Bathurst is a civil parish in Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada.[2] The population is concentrated in the northeastern corner of the parish.

Bathurst
Parish
Location within Gloucester County, New Brunswick
Coordinates: 47.46°N 65.86°W / 47.46; -65.86
Country	Canada
Province	New Brunswick
County	Gloucester
Erected	1827
Area [1]
• Land	1,502.74 km2 (580.21 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	4,761
• Density	3.2/km2 (8/sq mi)
• Change 2016-2021	0.8%
• Dwellings	2,293
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (ADT)
Figures do not include portions within the city of Bathurst, the town of Beresford, and the Pabineau 11 Indian reserve

One city, three local service districts (LSDs), and one Indian reserve are entirely within the parish, along with parts of one town and three LSDs; except the Indian reserve, all are members of the Chaleur Regional Service Commission (CRSC).[3]

Origin of name

The parish was named in honour of Earl Bathurst, British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies at the time of its erection.[4]

History

Bathurst was erected in 1827 from the western part of Saumarez Parish.[5] Its eastern boundary followed Teagues Brook to its head and ran south "to the county line", which it doesn't actually reach.

In 1850 the eastern boundary was altered to match the northern end of the modern parish line then along its prolongation to the county line, trading areas with New Bandon Parish.[6]

In 1947 a large area in the southeastern part of the parish was included in the newly erected Allardville Parish.[7]

Boundaries

Bathurst Parish is bounded:[2][8][9]

• on the north by Nepisiguit Bay;
• on the east by a grant line that crosses the junction of Route 11 and Route 340 near Janeville, then southerly by the line and its prolongation to Tier 1 of the Allardville East Settlement, which runs along the northern side of Route 160, then briefly westerly along Tier 1 to the prolongation of the boundary of the Tracadie River Game Management area, at a right angle and northerly along the boundary of the GMA, then at a right angle and westerly along the prolongation of the southern line of two grants south of Goodwin Mills Road to the Canadian National Railway line, then southerly along the railway to the Northumberland County line;
• on the south by the county line;
• on the northwest by the prolongation of the northern lines of two grants on the north side of Kent Lodge Road in Beresford from Nepisiguit Bay to the county line;
• the parish also includes any islands in front of it.

Governance

The LSDs all assess for community & recreation services; all except New Bandon-Salmon Beach also have street lighting.

• Bathurst is located around Bathurst Harbour and contains most of the population. Population in 2016 was 11,897.[10]
• Beresford extends into the parish on the northwestern corner of Bathurst, between the railway and the coast. No separate population figure for Bathurst Parish portion.
• Pabineau 11 Indian reserve straddles the Nepisiguit River at the mouth of the Pabineau River. Population in 2016 was 134.[10]
• Big River extends inland from the southern edge of Bathurst, along Route 340 past the Pabineau reserve, and along the Little River Road. It was established in 1989 to add street lighting.[11] Population in 2016 was 721.[12]
• North Tetagouche sits between the Beresford Parish line and the Tetagouche River from Bathurst to the end of North Tetagouche Road, excluding a small area that's included in Dunlop. It was established in 1987 to provide community services.[13] Population in 2016 was 945.[12]
• Allardville, mainly in Allardville Parish, includes about 200 hectares along Route 134, south of Goodwin Mill Road. 2016 population not profiled for this portion.
• Dunlop, mainly in Beresford Parish, extends into the parish about a half kilometre along Route 315. 2016 population not profiled for this portion.
• New Bandon-Salmon Beach, partly in New Bandon Parish, includes all of the parish east of Bathurst and the rear line of the tier of grants along Route 134. Population of the Bathurst Parish portion in 2016 was 354.[12]
• The local service district of the parish of Bathurst comprises the remainder of the parish. It was established in 1969[14] and originally included all of the parish outside Bathurst and Beresford. Several service areas were formerly defined to provide street lighting but were deleted in 2008[15] after residents of the remainder of the LSD voted to add street lighting;[16] These were sometimes erroneously called LSDs.
  • Poirier Subdivision, established 1985.[17] A subdivision off Route 134 near the southern border of Bathurst.
  • Lone Pine and Napier Heights, established 1987.[18] A subdivision area on the south bank of the Tetagouche River, near the western boundary of Bathurst.
  • Sainte-Anne, established 1990.[19] On the western border of Bathurst, from the Tetagouche River to Sainte-Anne Road south of Power Drive.
  • Tetagouche Falls Estates, established 1990.[20] Subdivision off Route 180, including Apple Street and Birch Drive.
  • Rough Waters-Gloucester Junction-Chamberlain Settlement, established 1990.[21] On southern border of Bathurst, along Chamberlain Settlement Road and Gloucester Junction Road.
  • Middle River-Rio Grande, established 1995.[22] On the southwestern border of Bathurst and extending along Thériault Road and Rio Grande Road.

