New Brunswick is the eighth-most populous province in Canada, with 775,610 residents as of the 2021 census, and the third-smallest province by land area, at 71,248.50 km2 (27,509.20 sq mi).[1] New Brunswick's 104 municipalities,[2] as of 2021, covered only 10.9% of the province's land mass but were home to 69.5% of its population.
Local governments in New Brunswick may be incorporated under the Local Governance Act of 2017.[3] Local governments include municipalities – cities, towns, and villages – as well as rural communities and regional municipalities.[4] Municipal governments are led by elected councils and are responsible for the delivery of services such as civic administration, land use planning, emergency measures, policing, road, and garbage collection.[5]
In 1785, Saint John became the first community in what would eventually become Canada to be incorporated as a city.[6] Moncton is New Brunswick's largest municipality by population, with 79,470 residents, and Saint John is the largest urban municipality by land area, at 315.59 km2 (121.85 sq mi).[7] As of 2021, approximately one-third of the residents of New Brunswick did not live in municipalities but resided in local service districts, which were unincorporated communities administered by the Minister of Environment and Local Government and had no local government of their own.[5]
Beginning in 2021, the government of New Brunswick launched a local governance reform, which eventually saw the local service districts dissolved in 2023, with their territory assigned to cities, towns, villages, rural communities or rural districts.[8] The same reforms reduced the number of municipalities to 77.[9]
Prior to the reforms, New Brunswick had 8 cities, 26 towns, 61 villages, 1 regional municipality, and 8 rural communities.[5][10] Following the reforms, New Brunswick has 8 cities, 30 towns, 21 villages, 17 rural communities, and 1 regional municipality.[11]
Cities
The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may incorporate an area as a city under the Local Governance Act if it has a population of at least 10,000.[3] Cities already in existence on January 1, 1967 continue to be incorporated regardless of population.[3] New Brunswick had eight cities that had a cumulative population of 293,928 in the 2021 Census.[7] Moncton is New Brunswick's largest city by population with 79,470 residents and Saint John is the largest by land area 315.59 km2 (121.85 sq mi) respectively.[7] Campbellton is New Brunswick's smallest city by population and land area with 7,047 residents and 18.57 km2 (7.17 sq mi).[7]
Towns
The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may incorporate an area as a town under the Local Governance Act if it has a population of at least 1,500 and provides a level of services that the Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform considers appropriate.[3] Towns already in existence on January 1, 1967 continue to be incorporated regardless of population.[3]
Prior to implementation of the 2023 local governance reforms, New Brunswick had 26 towns that had a cumulative population of 133,350 in the 2021 Census.[7] New Brunswick's largest town by population is Riverview with 20,584 residents and largest town by area was Sackville with a land area of 73.91 km2 (28.54 sq mi).[7] New Brunswick's smallest town by population was Hartland with 933 residents and the smallest by land area was Saint-Quentin at 4.24 km2 (1.64 sq mi).[7] The number of towns increased to 30 in 2023 upon implementation of the local governance reforms.[11]
Villages
Prior to implementation of the 2023 local governance reforms, New Brunswick's 61 villages had a cumulative population of 71,186 as of the 2021 Census.[7] New Brunswick's largest village by population was Memramcook with 5,029 residents and largest village by area was Belledune with a land area of 189.18 km2 (73.04 sq mi).[7] New Brunswick's smallest village by population was Meductic with 180 residents and the smallest by land area was Saint-Louis de Kent at 1.98 km2 (0.76 sq mi).[7] The number of villages decreased to 21 in 2023 upon implementation of the local governance reforms.[11]
Regional municipalities
The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may incorporate an area as a regional municipality under the Local Governance Act if there is a population of at least 15,000 and at least one existing municipality. New Brunswick's first and only regional municipality was incorporated on May 12, 2014.[12] The Regional Municipality of Tracadie was formed through the amalgamation of the former Town of Tracadie–Sheila, eighteen local service districts and portions of two other local service districts.[12] Regional municipalities must have a population greater than 15,000 and a community grouping that includes at least one municipality.[5] Regional municipalities elect a local council but are responsible only for community administration, planning and emergency measures services, and all services previously provided by any former municipality that is now part of the regional municipality.[5] The Province of New Brunswick is responsible for police protection and road services, unless the regional municipality chooses to assume these responsibilities.[5]
