Doaktown, New Brunswick

Doaktown (2016 population: 792[1]) is a Canadian village in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.

Doaktown
Village
Main Southwest Miramichi River in Doaktown (IR Walker 1988)
Seal
Nickname(s):  Heart of the Miramichi River Valley
Doaktown Location of Doaktown, New Brunswick
Coordinates: 46°33′N 66°07′W
Country	Canada
Province	New Brunswick
County	Northumberland
Settled	1807
Incorporated	1966
Government
• Type	Town Council
• Mayor	Jeff Porter
Area [1]
• Land	29.07 km^2 (11.22 sq mi)
Elevation	30 m (100 ft)
Population  (2016)[1]
• Total	792
• Density	27.2/km^2 (70/sq mi)
• Change 2011-16	0.1%
Time zone	UTC-4 (Atlantic)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (Atlantic)
Area code(s)	Area code 506
Dwellings	425
Website	https://www.discoverdoaktown.com/

History

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.

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.

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)[3]
2018 - 2022	Mayor	Jeff Porter
	Councillors	Wayne N. Fowler, Paul M. Gillespie, Carl Price, Arthur O’Donnell

Historical municipal councils

Mandate	Function	Name(s)[4]
2012 - 2016	Mayor	Beverly K. Gaston
	Councillors	Wayne N. Fowler, Paul M. Gillespie, Jeff D. Porter et Carl Price

Mandate	Function	Name(s)[4]
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[5]	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

See also

• List of communities in New Brunswick

References

1. "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Doaktown, Village [Census subdivision], New Brunswick". Statistics Canada. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
2. William Gagnong (1904). A Monograph of the Origins of the Settlements in New Brunswick. Ottawa: J. Hope. p. 127..
3. "Mayor and Councillors". Village of Doaktown. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
4. "Mayor and Councillors". Village of Doaktown. Archived from the original on 2014-05-18.
5. "Past: Former Mayors". Village of Doaktown. Retrieved September 24, 2019.

External links

• Village of Doaktown
• AtlanticSalmon Museum (Miramichi Salmon Museum)
• The Doak Historic Site