Governance reform

A 2021 white paper recommended a major reform of the province's governance entities; these changes are scheduled to take effect in 2023 but are not yet finalised. Bathurst Parish would be affected by the following changes:[23][24]

• Beresford and Dunlop will be part of Local government entity 11.
• Bathurst will form Local government entity 12, along with North Tetagouche, 40% of the population of Big River, and 68% of the LSD of the parish of Bathurst.
• Allardville, New Bandon-Salmon Beach, and the remainder of Big River and the LSD of the parish of Bathurst will become part of the Rural district for the Chaleur RSC.

Communities

Communities at least partly within the parish;[8][9][25][26] (brackets) indicate the LSD; italics indicate a name not used on modern provincial government maps

• Allardville (A) straddles the parish line along Route 134
• Bathurst
  • Bass River, Carron Point, Cross Roads, East Bathurst, Rough Waters, Roy Settlement, St. Mary, Sand Hill, South Bathurst, Vallée-Lourdes, West Bathurst, Youghall
• Bathurst Mines (B) is about 20 km south-southwest of Bathurst, on the Nepisiguit River
• Beresford straddles the parish line on the northwestern corner of Bathurst
• Big River (BR) is along Route 430 on the southern border of Bathurst
• Blue Mountain Settlement (BR) is along Route 430, north of the Pabineau 11 reserve
• Brunswick Mines (B) is about 15 km southwest of Bathurst, on the South Branch Little River
• Chamberlain Settlement (B) is south of Bathurst, east of the Nepisiguit River
• Glen Anglin (NBSB) is now part of Janeville
• Gloucester Junction (B) is along the Gloucester Junction Road, south of Chamberlain Settlement
• Goodwin Mill (B) is along Goodwin Mill Road, north of Allardville
• Janeville (NBSB) is on Chaleur Bay, straddling the eastern parish line
• Middle Landing (B) is inland where Route 360 crosses the Nepisiguit River
• Miller Brook is now part of Salmon Beach
• Nepisiguit Junction (BR) is at the junction of Route 430 and the CN railway
• North Tetagouche (NT)
• Pabineau 11
• Pabineau Falls (BR) is north of the Indian reserve[lower-alpha 1]
• Rio Grande (B) is west of Bathurst
• Rosehill is now part of South Tetagouche
• Sainte-Anne (B) is on the western border of Bathurst
• Salmon Beach (NBSB) in on Chaleur Bay, on eastern border of Bathurst
• South Tetagouche (B)
• Upper Rosehill was along Daigle Road, now part of South Tetagouche
• railway points along the eastern edge of the parish: Bartibog Station, Bruce Siding, Red Pine, Russell

Bodies of water

Bodies of water[lower-alpha 2] at least partly within the parish.[8][9][25]

Islands

Islands at least partly within the parish.[8][9][25]

• Indian Island (in Bathurst Harbour)
• Pabineau Island
• Sipisgoatagantjitjg (group of islets in Bathurst Harbour)
• at least 7 other named river islands

Other notable places

Parks, historic sites, and other noteworthy places at least partly within the parish.[8][9][25][27]

• Allardville Protected Natural Area
• Bass Brook Protected Natural Area
• Bathurst Mines
• Bathurst Regional Airport
• Brunswick Mines
• East Branch Portage River Protected Natural Area
• Gordon Meadow Brook Protected Natural Area
• Key Anacon Mine
• Tracadie River Wildlife Management Area[28]

Demographics

Population

Parish population total does not include municipalities or Indian reserve

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue – Bathurst Parish, New Brunswick[34]
Census		Total		French				English				French & English				Other
Year		Responses		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %
2011		4,965		2,435	4.7%	49.04%		2,395	10.0%	48.24%		105	40.0%	2.11%		30	57.1%	0.60%
2006		5,130		2,325	14.2%	45.32%		2,660	1.1%	51.85%		75	34.8%	1.46%		70	133.3%	1.36%
2001		5,485		2,710	10.7%	49.41%		2,630	1.2%	47.95%		115	11.5%	2.10%		30	200.0%	0.55%
1996		5,775		3,035	n/a	52.55%		2,600	n/a	45.02%		130	n/a	2.25%		10	n/a	0.17%

See also

• List of parishes in New Brunswick

Notes

References