Blissfield Parish, New Brunswick Explained

Blissfield is a geographic parish in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada.

For governance purposes it is divided mainly between the village of Doaktown^[2] and the Greater Miramichi rural district,^[3] with small areas along the eastern and western borders belonging to the incorporated rural communities of Miramichi River Valley and Upper Miramichi, respectively. All are members of the Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission.^[4]

Prior to the 2023 governance reform, the parish was divided between a much smaller village of Doaktown^[5] and the local service district of the parish of Blissfield.^[6]

Origin of name

Blissfield was named in honour of John Murray Bliss,^[7] 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.

History

Blissfield was erected in 1830 by the three-way split of Ludlow Parish,^[8] Blissfield in the middle and Blackville to the east.

Boundaries

Blissfield Parish is bounded:^{[9] [10]}

• 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 from the mouth of the Renous River;
• on the east by a line running north and south 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

Evolution of boundaries

When Blissfield was erected the eastern line extended to the Westmorland County line,^[11] 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.^[12]

Communities

Communities at least partly within the parish.^[13] 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^[14] at least partly within the parish.

• 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.

• 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.^[15]

• Big Rocky Brook Protected Natural Area
• Doak House Provincial Park^[16]
• Doaktown Airport
• Dungarvon Whooper Spring Woodlot Protected Natural Area
• McGraw Brook Picnic Site
• Plaster Rock-Renous Wildlife Management Area^[17]

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^{[18] [19] [20]}

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)^[20]

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

References

46.59°N -66.055°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Census Profile . Statistics Canada . 29 October 2022 . 26 October 2022.
2. Web site: Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission: RSC 5 . Government of New Brunswick . 13 February 2023.
3. Web site: Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission: RD 5 . Government of New Brunswick . 13 February 2023.
4. Web site: Regions Regulation – Regional Service Delivery Act . Government of New Brunswick . 13 February 2023 . 21 July 2022.
5. Web site: Municipalities Order - Municipalities Act . Governmentof New Brunswick . 13 February 2023 . 25 June 2021.
6. Web site: Local Service Districts Regulation - Municipalities Act . Government of New Brunswick . 13 February 2023 . 25 June 2021.
7. Book: Ganong . William F. . A Monograph of the Place-Nomenclature of the Province of New Brunswick . 1896 . Royal Society of Canada . 221 . 17 March 2021.
8. Book: Acts of the General Assembly of His Majesty's Province of New Brunswick, Passed in the Year 1830.. 27 March 2021. 1830. Government of New Brunswick. Fredericton. 17–18. 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..
9. Web site: No. 67 . Provincial Archives of New Brunswick . Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development . 18 June 2021. Remainder of parish on maps 68, 76, 77, 85, 86, 96, and 97 at same site.
10. Web site: 215 . Transportation and Infrastructure . Government of New Brunswick . 18 June 2021. Remainder of parish on mapbooks 216, 217, 230–232, 246–248, 262–264, 279–281, and 295–297 at same site.
11. Book: Ganong . William F. . A Monograph of the Evolution of the Boundaries of the Province of New Brunswick . 1901 . Royal Society of Canada . Map No. 39 . 28 March 2021.
12. Book: Acts of the General Assembly of Her Majesty's Province of New Brunswick, Passed in the Year 1845.. 27 March 2021. 1845. Government of New Brunswick. Fredericton. 58. 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..
13. Web site: Search the Canadian Geographical Names Database (CGNDB) . Government of Canada . 5 July 2021.
14. Not including brooks, ponds or coves.
15. Web site: Explore New Brunswick's Protected Natural Areas . GeoNB . 2 July 2021.
16. New Brunswick Regulation 2017-46 under the Parks Act (O.C. 2017-293) . The Royal Gazette . 13 December 2017 . 175 . 1496–1497 . 5 July 2021 . . . 1714-9428.
17. Web site: New Brunswick Regulation 94-43 under the Fish and Wildlife Act (O.C. 94-231) . Government of New Brunswick . 8 July 2021 . 5 June 2006.
18. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
19. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=301&SR=402&S=1&O=A&RPP=100&SRCH=1/ Statistics Canada
20. Web site: Census Profile, 2016 Census Blissfield, Parish [Census subdivision], New Brunswick ]. Statistics Canada . September 26, 2019.