte, Brunswick, George, King, and Queen. The city is home to several notable buildings, including the New Brunswick Legislative Building, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. It is also an important cultural, artistic, and educational centre, boasting two universities: the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University.

Outside the city, York County is largely focused on farming and forestry. The county is bisected by the Saint John River, and the Southwest Miramichi River flows through its northern section. York County was established in 1785 and named after Prince Frederick-Augustus, the second son of King George III, who was made the Duke of York in 1784. The county has a population of around 99,411 as of 2016.

York County was established in 1785

York County, located in west-central New Brunswick, Canada, was established in 1785. It was named after Prince Frederick-Augustus, the second son of King George III, who was made Duke of York in 1784. The county contains the provincial capital, Fredericton, which was designated as the shire town of York County in the same year it was established. Fredericton is home to the University of New Brunswick, Canada's oldest university, which was founded in 1785.

York County was one of the original eight counties established in New Brunswick, then a British colony, after it separated from Nova Scotia in 1784. The county lines were strategically drawn to align with the watersheds, a logical decision considering the settlements in New Brunswick were developed along waterways. The county was divided into parishes in 1786, with the northern portion left unassigned.

By 1831, the top half of York County was highly populated due to the rich soil in the region, so it was split off to become Carleton County. Outside the city of Fredericton, farming and forestry are two major industries in the county, which is bisected by the Saint John River. The Southwest Miramichi River flows through the northern section of the county.

Farming and forestry are major industries in the county

Fredericton is the capital city of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It is located in York County, in the west-central portion of the province. York County was established in 1785 and was named after the second son of King George III, Prince Frederick-Augustus, who was made Duke of York in 1784.

Forestry is also a significant industry in the county, with New Brunswick leading the way for a renewable future. Forest companies operating in the province are required to harvest at sustainable rates and are responsible for the management of the regrowth or replanting of harvested areas. Over 800 million trees have been planted in New Brunswick since 1987, and the province exports around $2.8 billion of forest products annually.

The Fredericton region benefits from its fertile soil and abundant water resources, making it a hub for agricultural and forestry activities that contribute significantly to the local economy and employment opportunities.

The county is bisected by the Saint John River

Fredericton is located in York County, in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. York County is located in west-central New Brunswick and was established in 1785. The county contains the provincial capital, Fredericton, and has a population of 99,411 as of 2016.

York County is bisected by the Saint John River, also known by its Indigenous name of Wolastoq, which means "beautiful river" in the language of the Wolastoqiyik people. The river flows west to east as it bisects the city of Fredericton, and it is the dominant natural feature of the area. The Saint John River is the longest river in Eastern Canada at 673 kilometres (418 miles) long, and its drainage basin is one of the largest on the east coast at about 55,000 square kilometres (21,000 square miles).

The river rises in northern Maine and flows northeast into the forests of Madawaska County, where it is joined by the Madawaska River and turns southeast, forming much of the border between Maine and New Brunswick. The Saint John River receives its chief tributary, the Tobique River, and swings eastward south of Woodstock. It flows in a generally tranquil manner, except for cataracts at Grand Falls and Beechwood, which have been harnessed for hydroelectric power.

The Saint John River flows through Fredericton, with the city's post-war suburban development occurring on the gently sloping hills on either side of the river. The river is an important feature for the city, providing opportunities for swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing, and even water-skiing. It is also a significant cultural and historical site, with a long history of human settlement and use dating back thousands of years.

Fredericton is the administrative and educational centre of New Brunswick

Fredericton is the capital city of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It is situated in the west-central portion of the province along the Saint John River, which is also known by its Indigenous name, Wolastoq. The river is the dominant natural feature of the area, flowing west to east as it bisects the city. Fredericton is the administrative and educational centre of New Brunswick, serving as the seat of the provincial government and several educational institutions.

Administrative Centre

As the capital of New Brunswick, Fredericton serves as the administrative centre of the province. In 1785, it became the shire town of York County, and in 1790, the New Brunswick Legislative Building was constructed, solidifying its role as a centre of government. With the New Brunswick Equal Opportunity program in the 1960s, county councils were abolished, and government services were centralised in Fredericton, leading to an increase in jobs and population in the city.

The provincial government is the primary employer in Fredericton, and the city has the highest per capita income of any city in New Brunswick. In addition to being the provincial capital, Fredericton also includes several provincial ridings, such as Fredericton North, Fredericton-Grand Lake, and Fredericton West-Hanwell. Federally, the city forms most of the riding of Fredericton.

Educational Centre

Fredericton is also an educational centre, hosting several notable educational institutions. The city is home to two universities: the University of New Brunswick (UNB) and St. Thomas University. The University of New Brunswick, established in 1785, is Canada's first English-language university. St. Thomas University, founded in 1910, is the province's only Catholic university.

In addition to these universities, Fredericton also has several colleges, including the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, the New Brunswick Community College, and the Maritime College of Forest Technology. The city also has a robust K-12 education system, with schools run by the Anglophone West School District and the District Scolaire Francophone Sud.

The presence of these educational institutions contributes to Fredericton's reputation as an educational centre and attracts students and scholars from across the province and beyond.

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