Southesk is a geographic parish in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada. For governance purposes it is divided between the Indian reserve of Red Bank 4, the incorporated rural community of Miramichi River Valley, and the Greater Miramichi rural district, the last two of which are members of the Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission. Prior to the 2023 governance reform, all of the parish outside the Indian reserve formed the local service district of the parish of South Esk.

Origin of name

The parish takes its name from its position relative to Northesk Parish.

History

Southesk was erected in 1879 from Northesk Parish south of the Northwest Miramichi River and a northwestern line starting at the mouth of the Little Southwest Miramichi River. The Derby Parish boundary was significantly differently than it is today.

Boundaries

Southesk Parish is bounded:

Evolution of boundaries

Southesk has had the same western, northern, and eastern boundaries from its creation; the boundary with Derby was a straight line running a line running south 68º west from modern Wilsons Point. In 1920 the boundary with Derby Parish was changed to run along property and grant lines. The wording was ambiguous enough to require clarification in 1953 and 1954. The 1954 Act also changed the wording of the boundary with Blackville, Blissfield, and Ludlow Parishes to run partly by an astronomic rather than a magnetic bearing.

Communities

Communities at least partly within the parish. bold indicates an Indian reserve

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 Indian reserves

Population

Population trend

Language

Mother tongue language (2006)