Doaktown

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

Doaktown
Village
Main Southwest Miramichi River in Doaktown (IR Walker 1988)
Main Southwest Miramichi River in Doaktown (IR Walker 1988)
Official seal of Doaktown
Seal
Nickname: 
Heart of the Miramichi River Valley
Doaktown is located in New Brunswick
Doaktown
Doaktown
Location of Doaktown, New Brunswick
Coordinates: 46°33′N 66°07′W
CountryCanada
ProvinceNew Brunswick
CountyNorthumberland
Settled1807
Incorporated1966
Government
 • TypeVillage 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
Increase 2.0%
Time zoneUTC-4 (Atlantic)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (Atlantic)
Area codeArea code 506
Dwellings430
Websitehttps://www.discoverdoaktown.com/

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
See also: History of New Brunswick and List of historic places in Northumberland County, New Brunswick

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 2% from its 2016 population of 792. With a land area of 29.09 km2 (11.23 sq mi), it had a population density of 27.8/km2 (71.9/sq mi) in 2021.[1]

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

Mandate Function Name(s)[9]
2018 - 2022 Mayor Jeff Porter
Councillors Wayne N. Fowler, Paul M. Gillespie, Carl Price, Arthur O’Donnell

Historical municipal councils

Mandate Function Name(s)[10]
2012 - 2016 Mayor Beverly K. Gaston
Councillors Wayne N. Fowler, Paul M. Gillespie, Jeff D. Porter et Carl Price
Mandate Function Name(s)[10]
2008 - 2012 Mayor Charles Eric Stewart
Councillors Wayne N. Fowler, Paul Malcom Gillespie, Carl R. Price, Scott E. Stewart.

List of successive mayors of Doaktown

Name[11] Mandate
Kenneth J. Robinson 1967-1971
E. Clarence Taylor 1971-1980
Benson H. Parker 1980-1986
Helen M. C. Taylor 1986-1988
Benson H. Parker 1988-1995
James W. Porter 1995-2004
Charles "Sonny" E. Stewart 2004–2012
Beverly K. Gaston 2012–2018
Jeff Porter 2018–present

Notable people
Main article: List of people from Northumberland County, New Brunswick

See also

References
  1. "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. "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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