Madawaska County, New Brunswick

Madawaska
—  County  —
Location of Madawaska County, New Brunswick
Country	Canada
Province	New Brunswick
Established	1873
Area
• Land	3,463.05 km2 (1,337.09 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	33,422
• Density	9.7/km2 (25/sq mi)
• Change 2006-11	1.9%
Time zone	AST (UTC-4)
• Summer (DST)	ADT (UTC-3)
Area code(s)	506
Dwellings	15,888
Median Income*	$42,709
*Median household income, 2005 (all households)

Map of municipal government units in Madawaska County.

Madawaska County (2011 population 33,422), also known as the "New Brunswick Panhandle", is located in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada. Over 90% of the county's population speaks French. Its Francophone population are known as "Brayons." Forestry is the major industry in the county.

History

The first inhabitants of what is now called Madawaska County were the Maliseet or Wolastoqiyik, who occupied and used the land along the St. John River Valley north to the St. Lawrence River and south to the Penobscot River. There is debate concerning the true origin of the word "Madawaska". The earliest European settlers were from Quebec. The area was the focus of the bloodless Aroostook War, a border dispute led by businessman and political activist John Baker.

The earliest settlers of the Upper St. John River Valley can be clearly verified with http://www.upperstjohn.com/visits/Saint-Vallier1686.htm and http://www.upperstjohn.com/1820/madawaska.htm

The second link displays census results taken in 1820 of the Madawaska region where most families had originated from Quebec.

Census subdivisions

Communities

There are ten incorporated municipalities within Madawaska County (listed by 2011 population counts and national census rankings):

Official Name	Status	Area km2	Population	Census Ranking
Edmundston	City	106.92	16,032	254 of 5,008
Saint-André	Rural community	140.68	2,479	1,146 of 5,008
Saint-Léonard	Town	5.20	1,343	1,723 of 5,008
Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska	Village	9.21	1,002	2,068 of 5,008
Clair	Village	10.46	857	2,276 of 5,008
Rivière-Verte	Village	7.00	744	2,476 of 5,008
Lac-Baker	Village	37.12	719	2,531 of 5,008
Baker Brook	Village	12.40	585	2,805 of 5,008
Saint-François-de-Madawaska	Village	6.34	533	2,915 of 5,008
Saint-Hilaire	Village	5.67	145	4,187 of 5,008

Parishes

The county is subdivided into thirteen parishes (listed by 2006 population counts and national census rankings):

Official Name	Status	Area km2	Population	Census Ranking
Saint-Joseph	Parish	321.87	1,696	1,472 of 5,008
Saint-Jacques	Parish	298.82	1,607	1,531 of 5,008
Sainte-Anne	Parish	369.25	1,081	1,942 of 5,008
Saint-Léonard	Parish	343.95	1,039	2,011 of 5,008
Saint-Basile	Parish	129.73	799	2,364 of 5,008
Rivière-Verte	Parish	715.58	791	2,384 of 5,008
Saint-François	Parish	344.70	754	2,458 of 5,008
Lac-Baker	Parish	57.38	566	2,847 of 5,008
Saint-Hilaire	Parish	41.55	531	2,928 of 5,008
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes	Parish	188.63	284	3,729 of 5,008
Clair	Parish	44.29	282	3,737 of 5,008
Baker Brook	Parish	125.69	177	4,103 of 5,008
Madawaska	Parish	173.32	10	4,889 of 5,008

First Nations

There is one First Nations reserve in Madawaska County (listed by 2011 population counts and national census rankings):

Official Name	Status	Area km2	Population	Census Ranking
St. Basile 10	Reserve	3.28	205	3,975 of 5,008

Demographics

Population trend

Census	Population	Change (%)
2011	33,422	1.9%
2006	34,071	4.3%
2001	35,611	3.3%
1996	36,814	0.7%
1991	36,554	N/A

Mother tongue language (2011)

Language	Population	Pct (%)
French only	30,500	93.79%
English only	1,530	4.04%
Non-official languages	180	0.55%
Multiple responses	315	0.97%

See also

• Republic of Madawaska
• Brayon
• List of communities in New Brunswick

External links

• Madawaska County Guide
• http://www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/MADAWAS.htm
• http://www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/Madawas%20Pictures.pdf