Rural communities
Prior to implementation of the 2023 local governance reforms, New Brunswick had eight rural communities that had a cumulative population of 24,842 in the 2021 Census.[7] New Brunswick's largest and smallest rural communities were Beaubassin East and Campobello Island with populations of 6,718 and 949 respectively.[7] The number of rural communities increased to seventeen in 2023 upon implementation of the local governance reforms.[11]
Rural communities elect local councils and are responsible for the delivery of some local services, including administrative services, community planning and emergency measures.[5] The province of New Brunswick ensures the delivery of other services including solid waste collection and recreation services unless the rural community chooses to take on these responsibilities.[5] Rural communities that include a former village or town are an exception, as they are responsible to provide all services that were previously provided by their former municipality.[5]
Lists of municipalities
Pre-2023 local governance reform
- Skyline of Moncton, New Brunswick's largest municipality
- Skyline of Saint John, New Brunswick's second largest municipality
- Skyline of Fredericton, New Brunswick's capital city and third-largest municipality
Name | Municipal type | County[7] | Incorporation date[13] | 2021 Census of Population[7] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population (2021) | Population (2016) | Change | Land area (km2) | Population density (/km2) | ||||
Bathurst | City | Gloucester | 1912 | 12,157 | 11,897 | +2.2% | 91.62 | 132.7 |
Campbellton | City | Restigouche | 1888 | 7,047 | 6,883 | +2.4% | 18.57 | 379.5 |
Dieppe | City | Westmorland | 1952 | 28,114 | 25,384 | +10.8% | 77.02 | 365.0 |
Edmundston | City | Madawaska | 1952 | 16,437 | 16,580 | −0.9% | 106.84 | 153.8 |
Fredericton | City | York | 1848 | 63,116 | 58,721 | +7.5% | 133.93 | 471.3 |
Miramichi | City | Northumberland | 1995 | 17,692 | 17,537 | +0.9% | 178.98 | 98.8 |
Moncton | City | Westmorland | 1890 | 79,470 | 71,889 | +10.5% | 140.67 | 564.9 |
Saint John | City | Saint John | 1785 | 69,895 | 67,575 | +3.4% | 315.59 | 221.5 |
Tracadie | Regional municipality | Gloucester | 2014[14] | 16,043 | 16,114 | −0.4% | 516.55 | 31.1 |
Beaubassin East | Rural community | Westmorland | 1995[15] | 6,718 | 6,376 | +5.4% | 291.02 | 23.1 |
Campobello Island | Rural community | Charlotte | 2010[16] | 949 | 872 | +8.8% | 39.59 | 24.0 |
Cocagne | Rural community | Kent | 2014[17] | 2,757 | 2,649 | +4.1% | 69.23 | 39.8 |
Hanwell | Rural community | York | 2014[18] | 4,743 | 4,700 | +0.9% | 152.06 | 31.2 |
Haut-Madawaska | Rural community | Madawaska | 2017[19] | 3,720 | 3,714 | +0.2% | 611.55 | 6.1 |
Kedgwick | Rural community | Restigouche | 2012[20] | 1,986 | 1,964 | +1.1% | 649.36 | 3.1 |
Saint-André | Rural community | Madawaska | 2006[21] | 1,794 | 1,901 | −5.6% | 136.19 | 13.2 |
Upper Miramichi | Rural community | Northumberland | 2008[22] | 2,175 | 2,218 | −1.9% | 1,832.97 | 1.2 |
Sub-total cities | 293,928 | 276,466 | +6.3% | 1,063.22 | 276.5 | |||
Sub-total regional municipalities | 16,043 | 16,114 | −0.4% | 516.55 | 31.1 | |||
Sub-total rural communities | 24,842 | 24,394 | +1.8% | 3,781.97 | 6.6 | |||
Sub-total towns | 133,350 | 128,746 | +3.6% | 644.44 | 206.9 | |||
Sub-total villages | 71,248 | 70,855 | +0.6% | 1,769.24 | 40.3 | |||
Total municipalities | 539,411 | 516,575 | +4.4% | 7,775.42 | 69.4 | |||
Province of New Brunswick | 775,610 | 747,101 | +3.8% | 71,248.50 | 10.9 | |||
Post-2023 local governance reform
Name[11] | Municipal type[11] | Regional service commission[24] | Incorporation[13][11] |
---|---|---|---|
Alnwick | Rural community | Greater Miramichi | 2023 |
Arcadia | Village | Capital Region | 2023 |
Bathurst[lower-alpha 3] | City | Chaleur | 1912 |
Beaurivage | Town | Kent | 2023 |
Beausoleil[lower-alpha 4] | Rural community | Kent | 2023 |
Belle-Baie | Town | Chaleur | 2023 |
Belledune[lower-alpha 5] | Village | Chaleur | 1968 |
Bois-Joli | Village | Restigouche | 2023 |
Butternut Valley | Rural community | Kings | 2023 |
Campbellton | City | Restigouche | 1888 |
Campobello Island[lower-alpha 6] | Rural community | Southwest | 2010 |
Cap-Acadie | Town | Southeast | 2023 |
Caraquet | Town | Acadian Peninsula | 1961 |
Carleton North | Town | Western Valley | 2023 |
Central York | Rural community | Capital Region | 2023 |
Champdoré | Town | Kent | 2023 |
Dieppe[lower-alpha 7] | City | Southeast | 1952 |
Doaktown[lower-alpha 8] | Village | Greater Miramichi | 1966 |
Eastern Charlotte | Rural community | Southwest | 2023 |
Edmundston | City | Northwest | 1952 |
Five Rivers[lower-alpha 9] | Village | Kent | 2023 |
Fredericton[lower-alpha 10] | City | Capital Region | 1848 |
Fredericton Junction[lower-alpha 11] | Village | Capital Region | 1966 |
Fundy Albert | Village | Southeast | 2023 |
Fundy Shores | Rural community | Southwest | 2023 |
Fundy-St. Martins[lower-alpha 12] | Village | Fundy | 2023 |
