View source for List of counties of New Brunswick

{{short description|County of New Brunswick, Canada}}

{{Infobox subdivision type
| name               = Counties of New Brunswick
| alt_name           = 
| map                = {{New Brunswick County Labelled Map|width=350}}
| image_caption      = 
| territory          = [[New Brunswick|Province of New Brunswick]]
| start_date         =
| current_number     = 15
| number_date        =
| population_range   =  10,998 ([[Queens County, New Brunswick|Queens]]) – 163,576 ([[Westmorland County, New Brunswick|Westmorland]])
| area_range         =  1,461 km<sup>2</sup> ([[Saint John County, New Brunswick|Saint John]]) – 12,843 km<sup>2</sup> ([[Northumberland County, New Brunswick|Northumberland]])
| government         = [[County government]] (defunct since 1966)
| subdivision        = [[List of parishes in New Brunswick|Parishes]]<ref group=lower-alpha>Parishes are the normal subdivision. Saint John, Fredericton, and the town of Grand Falls are also included in the Territorial Division Act, all with different boundaries than the municipalities have today. Fredericton was originally a parish, while Grand Falls Parish and the town are legally separate.</ref>
}}
The [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian province]] of [[New Brunswick]] has 15 counties, originating in the British tradition of local courts for civil and judicial administration that were officiated by the colony's appointed [[magistrate|magistrates]].  

Counties, parishes and shiretowns are delineated in the Territorial Division Act.<ref>{{cite web |title=CHAPTER T-3 Territorial Division Act |url=https://laws.gnb.ca/en/showfulldoc/cs/T-3 |website=Government of New Brunswick |access-date=4 August 2024 |date=30 June 1998}}</ref> While no longer administrative divisions,<ref>{{cite web |title=Municipalities Act, SNB 1966(1), c 20, p.192 |url=https://canlii.ca/t/550jc |access-date=3 February 2024}}</ref> they continue to define regional communities and have many legacy functions and provincial applications. They figure prominently in residents' sense of place and continue as significant threads in the Province of New Brunswick's cultural fabric (i.e., most citizens always know which county they are in).
 
Counties are used as the basis of [[census divisions]]<ref group=lower-alpha>When municipalities extend into two counties, the entire municipality is assigned to one census division.</ref> by [[Statistics Canada]] in the [[Census in Canada|national census]], while their parishes are the basis for [[census subdivisions]].

==History==
The push for responsible government would see the municipal system of elective local government replace the magistracy, and in 1877 it was made mandatory that the province's county courts of sessions would municipalize.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government of Canada, 1915 - New Brunswick |url=https://www65.statcan.gc.ca/acyb07/acyb07_2015b-eng.htm |website=Canada Year Book Historical Collection |publisher=Statistics Canada - Government of Canada |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>{{refn|group=lower-alpha|Courts gained the ability to voluntarily incorporate in 1851;<ref>14 Victoriæ Cap. XXXVIII; the act was not ratified until August that year and was published in the 1852 ''Acts of the General Assembly'', pp. 149–160.</ref> }}

"Sweeping" reforms of the [[Louis Robichaud|Robichaud]] premiership in 1966 ceased all county local government function, consequent to the government's [[New Brunswick Equal Opportunity program]] which brought about dissolution of county entities in favour of a ministerial upper tier, among other reforms local government related or otherwise.

Counties were not replaced with another form of regional local government. Instead, many small village municipalities were created, with the surrounding predominantly rural areas financing local services and facilities through [[Local service district (New Brunswick)|local service districts]] until the [[2023 New Brunswick local governance reform|reform of local governance in 2023]].

=== Origin ===
The partitioning of [[Nova Scotia]] at the close of the [[American Revolutionary War]] was discreetly attributed by the British to the distance between the St. John river communities and the administrative centre at Halifax.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bell |first1=David |title=Loyalist Rebellion in New Brunswick: A Defining Conflict for Canada's Political Culture |date=2013 |publisher=Formac Publishing Company Ltd |location=Halifax, NS |isbn=1-4595-0277-9 |page=98}}</ref> The arrival of American Loyalist refugees saw the population in the colony grow abruptly, with many directed to Sunbury county's Wolastoq/Saint John river.

