Madawaska County, New Brunswick
Encyclopedia
Madawaska County also known as the "New Brunswick Panhandle", is located in northwestern New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...

, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. Over 90% of the county's population speaks French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...

. Its Francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....

 population are known as "Brayon
Brayon
Brayons are a francophone people inhabiting the area in and around Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada. In French, they are called or feminine , and both terms are also used as adjectives, as in Brayon culture, or .) Given their location in New Brunswick, a Canadian Maritime province, they are...

s." Forestry is the major industry in the county.

History

The first inhabitants of what is now called Madawaska county, were the Maliseet or Wolastoqiyik, who occupied and used the land along the St. John River Valley north to the St. Lawrence River and south to the Penobscot River. There is debate concerning the true origin of the word "Madawaska". The earliest European settlers were from Quebec. The area was the focus of the bloodless Aroostook War
Aroostook War
The Aroostook War was an undeclared nonviolent confrontation in 1838/1839 between the United States and Great Britain over the international boundary between British North America and Maine. The compromise resolution win a mutually accepted border between the state of Maine and the provinces of...

, a border dispute led by businessman and political activist John Baker
John Baker (Baker Brook)
John Baker is the namesake of the towns of Baker Lake and Baker Brook, New Brunswick, Canada, just west of Edmundston...

.

The earliest settlers of the Upper St-John River Valley can be clearly verified with http://www.upperstjohn.com/visits/Saint-Vallier1686.htm and http://www.upperstjohn.com/1820/madawaska.htm
the second link displays census results taken in 1820 of the Madawaska region where most families had originated from Quebec.

Communities

There are ten incorporated municipalities within Madawaska County (listed by 2006 population counts and national census rankings):
Official Name Status Area km2 Population Census Ranking
Edmundston City 106.92 16,643 232 of 5,008
Saint-Léonard
Saint-Léonard, New Brunswick
Saint-Léonard is a Canadian town in Madawaska County, New Brunswick. It is located on the east bank of the Saint John River opposite Van Buren, Maine, to which it is connected via the Saint Leonard-Van Buren Bridge. The town's economy is driven by potato farming and a J.D. Irving Limited sawmill...

Town 5.20 1,352 1,705 of 5,008
Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska
Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick
Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska is a Canadian town in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.The village is located on the Saint John River, 30 kilometres southeast of Edmundston.Forestry is the major industry in the area.-Demographics:...

Village 9.21 1,073 1,957 of 5,008
Clair
Clair, New Brunswick
Clair is a Canadian village in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.Situated on the Saint John River opposite Fort Kent, Maine. The name Clair finds its roots in the community named for County Clare in Ireland. The name of the village is the result of the railroad station being located near the General...

Village 10.46 848 2,280 of 5,008
Rivière-Verte
Rivière-Verte, New Brunswick
Rivière-Verte is a Canadian village in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.It is located 15 kilometres southeast of Edmundston along the Saint John River. Its name translates to "Green River".-Demographics:Population trend...

Village 7.00 798 2,366 of 5,008
Saint-François-de-Madawaska
Saint-François-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick
Saint-François-de-Madawaska is a Canadian village in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.The village is known as the province's "Chicken Capital", referring to its role in the poultry industry. Former and merged names for the community include Webster's Creek and Winding Ledges.Nearby attractions...

Village 6.34 585 2,806 of 5,008
Baker Brook
Baker Brook, New Brunswick
Baker Brook is a Canadian village in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.It is located on the Saint John River 20 kilometres west of Edmundston.The village takes its name from 19th-century sawmill businessman John Baker....

Village 12.40 525 2,944 of 5,008
Saint-André
Saint-André, New Brunswick
Saint-André is a Canadian village in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.Situated in a potato farming area, Saint-André was founded in 1904.-Demographics:Population trendMother tongue language -External links:*...

Village 3.72 404 3,303 of 5,008
Saint-Hilaire
Saint-Hilaire, New Brunswick
Saint-Hilaire is a Canadian village in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.The largest employer is a composting plant.-Demographics:Population trendMother tongue language -External links:*...

