Durham Parish, New Brunswick

Durham
Parish
Location within Restigouche County. Heron Island erroneously shown as belonging to this parish.
Coordinates: 47°52′N 66°04′W / 47.86°N 66.07°W / 47.86; -66.07
Country	Canada
Province	New Brunswick
County	Restigouche
Erected	1840
Area [1]
• Land	409.78 km2 (158.22 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	950
• Density	2.3/km2 (6/sq mi)
• Change 2016-2021	11.7%
• Dwellings	563
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (ADT)
Figures do not include portion within the village of Belledune

Durham is a geographic parish in Restigouche County, New Brunswick, Canada.^[4]

For governance purposes it is divided between the town of Heron Bay,^[5] village of Belledune,^[6] the Moose Meadows 4 Indian reserve, and the Restigouche rural district;^[7] the town, village, and rural district are members of the Restigouche Regional Service Commission.^[8]

Prior to the 2023 governance reform, the parish was divided between Belledune, the Indian reserve, and the local service districts of Chaleur and Lorne.^[9] The 2023 reform had no effect on Belledune but the community of Benjamin River on the western parish line was annexed by Heron Bay;^[6] Lorne and the remainder of Chaleur became part of the Restigouche rural district.^[7]

The parish was named in honour of the Earl of Durham,^[10] Governor General of British North America at the time the legislation erecting the parish was passed;^[11] he resigned his post before the Act became effective.

Durham was erected in 1840 from Beresford Parish.^[11] Durham comprised Restigouche County between the eastern county line and a line due south from the mouth of Benjamin River.

In 1881 the county line was altered, removing part of Durham and adding it to Gloucester County.^[12]

Durham Parish is bounded:^{[2][13][14][15]}

• on the north by Chaleur Bay;
• on the east and southeast by the Gloucester County line;
• on the south by Gloucester County and the Northumberland County line;
• on the west by a line running true south from the mouth of Benjamin River;
• including any islands in front except Heron Island.

Communities at least partly within the parish.^[13][14][15] bold indicates an incorporated municipality; italics indicate a name no longer in official use

Bodies of water^[a] at least partly within the parish.^[13][14][15]

Parks, historic sites, and other noteworthy places at least partly within the parish.^{[13][14][15][16]}

• Jacquet River Gorge Protected Natural Area
• Rocky Turn Falls

Parish population total does not include portion in Belledune

Historical Census Data
Durham Parish, NB

Year Pop. ±% 1991 1,618 —     1996 1,622 +0.2%	Year Pop. ±% 2001 1,491 −8.1% 2006 1,303 −12.6%	Year Pop. ±% 2011 1,207 −7.4% 2016 1,076 −10.9%
[22][23]

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Durham Parish, New Brunswick[22]
Census		Total		English				French				English & French				Other
Year		Responses		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %
2011		1,210		905	14.2%	74.79%		265	20.5%	21.90%		35	133.3%	2.89%		5	50.0%	0.41%
2006		1,300		1,055	7.5%	81.15%		220	33.3%	16.92%		15	40.0%	1.15%		10	n/a%	0.77%
2001		1,495		1,140	0.4%	76.25%		330	22.4%	22.07%		25	28.6%	1.67%		0	0.0%	0.00%
1996		1,605		1,145	n/a	71.34%		425	n/a	26.48%		35	n/a	2.18%		0	n/a	0.00%

Highways and numbered routes that run through the parish, including external routes that start or finish at the parish limits:^[24]

• List of parishes in New Brunswick

47°51′36″N 66°04′12″W / 47.86000°N 66.07000°W / 47.86000; -66.07000 (Durham Parish, New Brunswick)