Blissfield Parish, New Brunswick

Blissfield
Parish
Location within Northumberland County, New Brunswick
Coordinates: 46°35′24″N66°03′18″W / 46.59°N 66.055°W / 46.59; -66.055
Country	Canada
Province	New Brunswick
County	Northumberland
Erected	1830
Area [1]
• Land	1,235.57 km2 (477.06 sq mi)
Population  (2021) [1]
• Total	491
• Density	0.4/km2 (1/sq mi)
• Change 2016-2021	8.9%
• Dwellings	256
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (ADT)
Figures do not include portion within the village of Doaktown

Blissfield is a geographic parish in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada. ^[4]

For governance purposes it is divided mainly between the village of Doaktown ^[5] and the Greater Miramichi rural district, ^[6] with small areas along the eastern and western borders belonging to the incorporated rural communities of Miramichi River Valley and Upper Miramichi, respectively. ^[5] All are members of the Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission. ^[7]

Prior to the 2023 governance reform, the parish was divided between a much smaller village of Doaktown ^[8] and the local service district of the parish of Blissfield. ^[9]

Origin of name

Blissfield was named in honour of John Murray Bliss, ^[10] was Administrator of the province prior to Lieutenant-Governor Howard Douglas's arrival. Neighbouring Blackville Parish was named in honour of William Black, Administrator of the province due to Douglas's absence at the time both parishes were erected. ^[10]

History

Blissfield was erected in 1830 by the three-way split of Ludlow Parish, ^[11] Blissfield in the middle and Blackville to the east.

Boundaries

Blissfield Parish is bounded: ^{[2] [12] [13]}

• on the north by a line beginning at a point on the York County line near McConnell Brook, then running north 72º east by an astronomic bearing to the northeastern corner of Blackville Parish, a point 537 chains (10.8 kilometres) from the Canadian National Railway line through Quarryville on a line running north 22º west ^{[lower-alpha 1]} from the mouth of the Renous River;
• on the east by a line running north and south ^{[lower-alpha 1]} from the mouth of Donnelly Brook, which is on the southern bank of the Southwest Miramichi River west of Upper Blackville Bridge;
• on the south by the Kent and Sunbury County lines;
• on the west by a line running north and south from the mouth of Big Hole Brook, which is on the western edge of Doaktown ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Evolution of boundaries

When Blissfield was erected the eastern line extended to the Westmorland County line, ^[17] putting part of modern Harcourt Parish in Blissfield.

In 1845 the Kent County line was changed to run southwesterly instead of southeasterly, now meeting the line between Queens and Sunbury Counties. A triangle of wilderness at the southeastern corner was transferred to Kent County. ^[18]

Communities

Communities at least partly within the parish. ^{[12] [13] [19]} bold indicates an incorporated municipality; italics indicate a name no longer in official use

• Amostown
• Blissfield
• Gilks
• Grand Lake Road
• Hazelton
• McGraw Brook
• Renous Forks
• Storeytown
• Weaver Siding
• Doaktown
  • Russelltown
  • South Road Settlement

Bodies of water

Bodies of water ^{[lower-alpha 2]} at least partly within the parish. ^{[12] [13] [19]}

• Bartholomew River
• Cains River
• Dungarvon River
• Gaspereau River
• Renous River
• Southwest Miramichi River
• Devils Back Lake
• Little Lake
• Shakey Lake

Islands

Islands at least partly within the parish. ^{[12] [13] [19]}

• Mercury Island
• Pine Island
• Weaver Island
• Brown Bar
• Wasson Bar

Other notable places

Parks, historic sites, and other noteworthy places at least partly within the parish. ^{[12] [13] [19] [20]}

• Big Rocky Brook Protected Natural Area
• Doak House Provincial Park ^[21]
• Doaktown Airport
• Dungarvon Whooper Spring Woodlot Protected Natural Area
• McGraw Brook Picnic Site
• Plaster Rock-Renous Wildlife Management Area ^[22]

Demographics

Parish population total does not include former incorporated village of Doaktown. Revised census figures based on the 2023 local governance reforms have not been released.

