Elgin, New Brunswick

Elgin is a Canadian rural community in Albert County, New Brunswick.

It is situated in the western part of the county, approximately 14 kilometres south of Petitcodiac on Highway 905.

Elgin's economy is centred on agriculture and forestry, including dairy and beef production, as well as maple sugar and wild blueberry production.

History

The Elgin area was settled by John Geldart in 1811. Upon his arrival on the Pollet River, there were no roads and extremely dense forest.

The community was named after James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin who was the Governor of the United Province of Canada.

In 1874 the Elgin, Petitcodiac and Havelock Railway was incorporated and a branch line was constructed south from the Intercolonial Railway mainline at Petitcodiac to Elgin, along with a branch line north from Petitcodiac to Havelock. The railway was reincorporated as the Elgin and Havelock Railway in 1894. Construction to Elgin was assisted by the community, which borrowed $13,000 (1874 value) from the county as an incentive.

Demographics

These general statistics are the newest ones available from 1996 Elgin ~ New BrunswickPopulation in 1996 1,027 ~ 738,133

Population Break-Down for the Parish of Elgin Total ~ Male ~ FemaleTotal - All persons 1,030 ~ 530 ~ 500

Language(s) first learned and still understood Total ~ Male ~ FemaleTotal - All persons 1,025 ~ 530 ~ 500 English 975 ~ 500 ~ 475 French 20 ~ 10 ~ 5 Both Bilingual 5 ~ 0 ~ 0 Other languages (5) ~ 25 ~ 10

Geography Land area (Km²) 433.44

Industry 1. All Persons in local industries2. Persons in agriculture and other resource-based industries (primary)3. Persons in manufacturing and construction industries (secondary)4. Persons in service industries (tertiary Total ~ Male ~ Female Total - All persons 445 ~ 300 ~ 150 85 ~ 60 ~ 25 95 ~ 85 ~ 10 265 ~ 150 ~ 115