Initially, when Nova Scotia's authorities established counties for the first time in 1759, the vast territory of former [[Acadia]] to the north of [[Kings County, Nova Scotia|Kings County]] was erected as [[Cumberland County, Nova Scotia|Cumberland]], until in April 30, 1765, when the county was sectioned for the residents of the townships along the coastline and in the lower [[Saint John River (Bay of Fundy)|Saint John River]] valley.<ref>{{cite web |title=Glimpses of the Past - XXXVI – THE COUNTY OF SUNBURY |url=http://carensecord.ca/locations/NewBrunswick/Glimpses/XXXVI.html |website=Caren Secord Geneology |publisher=Saint Croix Courier |access-date=6 September 2024 |date=September 29, 1892}}</ref> The new county was called [[Sunbury County, Nova Scotia|Sunbury]].

It would not be until 24 May 1770 that a boundary would be established between the two counties. Sunbury’s western boundary was described as starting at the head of the [[St. Croix River (Maine–New Brunswick)|St. Croix River]], following the north line to the Saint John River and then to the southern Canadian border. This description actually overlapped a part of [[Maine]]’s territory, as you would have needed to go far west, towards the area near the source of the [[Chaudière River]]. On the east the boundary with Cumberland ran north by the magnet from a point 20 miles up from Mispec.{{sfn|Ganong|1901|p=226}} No further changes would be made until 1785, when the recently partitioned New Brunswick province's government established new counties.{{sfn|Ganong|1901|p=227}}

=== Creation ===
New Brunswick was created on June 18, 1784.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bell |first1=David |title=Loyalist Rebellion in New Brunswick: A Defining Conflict for Canada's Political Culture |date=2013 |publisher=Formac Publishing Company Ltd |location=Halifax, NS |isbn=1-4595-0277-9 |page=98}}</ref> The province was divided into eight counties by decree of Governor [[Thomas Carleton|Carleton]]: [[Charlotte County, New Brunswick|Charlotte]], [[Kings County, New Brunswick|Kings]], [[Northumberland County, New Brunswick|Northumberland]], [[Queens County, New Brunswick|Queens]], [[Saint John County, New Brunswick|Saint John]], [[Sunbury County, New Brunswick|Sunbury]], [[Westmorland County, New Brunswick|Westmorland]] and [[York County, New Brunswick|York]]. In January 1786, the first session of the [[New Brunswick Legislative Assembly]] was held in Saint John, at which the MLA’s passed ''An Act for the better ascertaining and confirming the Boundaries of Several Counties within this Province, and for subdividing them into Towns or Parishes''.{{sfn|Ganong|1901|p=413}} As the council worked on developing the original county lines, they desperately needed maps of the province, which, at the time, they seemingly lacked. As a result, they relied on two maps by [[Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres]] from 1780, the best candidates for a map of New Brunswick at the time.{{sfn|Ganong|1901|pp=413–414}} As the new boundaries were established, the former counties of Cumberland and Sunbury were disregarded, with the exception of the starting point of the boundary between Westmorland and Northumberland counties, which shared a resemblance to the old boundaries, though this might have been a coincidence.{{sfn|Ganong|1901|p=414}}

The county lines were strategically drawn to align with the watersheds, a logical decision given that New Brunswick's settlements were developed along waterways.{{sfn|Ganong|1901|p=415}} Additionally, the counties were able to be divided into three groups: the Bay of Fundy, the Saint John River and the North Shore.{{sfn|Ganong|1901|pp=416–417}}

