Rexton | |
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Motto(s): | |
Location of Rexton in New Brunswick | |
Coordinates: 46°38′00″N64°52′00″W / 46.633333°N 64.866667°W | |
Country | Canada |
Province | New Brunswick |
County | Kent County |
Municipality | Five Rivers |
Founded | 1825 by John Jardine |
Incorporated | November 9, 1966 |
Area | |
• Land | 6.29 km2 (2.43 sq mi) |
Population (2021) [1] | |
• Total | 874 |
• Density | 138.9/km2 (360/sq mi) |
• Change (2016–21) | 5.3% |
Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) |
Canadian Postal code | E4W |
Area code | 506 |
Website | www.villageofrexton.com |
Rexton is a former village in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. It was a village in its own right until the end of 2022 and is now part of the village of Five Rivers.
Situated on the Richibucto River, the village was originally inhabited by Mi'kmaq First Nations, many of whose descendants still reside in the nearby Elsipogtog First Nation, formerly referred to as the Big Cove Band. Acadian settlers colonized the general area in the 18th century, in places such as Bouctouche, Miramichi and Richibucto Village.
The first English-speaking settler was Thomas Powel who arrived in 1790. There was considerable colonization by English shipbuilders, Scottish merchants and Irish immigrants followed, including many Irish Protestants who arrived to work in the Jardine Shipbuilding Yards around the year 1819. They eventually cleared enough land to receive land grants following the 1820s survey by a Mr. Layton conducted around the Molus River area of nearby Weldford Parish, New Brunswick and the size of Elsipogtog First Nation was reduced to the current boundaries.
Two ships brought the majority of the settlers here from Scotland, one being the Dickies, captained by Simon Graham, and the other was the Isabella, sailed by Captain Thomas Carruthers.
Fishing, lumbering and shipbuilding flourished throughout the 19th century. The first bridge over the Richibucto River was completed there in 1850, improving commerce and communications in the region.
The settlement was known from about 1825 as Kingston, but in 1901, the name was changed to Rexton. This was probably to avoid confusion with other Kingstons, particularly Kingston, Kings County, New Brunswick, which still carries the name.
On 1 January 2023, Rexton annexed parts of five local service districts to form the new village of Five Rivers. [2] [3] The community's name remains in official use. [4]
Rexton (Kingston at the time) was the birthplace of Bonar Law, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1922–1923. Until the election of Boris Johnson in 2019, who was born in New York City, Bonar Law was the only British Prime Minister to be born outside the British Isles. His name is honoured at a recently upgraded community attraction, Bonar Law Common, and also at Bonar Law Memorial High School in Rexton. His father Rev. James Law was the Minister for St. Andrew's Church in Rexton for many years. William John Bowser, Premier of British Columbia (1915–1916), was born in Rexton. Former Premier of New Brunswick, Shawn Graham, was raised in Rexton.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Rexton had a population of 874 living in 396 of its 446 total private dwellings, a change of 5.3% from its 2016 population of 830. With a land area of 6.29 km2 (2.43 sq mi), it had a population density of 139.0/km2 (359.9/sq mi) in 2021. [1]
Census | Population | Change (%) |
---|---|---|
2016 | 830 | 1.5% |
2011 | 818 | 5.1% |
2006 | 862 | 6.4% |
2001 | 810 | 10.8% |
1996 | 908 | 3.4% |
1991 | 940 | 1.5% |
1986 | 926 | 0.2% |
1981 | 928 | N/A |
Religious make-up (2001)
| Income (2006)
| Mother tongue language (2011) [7]
|
Kent County is located in east-central New Brunswick, Canada. The county features a unique blend of cultures including Mi'kmaq, Acadian, and English. Some larger tourist attractions include the dune de Bouctouche, Kouchibouguac National Park, and Bonar Law Commons.
The Elsipogtog First Nation, formerly called the Big Cove Band, is a Miꞌkmaq First Nations band government in New Brunswick, Canada. The First Nation's territory comprises Richibucto Reserve #15, lying 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) southwest of Five Rivers, New Brunswick on the Richibucto River off of Route 116. It also comprises Soegao Reserve #35, lying 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of Moncton, New Brunswick. As of April 2023, the registered Elsipogtog population is 3,574, with 2,736 living on reservations and 798 living off reservations.
Hampton is a town in Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada.
Richibucto is a geographic parish in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada.
Balmoral is a former village in Restigouche County, New Brunswick, Canada. It held village status prior to 2023 and is now part of the village of Bois-Joli. It is approximately 10 kilometres south of Dalhousie. Balmoral also contains the neighbourhoods of Blair Athol, Saint-Maure, Selwood, and Upper Balmoral.
Nigadoo is a community and former village in Gloucester County, New Brunswick. It held village status prior to 2023 and is now part of the town of Belle-Baie. Nigadoo is located at the mouth of the Nigadoo River on Nepisiguit Bay, 15 km northwest of Bathurst and adjacent to Beresford.
Plaster Rock is a former village in Victoria County, New Brunswick. It is now part of the village of Tobique Valley.
Stanley is a former village in York County, in the Canadian province of New Brunswick; it was an incorporated village until the end of 2022 and is now part of the rural community of Nashwaak.
Saint-Louis-de-Kent is a former village in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. It held village status prior to 2023 and is now part of the town of Beaurivage.
for the community named Molus River, see Molus River
The Richibucto River is a river in eastern New Brunswick, Canada which empties into the Northumberland Strait north of Richibucto. It is 80 kilometres long.
Molus River is a settlement in Weldford Parish, New Brunswick on Route 116 on the Molus River.
Weldford is a geographic parish in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada.
Grand-Bouctouche is a Canadian town in Kent County, New Brunswick.
Oromocto is a Canadian town in Sunbury County, New Brunswick.
Richibucto is a former town in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. It held town status prior to 2023 and is now part of the town of Beaurivage.
Bonar Law Memorial School (BLMS) provides service to grade 9–12 students in Five Rivers, New Brunswick. BLMS serves approximately 400 students from Five Rivers and the surrounding communities. The cultural make-up of the school is varied and includes representation from the local English and Acadian populations. By far the single largest population, however, is First Nation, with representation from Elsipogtog, Indian Island and Bouctouche Federal Reserves. The indigenous students comprise approximately 52% of the total population.
Five Rivers is a village in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It was formed through the 2023 New Brunswick local governance reforms. It encompasses the former village of Rexton.