Grand Bay-Westfield[lower-alpha 13] | Town | Fundy | 1998 |
Grand-Bouctouche[lower-alpha 14] | Town | Kent | 1966 |
Grand Falls | Town | Northwest | 1890 |
Grand Lake | Village | Capital Region | 2023 |
Grand Manan[lower-alpha 15] | Village | Southwest | 1995 |
Hampton[lower-alpha 16] | Town | Fundy | 1966 |
Hanwell[lower-alpha 17] | Rural community | Capital Region | 2014 |
Hartland[lower-alpha 18] | Town | Western Valley | 1918 |
Harvey | Rural community | Capital Region | 1966 |
Haut-Madawaska | Town | Northwest | 2017 |
Hautes-Terres | Town | Acadian Peninsula | 2023 |
Heron Bay | Town | Restigouche | 2023 |
Île-de-Lamèque | Town | Acadian Peninsula | 2023 |
Kedgwick[lower-alpha 19] | Rural community | Restigouche | 2012 |
Lakeland Ridges | Village | Western Valley | 2023 |
Maple Hills | Rural community | Southeast | 2023 |
McAdam[lower-alpha 20] | Village | Southwest | 1966 |
Memramcook[lower-alpha 21] | Village | Southeast | 1995 |
Miramichi[lower-alpha 22] | City | Greater Miramichi | 1995 |
Miramichi River Valley | Rural community | Greater Miramichi | 2023 |
Moncton[lower-alpha 23] | City | Southeast | 1890 |
Nackawic-Millville | Rural community | Capital Region | 2023 |
Nashwaak | Rural community | Capital Region | 2023 |
Neguac[lower-alpha 24] | Village | Acadian Peninsula | 1967 |
New Maryland[lower-alpha 25] | Village | Capital Region | 1991 |
Nouvelle-Arcadie[lower-alpha 26] | Village | Kent | 2023 |
Oromocto[lower-alpha 27] | Town | Capital Region | 1956 |
Quispamsis[lower-alpha 28] | Town | Fundy | 1966 |
Riverview[lower-alpha 29] | Town | Southeast | 1973 |
Rivière-du-Nord | Town | Acadian Peninsula | 2023 |
Rothesay[lower-alpha 30] | Town | Fundy | 1988 |
Saint Andrews[lower-alpha 31] | Town | Southwest | 1903 |
Saint John[lower-alpha 32] | City | Fundy | 1785 |
Saint-Quentin[lower-alpha 33] | Town | Northwest | 1947 |
Salisbury | Town | Southeast | 1966 |
Shediac[lower-alpha 34] | Town | Southeast | 1903 |
Shippagan | Town | Acadian Peninsula | 1947 |
Southern Victoria | Village | Western Valley | 2023 |
St. Stephen[lower-alpha 35] | Town | Southwest | 1973 |
Strait Shores | Rural community | Southeast | 2023 |
Sunbury-York South | Rural community | Capital Region | 2023 |
Sussex | Town | Kings | 1904 |
Tantramar | Town | Southeast | 2023 |
Three Rivers[lower-alpha 36] | Village | Southeast | 2023 |
Tobique Valley[lower-alpha 37] | Village | Western Valley | 2023 |
Tracadie[lower-alpha 38] | Regional municipality | Acadian Peninsula | 2014 |
Tracy[lower-alpha 39] | Village | Capital Region | 1966 |
Upper Miramichi[lower-alpha 40] | Rural community | Greater Miramichi | 2008 |
Vallée-des-Rivières | Town | Northwest | 2023 |
Valley Waters[lower-alpha 41] | Village | Kings | 2023 |
Woodstock[lower-alpha 42] | Town | Western Valley | 1856 |
See also
- 2023 New Brunswick local governance reform
- Demographics of New Brunswick
- Geography of New Brunswick
- List of census agglomerations in Atlantic Canada
- List of communities in New Brunswick
- List of designated places in New Brunswick
- List of local service districts in New Brunswick
- List of municipal amalgamations in New Brunswick
- List of parishes in New Brunswick
- List of population centres in New Brunswick
- New Brunswick municipal elections, 2016
Notes
- St. Stephen was incorporated as a town in 1871 and amalgamated with Milltown in 1973 to form St. Stephen-Milltown; the name reverted to St. Stephen in 1975.[13]
- Incorporated as St. Anthony but the name was changed to Saint-Antoine in 1969.[13]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Bathurst.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Cocagne and its renaming to Beausoleil.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Saint John.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Campobello Island.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Dieppe.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Doaktown.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Rexton and its renaming to Five Rivers.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Fredericton.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Ferdericton Junction.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to St. Martins and its renaming to Fundy-St. Martins.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Grand Bay-Westfield.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Bouctouche and its renaming to Grand-Bouctouche.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Grand Manan.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Hampton.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Hanwell.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Hartland.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Kedgwick.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect McAdam.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Memramcook.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Miramichi.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Moncton.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Neguac.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect New Maryland.