==List==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! County<ref name=TDA/>
! [[County seat|Shire town]]<ref name=TDA>{{cite web | url=https://laws.gnb.ca/en/showfulldoc/cs/T-3 | title=''Territorial Division Act'' | publisher=Government of New Brunswick | date=June 30, 1998 | accessdate=December 28, 2021}}</ref>
! Established<ref name=Counties>{{cite web |title=Provincial Archives of New Brunswick |url=https://archives.gnb.ca/exhibits/communities/CountyListing.aspx?culture=en-CA |website=archives.gnb.ca}}</ref>
! Origin<ref name=Counties/>
! Etymology
! Population (2021)<ref name=Stats2021>{{cite web |last1=Government of Canada |first1=Statistics Canada |title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada and census divisions |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000701 |website=www150.statcan.gc.ca |date=9 February 2022}}</ref>
! Population (2016)<ref name=Stats2021/>
! Change<ref name=Stats2021/>
! Land area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name=Stats2021/>
! Population density (per km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name=Stats2021/>
! Map
|-

![[Albert County, New Brunswick|Albert County]]
|[[Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick|Hopewell Cape]]<br/>(Now part of [[Fundy Albert]])
|align=center|1845
|Erected from [[Westmorland County, New Brunswick|Westmorland County]]
|[[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]], husband of [[Queen Victoria]].
|{{change|30749|29158|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|1806.23}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|30749|1806.23|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Albert County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Carleton County, New Brunswick|Carleton County]]
|[[Woodstock, New Brunswick|Woodstock]]
|align=center|1831
|Erected from [[York County, New Brunswick|York County]]
|[[Thomas Carleton]], the first [[Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick|Lieutenant Governor]] of New Brunswick.
|{{change|26360|26178|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|3309.06}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|26360|3309.06|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Carleton County.svg|100px]] 
|-

