Nelson is a geographic parish in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada. For governance purposes it is divided between the city of Miramichi, the village of Nouvelle-Arcadie, the incorporated rural community of Miramichi River Valley, and the Greater Miramichi rural district. All are members of the Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission except Nouvelle-Arcadie, which is part of the Kent RSC. Prior to the 2023 governance reform, the parish was divided between Miramichi and the local service district of the parish of Nelson; an area upstream of O'Toole Crescent was part of the LSD.

Origin of name

The parish was probably named in honour of Admiral Nelson.

History

Nelson was erected in 1814 from Newcastle Parish. Nelson included parts of Chatham and Glenelg Parishes until 1850, most of Derby and parts of Southesk until 1859, and most of Rogersville until 1881.

Boundaries

Nelson Parish is bounded:

Evolution of boundaries

When Nelson was erected it included a strip of Chatham and Glenelg Parishes that ran from the Miramichi River to the modern Kent County line, which included the Douglasfield and Chatham Head areas. The boundary with Northesk Parish was a line running south 68º west from modern Wilsons Point, which cuts repeatedly through the modern line between Derby and Southesk Parishes. In 1850 the boundary with Chatham and Glenelg was moved west to its present position. The Northesk boundary was moved north to a line running west from Wilsons Point by the magnet of 1850. In 1856 the boundary with Northesk Parish was changed back to the pre-1850 line. In 1859 all of Nelson north of the Southwest Miramichi River, along with Beaubears Island, was erected as Derby Parish. In 1881 all of Nelson within seven miles of the Kent County line was erected as Rogersville Parish.

Communities

Communities at least partly within the parish. bold indicates an incorporated municipality; italics indicate a name no longer in official use

Bodies of water

Bodies of water at least partly within the parish.

Islands

Islands at least partly within the parish.

Other notable places

Parks, historic sites, and other noteworthy places at least partly within the parish.

Demographics

Parish population total does not include Renous 12 Indian reserve or portion in Miramichi

Population

Population trend

Language

Mother tongue (2016)