Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is an urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada.
Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the
Situated on the north bank of the Miramichi River, the former town is sometimes referred to as Miramichi West.
Being a former
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c2/Miramichi_Map.jpg/300px-Miramichi_Map.jpg)
History
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1871 | 1,500 | — |
1901 | 2,507 | +67.1% |
1911 | 2,945 | +17.5% |
1921 | 3,507 | +19.1% |
1931 | 3,383 | −3.5% |
1941 | 3,781 | +11.8% |
1951 | 4,248 | +12.4% |
1961 | 5,236 | +23.3% |
1981 | 6,284 | +20.0% |
1986 | 5,804 | −7.6% |
1991 | 5,711 | −1.6% |
Newcastle was first settled by Scottish settlers, led by William Davidson (lumberman) in the late 18th century, and was originally called Miramichi. Early settlers changed the name due to pronunciation and spelling troubles.
Throughout its history, the town's economy was largely based on the forest industry. A shipbuilding industry developed in the area during the late 18th century, largely to facilitate overseas lumber exports, including masts for the British Navy. The 1825 Miramichi fire, the advent of steel-hulled ships, and perhaps the overcutting of White Pine, contributed to a long-term decline in the town's economy. Pulp and paper production eventually replaced lumber exports as the mainstay of the town's economy. Newcastle remained the industrial heart of the Miramichi valley, its large pulp and paper mill employing hundreds.
While many of the early settlers were employed in the forest industry, others participated in the salmon fishery. As transportation improved and the commercial fishery waned, a valuable sports fishery developed, attracting "sports" initially from adjacent New England, and subsequently from all parts of the world.
The 1952 discovery of base metal deposits and the development of Heath Steele Mines, 60 km northwest of Newcastle, allowed the economy to diversify and strengthen through the 1960s. The mine closed in 1999 as metal prices declined and the ore bodies were depleted.
Notable people
The famous British newspaper owner and Minister of Aircraft Production during World War II, Max Aitken (
Newcastle is also the hometown of David Adams Richards, one of Canada's pre-eminent authors. He has been recognised via many awards, including two Governor General's Awards.
External links
Miramichi History at the Wayback Machine (archived 2018-09-06)