Village 5.67 231 3,908 of 5,008
Lac-Baker
Lac-Baker, New Brunswick
Lac Baker is a Canadian lake with an area of 6 km² located in northwestern New Brunswick on the border with Quebec.The lake drains to the south through Baker Brook into the Saint John River at the community of Baker Brook....

Village 4.02 169 4,146 of 5,008

Parishes

The county is subdivided into fourteen parishes (listed by 2006 population counts and national census rankings):
Official Name Status Area km2 Population Census Ranking
Saint-Joseph
Saint-Joseph Parish, New Brunswick
Saint-Joseph is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Deuxième-Sault...

Parish 321.87 1,696 1,472 of 5,008
Saint-André
Saint-André Parish, New Brunswick
Saint-André is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Comeau Ridge...

Parish 132.48 1,660 1,492 of 5,008
Saint-Jacques
Saint-Jacques Parish, New Brunswick
Saint-Jacques is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Ennemond*Grandmaison...

Parish 298.82 1,607 1,531 of 5,008
Sainte-Anne
Sainte-Anne Parish, New Brunswick
Sainte-Anne is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Fourche-à-Clark...

Parish 369.25 1,081 1,942 of 5,008
Saint-Léonard
Saint-Léonard Parish, New Brunswick
Saint-Léonard is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Bellefleur...

Parish 343.95 1,039 2,011 of 5,008
Saint-Basile
Saint-Basile Parish, New Brunswick
Saint-Basile is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Boniface Bridge...

Parish 129.73 799 2,364 of 5,008
Rivière-Verte
Rivière-Verte Parish, New Brunswick
Rivière-Verte is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Beardsley Depot...

Parish 715.58 791 2,384 of 5,008
Saint-François
Saint-François Parish, New Brunswick
Saint-François is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries ....

Parish 344.70 754 2,458 of 5,008
Lac-Baker
Lac-Baker Parish, New Brunswick
Lac-Baker is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Boundary*Lac-Baker...

Parish 57.38 566 2,847 of 5,008
Saint-Hilaire
Saint-Hilaire Parish, New Brunswick
Saint-Hilaire is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Riceville...

Parish 41.55 531 2,928 of 5,008
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Parish, New Brunswick
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries ....

Parish 188.63 284 3,729 of 5,008
Clair
Clair Parish, New Brunswick
Clair is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Caron Brook*Clair...

Parish 44.29 282 3,737 of 5,008
Baker Brook
Baker Brook Parish, New Brunswick
Baker Brook is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Baker Brook**Michaud...

Parish 125.69 177 4,103 of 5,008
Madawaska
Madawaska Parish, New Brunswick
Madawaska is a Canadian parish in Madawaska County, New Brunswick. The parish is primarily made up of the city of Edmundston.-Communities:Parish population total does not include incorporated municipalities and communities within their respective boundaries .*Edmundston-Population:Population...

Parish 173.32 10 4,889 of 5,008

First Nations

There is one First Nations reservation in Madawaska County (listed by 2006 population counts and national census rankings):
Official Name Status Area km2 Population Census Ranking
St. Basile 10 Reservation 3.28 166 4,161 of 5,008

Demographics

Population trend
Census Population Change (%)
2006 34,071 4.3%
2001 35,611 3.3%
1996 36,814 0.7%
1991 36,554 N/A


Mother tongue language (2006)
Language Population Pct (%)
French only 31,185 93.06%
English only 1,665 4.97%
Other languages 395 1.18%
Both English and French 265 0.79%


See also

  • Republic of Madawaska
    Republic of Madawaska
    The Republic of Madawaska was a small, unrecognized state in the northwest corner of Madawaska County, New Brunswick and adjacent areas of Aroostook County in the American state of Maine and of Quebec. The word "Madawaska" comes from the Mi'kmaq words madawas and kak...

  • Brayon
    Brayon
    Brayons are a francophone people inhabiting the area in and around Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada. In French, they are called or feminine , and both terms are also used as adjectives, as in Brayon culture, or .) Given their location in New Brunswick, a Canadian Maritime province, they are...

  • List of communities in New Brunswick

External links

  • Madawaska County Guide
  • http://www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/MADAWAS.htm
  • http://www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/Madawas%20Pictures.pdf





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