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Rogersville and its renaming to Nouvelle-Arcadie.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Oromocto.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Quispamsis.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Riverview.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Rothesay.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Saint Andrews.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Saint John.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Saint-Quentin.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Shediac.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to St. Stephen and the change of its official legal name from Town of St. Stephen to Municipal District of St. Stephen.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Petitcodiac and its renaming to Three Rivers.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Plaster Rock and its renaming to Tobique Valley.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Tracadie.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Tracy.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform did not affect Upper Miramichi.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Norton and its renaming to Valley Waters.[11]
- ↑ The 2023 local governance reform only involved the annexation of adjacent unincorporated lands to Woodstock.[11]
References
- ↑ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2021 and 2016 censuses – 100% data". Statistics Canada. March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
- ↑ "Welcome to the Association of Municipal Administrators of New Brunswick". The Association of Municipal Administrators of New Brunswick. 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Local Governance Act (S.N.B. 2017, c.18)". Government of New Brunswick. January 1, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ↑ Local Governance Act, c. 1
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Types of Local Governments". Government of New Brunswick. 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- ↑ "Saint John". Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), New Brunswick". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ↑ Brown, Laura (November 18, 2021). "Municipal reform will see N.B. go from 340 local governments and districts, to 90". CTV News. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ↑ "Local governance structure in New Brunswick". Government of New Brunswick. September 14, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ↑ "Community Profiles". Government of New Brunswick. 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 "Local Governments Establishment Regulation – Local Governance Act". Government of New Brunswick. August 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- 1 2 "Establishing the Regional Municipality of Grand Tracadie-Sheila" (PDF). New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government. February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
- 1 2 "Place Names of New Brunswick: Where is Home? New Brunswick Communities Past and Present". Government of New Brunswick. 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ↑ "Regional Municipality of Grand Tracadie-Sheila Regulation – Municipalities Act" (PDF). Government of New Brunswick Office of the Attorney General. March 28, 2014. p. 3. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
- ↑ "Rural Community of Beaubassin East Regulation – Municipalities Act" (PDF). Queen's Printer for New Brunswick. March 24, 1995. p. 6. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Rural Community of Campobello Island Regulation – Municipalities Act" (PDF). Queen's Printer for New Brunswick. August 31, 2010. p. 2. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Rural Community of Cocagne Regulation – Municipalities Act" (PDF). Queen's Printer for New Brunswick. March 28, 2014. p. 2. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Rural Community of Hanwell Regulation – Municipalities Act" (PDF). Queen's Printer for New Brunswick. March 28, 2014. p. 2. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ↑ "New Brunswick Regulation 2017-3 under the Municipalities Act". Government of New Brunswick. March 20, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ↑ "Rural Community of Kedgwick Regulation – Municipalities Act" (PDF). Queen's Printer for New Brunswick. March 15, 2012. p. 2. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Rural Community of Saint-André Regulation – Municipalities Act" (PDF). Queen's Printer for New Brunswick. May 26, 2006. p. 4. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Rural Community of Upper Miramichi Regulation – Municipalities Act" (PDF). Queen's Printer for New Brunswick. March 17, 2008. p. 4. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- "Population and dwelling count amendments, 2021 Census". Statistics Canada. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- ↑ "Local Governance Reform: Maps". Government of New Brunswick. September 6, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2023.