Population Population trend [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] Census Population Change (%) 2016 451 10.0% 2011 501 10.5% 2006 560 11.9% 2001 636 5.6% 1996 674 4.2% 1991 647 N/A

Language Mother tongue (2016) [27] Language Population Pct (%) English only 445 97.8% French only 5 1.1% Other languages 5 1.1% Both English and French 0 0%

See also

• List of parishes in New Brunswick

Notes

1. By the magnet of 1814, ^[14] when declination in the area was between 16º and 17º west of north. ^[15] The Territorial Division Act clause referring to magnetic direction bearings was omitted in the 1952 ^[16] and 1973 Revised Statutes. ^[2]
2. Not including brooks, ponds or coves.

References

1. "Census Profile". Statistics Canada. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
2. "Chapter T-3 Territorial Division Act". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
3. "Chapter I-13 Interpretation Act". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
4. The Territorial Division Act ^[2] divides the province into 152 parishes, the cities of Saint John and Fredericton, and one town of Grand Falls. The Interpretation Act ^[3] clarifies that parishes include any local government within their borders.
5. "Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission: RSC 5". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
6. "Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission: RD 5". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
7. "Regions Regulation – Regional Service Delivery Act". Government of New Brunswick. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
8. "Municipalities Order - Municipalities Act". Governmentof New Brunswick. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
9. "Local Service Districts Regulation - Municipalities Act". Government of New Brunswick. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
10. Ganong, William F. (1896). A Monograph of the Place-Nomenclature of the Province of New Brunswick. Royal Society of Canada. p. 221. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
11. "10 & 11 Geo. IV c. 15 An Act to alter the Boundary Lines of certain Parishes in the County of Northumberland, and to erect two new Parishes in said County.". Acts of the General Assembly of His Majesty's Province of New Brunswick, Passed in the Year 1830. Fredericton: Government of New Brunswick. 1830. pp. 17–18. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
12. "No. 67". Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development. Retrieved 18 June 2021. Remainder of parish on maps 68, 76, 77, 85, 86, 96, and 97 at same site.
13. "215" (PDF). Transportation and Infrastructure. Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 18 June 2021. Remainder of parish on mapbooks 216, 217, 230–232, 246–248, 262–264, 279–281, and 295–297 at same site.
14. "54 Geo. III c. 17 An Act in further addition to an Act, intituled 'An Act for the better ascertaining and confirming the boundaries of the several Counties, within this Province, and for subdividing them into Towns or Parishes.'". Acts of the General Assembly of His Majesty's Province of New-Brunswick; Passed in the Year 1814. Saint John, New Brunswick: Government of New Brunswick. 1814. pp. 16–18. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
15. "Historical Magnetic Declination". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
16. "Chapter 227 Territorial Division Act". The Revised Statutes of New Brunswick 1952 Volume III. Fredericton: Government of New Brunswick. 1952. pp. 3725–3771.
17. Ganong, William F. (1901). A Monograph of the Evolution of the Boundaries of the Province of New Brunswick. Royal Society of Canada. p. Map No. 39. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
18. "8 Vic. c. 80 An Act to extend the Division Line between the Counties of Northumberland and Kent to the rear Line of the Counties of Queen's County and Sunbury.". Acts of the General Assembly of Her Majesty's Province of New Brunswick, Passed in the Year 1845. Fredericton: Government of New Brunswick. 1845. p. 58. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
19. "Search the Canadian Geographical Names Database (CGNDB)". Government of Canada. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
20. "Explore New Brunswick's Protected Natural Areas". GeoNB. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
21. "New Brunswick Regulation 2017-46 under the Parks Act (O.C. 2017-293)" (PDF). The Royal Gazette. 175. Fredericton: Queen's Printer: 1496–1497. 13 December 2017. ISSN   1714-9428 . Retrieved 5 July 2021.
22. "New Brunswick Regulation 94-43 under the Fish and Wildlife Act (O.C. 94-231)". Government of New Brunswick. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
23. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
24. 2006 Statistics Canada Community Profile: Blissfield Parish, New Brunswick
25. Statistics Canada Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data
26. 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Blissfield Parish, New Brunswick
27. "Census Profile, 2016 Census Blissfield, Parish [Census subdivision], New Brunswick". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 26 September 2019.

46°35′24″N66°03′18″W / 46.59000°N 66.05500°W / 46.59000; -66.05500 (Blissfield Parish, New Brunswick)