Hartland, New Brunswick: Canada's Covered Bridge Capital

Hartland is a town in Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated on the Saint John River in the central-western portion of the province, in the agricultural heartland of Carleton County. The town was established in the early 1800s, with the first settler in the area being William Orser, who travelled there with his family from New York in 1797. The town was named Hartland in 1874 to honour James R. Hartley, a surveyor and MLA. Hartland is known for being the site of the Hartland Bridge, the longest covered bridge in the world, which opened in 1901 and was declared a National Historic Site in 1980. The river is a popular spot for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and pleasure boating.

Hartland Bridge

The Hartland Bridge is a historic site in Hartland, New Brunswick, Canada. It is the world's longest covered bridge, spanning 1,282 feet (or 390.75 metres) over the Saint John River. The bridge was constructed in 1901 by the Hartland Bridge Company, with plans for the structure dating back to 1898. Before the bridge was built, the only way to cross the Saint John River was by ferry.

The Hartland Bridge officially opened on July 4, 1901, with Justice McKeowan inaugurating the bridge before a crowd of 2,000 people. Interestingly, the first person to cross the bridge was Dr. Estey, who crossed it before its scheduled opening to respond to an emergency call. Workers placed planks on the bridge to allow him to drive across.

The bridge was not originally built with a cover. It was purchased by the provincial government in 1906, and it wasn't until 1921-1922 that the bridge was covered, despite some local opposition. The wooden piers were also replaced with concrete ones during this period of renovation.

The Hartland Bridge has a rich history, including a fire in 1907 that damaged part of the structure and nearly destroyed the toll house. In 1920, two spans of the bridge collapsed due to river ice, leading to further repairs and the addition of a pedestrian walkway in 1945. Despite several incidents over the years, including vandalism and a car striking a steel beam, the bridge remains roadworthy and dependable.

The bridge is now used exclusively for local and tourist traffic, with vehicles restricted to a mass of less than 10 tonnes and a height of less than 4.20 metres. It is a popular attraction, known as a "kissing bridge" from the days of horse and wagon traffic when couples would stop halfway across for a kiss. The bridge is also featured on a Canadian postage stamp issued in 1995, recognising its significance in the country's engineering history.

Carleton County

Historically, the economy of Carleton County has been rooted in agriculture and lumbering, with some forays into light industry. The county's total population is less than 30,000, but it has shown consistent growth over the past 150 years. The county was first settled by disbanded soldiers from British Provincial regiments at the end of the American Revolution, including veterans of deLancey's First and Second Battalions. The county's geography has shifted over time, with both external and internal parish boundaries changing after it was granted county status.

The town of Hartland, located within Carleton County, is known for being the site of the Hartland Bridge, the longest covered bridge in the world. Hartland is situated on the Saint John River and serves as the headquarters of the North American trucking company Day & Ross. The town has a rich history, having been the hometown of two of New Brunswick's premiers during the 20th century, as well as several other notable figures.

Population

Hartland, New Brunswick, Canada, is a small town located on the Saint John River in the central-western portion of the province. The town is named after James R. Hartley, a surveyor and MLA.

On January 1, 2023, Hartland annexed all or part of seven local service districts, which significantly expanded its area and population. While official census figures have not been released since this annexation, the population of Hartland as of the 2021 Census of Population was 933 people, a decrease of 2.5% from the 2016 population of 957. The town has a land area of 9.5 square kilometres (3.7 square miles), resulting in a population density of 98.2 people per square kilometre (254.4 per square mile) in 2021.

The first settler in the area was William Orser (born 1762) and his son, William Jr. The Orser family settled in Hartland in 1797, and the land was granted to them in 1809. The town was officially named Hartland in 1874.

Hartland is perhaps best known for being the site of the Hartland Bridge, the longest covered bridge in the world at 1,282 feet (390.75 metres). The bridge, which opened in 1901, is a national historic site.

Saint John River

The Saint John River is Eastern Canada's longest river, flowing 673 kilometres (418 miles) from the Notre Dame Mountains near the Maine-Quebec border through western New Brunswick to the northwest shore of the Bay of Fundy. The river is an important part of the history and culture of the region, forming the territorial countries of the Wolastoqiyik and Passamaquoddy First Nations prior to European colonisation. The river was named by Samuel de Champlain in 1604, who renamed it the Rivière Saint-Jean or Saint John River in English. The Maliseet people call the river the Wolastoq, meaning bountiful and good.

The river is regulated by hydro-power dams at Mactaquac, Beechwood, and Grand Falls, and is known for its "reversing falls" rapids, caused by the strong tides of the Bay of Fundy, which force the river to reverse its flow at high tide. The river has a significant history of flooding, with major floods occurring in 1923, 1936, 1973, 2018, and 2019. The town of Hartland, located on the Saint John River, has been affected by the annual spring freshet, with ice jams threatening the Hartland Bridge, a choke point for loose ice.

The river valley is home to a diverse range of plant life, including rare species such as wild ginger, black raspberry, wild coffee, and maidenhair fern. The area is also an important agricultural region, with some of the most fertile and heavily farmed soils in New Brunswick. The river was once an important trade route, and today, it continues to be a popular destination for kayaking and other recreational activities. The river's path through the St. John River Valley can be followed via the Fiddlehead Scenic Drive, offering a glimpse into the cross-cultural history of the region, including the Maliseet, French, Acadian, English, Scottish, and Irish influences.

Local industries

Hartland, New Brunswick, is a small town with a rich history and a diverse range of local industries. The town is situated on the Saint John River in Carleton County, in the central-western portion of the province. With a population of around a thousand residents, Hartland has a strong agricultural heritage and was once known for its salmon pools upstream of the famous Hartland Bridge.

Speaking of which, the Hartland Covered Bridge is a significant landmark and tourist attraction in the town. It holds the title of being the world's longest covered bridge, spanning 1,282 feet (390.75 metres). The bridge was constructed in 1901 and has since been recognised as a National Historic Site. Before the bridge was built, the only way to cross the Saint John River was by ferry, making the bridge an important engineering feat and a vital link between Hartland and Somerville, New Brunswick.

The town's local industries include a mix of businesses and organisations that serve the community and beyond. Hartland is home to the headquarters of Day & Ross, a North American trucking company, as well as other transportation and logistics companies. The town also has a strong presence in the food and beverage industry, with companies such as Covered Bridge Potato Chips, Moonshine Creek Distillery, and Old Dutch (a potato chip factory) calling Hartland home.

In addition to these, Hartland boasts a variety of small businesses and services, including hair salons, spas, convenience stores, and restaurants. The town also has a golf and country club, a library, and a range of healthcare services, including clinics, pharmacies, and a nursing home. The presence of these industries and businesses contributes to the economic fabric of the town and the surrounding region.

Tourism is also an important aspect of Hartland's economy, with the Covered Bridge, the Upper St. John River Valley Trail, and the town's scenic beauty attracting visitors from near and far. The town's proximity to the river provides opportunities for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and pleasure boating, further enhancing its appeal as a tourist destination. Overall, Hartland's local industries are diverse and play a crucial role in shaping the town's character and prosperity.

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