![[Charlotte County, New Brunswick|Charlotte County]]
|[[Saint Andrews, New Brunswick|Saint Andrews]]
|align=center|1785
|One of the original 8 counties.
|[[Queen Charlotte]], wife of [[King George III]].
|{{change|26015|25428|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|3418.24}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|26015|3418.24|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Charlotte County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Gloucester County, New Brunswick|Gloucester County]]
|[[Bathurst, New Brunswick|Bathurst]]
|align=center|1826
|Erected from [[Northumberland County, New Brunswick|Northumberland County]]
|[[Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester]], fourth daughter of [[King George III]]. 
|{{change|78256|78444|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|4734.30}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|78256|4734.30|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Gloucester County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Kent County, New Brunswick|Kent County]]
|[[Richibucto, New Brunswick|Richibucto]]<br/>(Now part of [[Beaurivage]])
|align=center|1826
|Erected from [[Northumberland County, New Brunswick|Northumberland County]]
|[[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn]], father of [[Queen Victoria]].
|{{change|32169|30475|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|4550.38}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|32169|4550.38|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Kent County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Kings County, New Brunswick|Kings County]]
|[[Hampton, New Brunswick|Hampton]]
|align=center|1785
|One of the original 8 counties.
|To express loyalty to [[The Crown]].
|{{change|71184|68941|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|3482.35}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|71184|3482.35|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Kings County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Madawaska County, New Brunswick|Madawaska County]]
|[[Edmundston]]
|align=center|1873
|Erected from [[Victoria County, New Brunswick|Victoria County]]
|The [[Madawaska River (Saint John River tributary)|Madawaska River]], derived from a [[Maliseet]] word meaning ''unknown''.
|{{change|32603|32741|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|3454.97}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|32603|3454.97|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Madawaska County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Northumberland County, New Brunswick|Northumberland County]]
|[[Newcastle, New Brunswick|Newcastle]]<br/>(Now part of [[Miramichi, New Brunswick|Miramichi]])
|align=center|1785
|One of the original 8 counties.
|The [[Northumberland Strait]]
|{{change|45005|44952|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|12843.39}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|45005|12843.39|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Northumberland County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Queens County, New Brunswick|Queens County]]
|[[Gagetown, New Brunswick|Gagetown]]<br/>(Now part of [[Arcadia, New Brunswick|Arcadia]])
|align=center|1785
|One of the original 8 counties.
|To express loyalty to [[The Crown]] and after early settlers from [[Queens]], [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]].
|{{change|10998|10472|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|3681.05}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|10998|3681.05|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Queens County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Restigouche County, New Brunswick|Restigouche County]]
|[[Dalhousie, New Brunswick|Dalhousie]]<br/>(Now part of [[Heron Bay, New Brunswick|Heron Bay]])
|align=center|1837
|Erected from [[Gloucester County, New Brunswick|Gloucester County]]
|The [[Restigouche River]], derived from the [[Mi'kmaq]] name meaning ''five-fingered river''.
|{{change|30700|30955|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|8566.82}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|30700|8566.82|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Restigouche County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Saint John County, New Brunswick|Saint John County]]
|[[Saint John, New Brunswick|Saint John]]
|align=center|1785
|One of the original 8 counties.
|The [[Saint John River (Bay of Fundy)|Saint John River]].
|{{change|76558|74020|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|1461.05}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|76558|1461.05|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Saint John County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Sunbury County, New Brunswick|Sunbury County]]
|[[Burton, New Brunswick|Burton]]
|align=center|1785<ref group=lower-alpha>The original Sunbury County was erected by Nova Scotia in 1765 to include all of New Brunswick west of the Petitcodiac River settlements; the New Brunswick version was created by [[letters patent]] after the other seven original counties of the province.</ref>
|One of the original 8 counties.
|[[Viscount Sunbury]], the [[courtesy title]] of [[George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax]].
|{{change|27864|27644|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|2692.97}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|27864|2692.97|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Sunbury County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Victoria County, New Brunswick|Victoria County]]
|Andover<br/>(Now part of [[Southern Victoria]]
|align=center|1850<ref group=lower-alpha>The Act erecting Victoria County was passed in 1844 but did not receive [[royal assent]] until 1850.</ref>
|Erected from [[Carleton County, New Brunswick|Carleton County]]
|[[Queen Victoria]]
|{{change|18312|18617|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|5492.85}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|18312|5492.85|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Victoria County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[Westmorland County, New Brunswick|Westmorland County]]
|[[Dorchester, New Brunswick|Dorchester]]<br/>(Now part of [[Tantramar, New Brunswick|Tantramar]])
|align=center|1785
|One of the original 8 counties.
|The county of [[Westmorland]] in [[North West England|North West]] [[England]].
|{{change|163576|149623|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|3659.74}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|163576|3659.74|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting Westmorland County.svg|100px]]
|-

![[York County, New Brunswick|York County]]
|[[Fredericton]]
|align=center|1785
|One of the original 8 counties.
|[[Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany]], second son of [[George III]].
|{{change|105261|99453|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}}
|align=center| {{nts|8095.10}}
|align=center| {{Pop density|105261|8095.10|prec=1}}
|[[File:Map of New Brunswick highlighting York County.svg|100px]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Administrative divisions of New Brunswick]]
* [[List of municipalities in New Brunswick]]
* [[List of parishes in New Brunswick]]
* [[Local government in Canada]]
* [[Local service district (New Brunswick)]]
* [[Provinces and territories of Canada]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
{{cite book |last=Ganong |authorlink=William Francis Ganong |title=A monograph of the evolution of the boundaries of the province of New Brunswick |date=1901|url=https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.74004}}

==External links==
* [http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nbpast/localhistory/parishes.html New Brunswick Parishes]
* [http://archives.gnb.ca/Exhibits/Communities/CountyListing.aspx?culture=en-CA New Brunswick Communities Past and Present: County Listing]

{{New Brunswick}}
{{Subdivisions of New Brunswick|counties=yes}}
{{Canada topic|Census divisions of}}

[[Category:Counties of New Brunswick| ]]
[[Category:Local government in New Brunswick]]
[[Category:Lists of populated places in New Brunswick|Counties]]
[[Category:Lists of counties|New Brunswick]]