Hillsborough, New Brunswick

Hillsborough is a village in Albert County in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It has a population of 1,292 (as of 2006). The village is situated on a hill overlooking the Petitcodiac River.

History

Originally established around 1700 as "Blanchard's Village" by Acadian farmers, they lived here for sixty years, building dykes that are still in use. Before the Great Expulsion of the Acadians in 1755, the area was almost 100% French. Now, few Acadians live there, though there are several Acadian settlements on the opposite bank of the Petitcodiac River, such as Pre d'en Haut, New Brunswick.

On September 4th, 1755 the Battle of Petitcodiac was fought near Hillsborough. After the capture of Fort Beausejour during the Seven Years War, in an attempt to gain control over the region, the British sent a punitive expedition consisting of two companies of British colonial troops into the Petitcodiac River Valley to destroy the Acadian settlements located there. While the main body finished their operation on the eastern bank, a detachment was despatched to the western bank. When the detachment under Major Frye approached Blanchard's Village, located near where Hillsborough now stands, it encountered a French forces under command of Captain Charles Deschamps de Boishebert and was driven off with heavy losses. The site is marked by a National Historic Sites and Monument plaque.

Economy

Following the Expulsion, Hillsborough was established as an English speaking community founded first on farming, and later gypsum mining and related processing, and shipbuilding. The village's economy today is primarily based on tourism, although forest products, agriculture and the service industry contribute significantly to the local economy.

It is home to the Hillsborough Elementary School and Caledonia Regional High School. Hillsborough is also home to the Albert County Chamber of Commerce and the historic Salem and Hillsborough Railroad and the William Henry Steeves Museum.