Moncton

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Moncton

Old Port at Dusk, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Photographic Print
Simanor, Eitan
12 in. x 9 in.
Buy at AllPosters.com
Framed Mounted

Moncton, with a population of 64,128 in 2006, is the second city of New Brunswick. To this may be added several thousands of people living in the suburbs. In 2006, Moncton and its suburbs were estimated to contain about 127,000 people.

Located at the head of navigation on the Petitcodiac River, it was first settled by the French and, after their expulsion, by German and British settlers.

For many years the settlement was known simply as "The Bend" because of its location at the bend in the river. For about 40 years, from 1830 to 1870, it was an important shipbuilding centre with sometimes as many as eight or ten vessels under construction at the same time. The last full rigged ship was built in 1874. "The Bend" became the town of Moncton in 1875 and in 1890 was incorporated as a city.

The focus of the city, however, is not its river-port but its railways. In 1860 it became a way station on the line from Saint John to Shediac and, with the completion of the Intercolonial in 1876, an important junction. It is the headquarters of the Atlantic Region of the Canadian National Railways, including the General Offices and the main repair shops.

Moncton today functions as a transportation node and as a distribution centre. Its retail trade is nearly as great as that of Saint John. Its wholesale business is also considerable. Amongst the manufactures to be found are textiles, biscuits, meat packing, oil refining, wire fences, woodwork and metal products.. The surrounding area is an important agricultural and lumbering region.

Sackville, in thesoutheast, is the seat of Mount Allison University, while in the southwest are found the seaside resort of St. Andrews, and St. Stephen, which, with its American counterpart of Calais, Maine, forms an important international gateway. Grand Manan, Deer and Campobello Islands are large scenic islands in Passamaquoddy Bay, now becoming celebrated as summer resorts.