New Brunswick's Electoral District

New Brunswick is a city in and the seat of government of Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is also the name of one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada, which is bordered by Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to the west. There are seven school districts in the province of New Brunswick, Canada.

New Brunswick, New Jersey

The area that is now New Brunswick was first inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. The first European settlement was made in 1681 and was called Prigmore's Swamp. The settlement was renamed several times before being called New Brunswick in 1714, after the city of Braunschweig, Germany.

New Brunswick became an important hub for Colonial travellers and traders due to its central location between New York City and Philadelphia. It was incorporated as a town in 1736 and chartered as a city in 1784.

Today, New Brunswick is known as both the "Hub City" and the "Healthcare City" due to its status as a regional commercial hub and its concentration of medical facilities, including Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Saint Peter's University Hospital. The city is also home to the world headquarters of several global pharmaceutical companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and Bristol Myers Squibb.

New Brunswick has a diverse economy, with strengths in healthcare, education, and the sciences. It is home to Rutgers University, the state's largest university, as well as several medical teaching and research institutions. The city also has a growing arts and cultural scene, with downtown New Brunswick developing a growing skyline.

New Brunswick is governed by a Mayor-Council system, with the current mayor being Democrat James Cahill. The city is divided into several neighbourhoods, including the Fifth Ward, Feaster Park, Lincoln Park, Raritan Gardens, and Edgebrook-Westons Mills.

New Brunswick, Canada

The Canadian province of New Brunswick has 15 counties according to the Territorial Divisions Act of New Brunswick. While they are former counties, they continue to define a regional community. In 1966, county municipalities ceased to function, and their councils were dissolved. No other form of regional local government replaced the counties. Instead, many small village municipalities were created, with the surrounding predominantly rural areas remaining unincorporated.

New Brunswick has seven school districts. As of 2012, the Government of New Brunswick decided to merge and rename all the school districts, changing the number of districts from 14 to 7. The provinces' minister of education estimates that this will save $5 million in administrative costs.

New Brunswick was first inhabited by First Nations like the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet. In 1604, Acadia, the first New France colony, was founded with the creation of Port-Royal. For 150 years afterwards, Acadia changed hands multiple times due to numerous conflicts between France and the United Kingdom. In 1784, following the arrival of many loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, the colony of New Brunswick was officially created, separating it from what is now Nova Scotia.

New Brunswick's government

New Brunswick, New Jersey, is a city in and the seat of government of Middlesex County. The city is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member City Council, all of whom are elected at-large on a partisan basis to four-year terms of office in even-numbered years as part of the November general election.

The City Council's five members are elected on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election every other year and the mayor up for election at the same time that two council seats are up for vote. The Council President is elected to a two-year term by the members of the Council at a reorganization meeting held after the election and presides over all meetings.

As of 2024, Democrat James Cahill is the 62nd mayor of New Brunswick. Members of the City Council are Council President Rebecca H. Escobar, Council Vice President John A. Anderson, Manuel J. Castañeda, Matthew Ferguson, Glenn J. Fleming, Petra N. Gaskins and Suzanne M. Sicora Ludwig.

In January 2024, the city council appointed Matthew Ferguson to fill the seat expiring in December 2026 that had been held by Kevin Egan until he resigned to take a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly.

In January 2023, the City Council expanded from five to seven members. Gaskins was sworn in as the first Black woman and youngest in history, and Castañeda was elected as the first Latino man.

New Brunswick's history

New Brunswick, New Jersey, is a city in and the seat of government of Middlesex County. The area around present-day New Brunswick was first inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. The first European settlement at the site of New Brunswick was made in 1681. The settlement was called Prigmore's Swamp (1681–1697), then known as Inian's Ferry (1691–1714). In 1714, the settlement was given the name New Brunswick, after the city of Braunschweig (Brunswick in Low German), in the state of Lower Saxony, now located in Germany. Braunschweig was an influential and powerful city in the Hanseatic League and was an administrative seat for the Duchy of Hanover.

New Brunswick was incorporated as a town in 1736 and chartered as a city in 1784. It was incorporated into a town in 1798 as part of the Township Act of 1798. It was occupied by the British in the winter of 1776–1777 during the Revolutionary War. The Declaration of Independence received one of its first public readings in New Brunswick on July 9, 1776, by Colonel John Neilson.

New Brunswick became an important hub for Colonial travellers and traders due to its central location between New York City and Philadelphia along an early thoroughfare known as the King's Highway and its position on the Raritan River. The city is also known for its ethnic diversity. At one time, one-quarter of the Hungarian population of New Jersey resided in the city, and in the 1930s, one out of three city residents was Hungarian.

New Brunswick is also home to the main campus of Rutgers University, which was founded in 1766. The city is also known as both the "Hub City" and the "Healthcare City" due to the concentration of medical facilities in the area, including Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and medical school, and Saint Peter's University Hospital.

New Brunswick's economy

New Brunswick is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. New Brunswick has a surface area of 72,908 km2 (28,150 sq mi) and a population of 775,610 (2021 census). It is bordered by Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to the west. The province is about 83% forested and its northern half is occupied by the Appalachians.

Forestry

Forestry has been a major industry in New Brunswick since the 1800s. The province is about 83% forested, making it a key source of timber and other forest products. The forestry industry employs nearly 12,000 people and generates revenues of around $437 million. However, there have been concerns about the lack of transparency and the environmental impact of forestry practices in the province.

Agriculture

Agriculture is an important sector in New Brunswick, with over 13,000 people employed in the industry. The province is known for its potato production, with half of its agricultural output coming from crops, and potatoes being the most significant crop. Other agricultural products include apples, cranberries, maple syrup, and wild blueberries. The livestock sector is also significant, with a value of about a quarter of a billion dollars, with dairy being the largest segment.

Fishing

Fishing has been a traditional industry in New Brunswick, particularly along its coastline. In recent years, the industry has faced challenges due to declining fish stocks and competition from other regions. However, it remains an important sector, with seafood products being a significant export for the province.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing sector has grown in importance in New Brunswick, particularly in the areas of food processing, freight transport, and shipbuilding. The Irving Group of Companies, a powerful corporate concentration, has significant holdings in these sectors. The province has also seen the development of a pulp and paper industry, which provides raw materials for the manufacturing sector.

Construction

The construction industry is a significant contributor to New Brunswick's economy, accounting for 24% of the provincial GDP in 2002. This includes both residential and non-residential construction, as well as related industries such as utilities.

Tourism

Tourism is an important sector in New Brunswick, accounting for 9% of the labour force either directly or indirectly. Popular tourist destinations include the Hopewell Rocks, Fundy National Park, Magnetic Hill, and Kouchibouguac National Park. Tourism provides significant revenue for the province, with spending on non-resident tourism reaching $441 million in 2015.

In summary, New Brunswick's economy has traditionally been based on natural resource industries such as forestry, agriculture, and fishing. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards diversification, with growth in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and tourism. The province's economy is also closely tied to its neighbouring regions, particularly the US, which is its largest export market.

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