Doaktown

Last updated

Doaktown
Village
Miramichi Doaktown.jpg
Main Southwest Miramichi River in Doaktown (IR Walker 1988)
Doaktown NB logo.jpg
Seal
Nickname: 
Heart of the Miramichi River Valley
Canada New Brunswick location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Doaktown
Location of Doaktown, New Brunswick
Coordinates: 46°33′N66°07′W / 46.550°N 66.117°W / 46.550; -66.117 Coordinates: 46°33′N66°07′W / 46.550°N 66.117°W / 46.550; -66.117
CountryCanada
Province New Brunswick
County Northumberland
Settled1807
Incorporated1966
Government
 • Type Village Council
 • MayorJeff Porter
Area
[1]
 • Land29.09 km2 (11.23 sq mi)
Elevation
30 m (100 ft)
Population
 (2021) [1]
 • Total808
 • Density27.8/km2 (72/sq mi)
 • Change 2016–21
Increase2.svg 2.0%
Time zone UTC-4 (Atlantic)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-3 (Atlantic)
Area code Area code 506
Dwellings430
Website https://www.discoverdoaktown.com/

Doaktown is a Canadian village in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.

Contents

The village has a prosperous lumber industry including the Russell and Swim sawmill, now owned by J.D. Irving Limited.

Atlantic Salmon fishing is a very popular sport in the area, attracting people from all over the world to fish the legendary Miramichi River.

The village has two museums: the Doak Historic Site and the Atlantic Salmon Museum. Other nearby attractions include the Priceville Footbridge, the longest suspension footbridge in New Brunswick, and Nelson Hollow Bridge, the oldest covered bridge in the province.

History

Situated on the Southwest Miramichi River and first settled in 1807 as a base for the growing lumber industry in central New Brunswick, United Empire Loyalists, led by Ephraim Betts and the big-town bogey boys, came to the area after the American Revolutionary War and pooled their money for a land grant, which was ultimately declined. Following this, Betts and the BBB claimed the land for their own anyway, and nobody did anything.

Later, when the Doak family moved to the area from Ayrshire, Scotland, Ephraim was experiencing financial difficulty. Robert Doak was able to purchase a large amount of the original land grant and build a farm and grist mill on the property. [2]

Robert Doak became a prominent citizen as the population grew. He served with the government in several capacities, including magistrate and justice of the peace. The community was named Doakton in his honour when the first post office opened, but was later changed to its present name, Doaktown.

On 1 January 2023, Doaktown annexed part of the neighbouring local service districts of the parish of Blissfield; [3] [4] [5] the names of annexed communitiess remain in official use. [6] Revised census figures have not been released.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Doaktown had a population of 808 living in 391 of its 430 total private dwellings, a change of

Doaktown, NB
Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1971 938—    
1976 1,022+9.0%
1981 1,009−1.3%
1986 999−1.0%
1991 1,090+9.1%
1996 986−9.5%
2001 955−3.1%
2006 888−7.0%
2011 793−10.7%
2016 792−0.1%
2021 808+2.0%
[7] [8]

Administration

The municipal council is composed of a mayor and four councillors. The mandate of the elected officials lasts four years. The current council was formed after the election in 2018.

Current municipal council

MandateFunctionName(s) [9]
2018 - 2022MayorJeff Porter
CouncillorsWayne N. Fowler, Paul M. Gillespie, Carl Price, Arthur O’Donnell

Historical municipal councils

MandateFunctionName(s) [10]
2012 - 2016MayorBeverly K. Gaston
CouncillorsWayne N. Fowler, Paul M. Gillespie, Jeff D. Porter et Carl Price
MandateFunctionName(s) [10]
2008 - 2012MayorCharles Eric Stewart
CouncillorsWayne N. Fowler, Paul Malcom Gillespie, Carl R. Price, Scott E. Stewart.

List of successive mayors of Doaktown

Name [11] Mandate
Kenneth J. Robinson1967-1971
E. Clarence Taylor1971-1980
Benson H. Parker1980-1986
Helen M. C. Taylor1986-1988
Benson H. Parker1988-1995
James W. Porter1995-2004
Charles "Sonny" E. Stewart2004–2012
Beverly K. Gaston2012–2018
Jeff Porter2018–present

Notable people

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Census Profile of Doaktown". Statistics Canada. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  2. ↑ William Gagnong (1904). A Monograph of the Origins of the Settlements in New Brunswick. Ottawa: J. Hope. p. 127..
  3. ↑ "Local Governments Establishment Regulation – Local Governance Act". Government of New Brunswick. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "RSC 5 Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "Local Service Districts Regulation - Municipalities Act". Government of New Brunswick. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Proposed entity names reflect strong ties to nature and history" (Press release). Irishtown, New Brunswick: Government of New Brunswick. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I - part 1" (PDF). Government of Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "1981 Census of Canada, census divisions and subdivisions - population, occupied private dwellings, private households and census and economic families in private households : selected social and economic characteristics" (PDF). Government of Canada. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Mayor and Councillors". Village of Doaktown. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Mayor and Councillors". Village of Doaktown. Archived from the original on 2014-05-18.
  11. ↑ "Past: Former Mayors". Village of Doaktown. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
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