It is named after the Petitcodiac River, which begins in the village at the junction of the North and Anagance rivers. The term is derived from a Mi'kmaq word meaning "bends like a bow".
The village features a regional school, an outdoor swimming pool, an arena, a bowling alley, as well as several family-owned shops and churches servicing the surrounding area. There is also a Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron.
The Westmorland County Fair, established by William Balzer, is an agricultural fair with a horse show, a sheep show, a produce contest, crafts and baked goods, and a beauty pageant. The fair always has a good turnout as it is the event of the summer in Petitcodiac. Every year, the fair closes with a church service.
The school is also for many of the small surrounding areas: Elgin, Havelock, and Riverglade.