# Saint George Parish, New Brunswick

Saint George is a geographic parish in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada, located between St. Stephen and Saint John.
For governance purposes, the southern part of the parish is part of the incorporated rural community of Eastern Charlotte, while the north and the Red Rock Road area are part of the Southwest rural district, both of which are members of the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission.
Prior to the 2023 governance reform, it comprised one town and two local service districts (LSDs), all of which were members of the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission (SNBSC).
The Census subdivision of the same name includes all of the parish except St. George.

## Origin of name

Historian William Francis Ganong believed the name suggested by other Saint names in the area.
Five of the original six mainland parishes of Charlotte County used names of major saints recognised by the Church of England: Andrew (Scotland), David (Wales), George (England), Patrick (Ireland), and Stephen.

## History

Saint George was erected in 1786 as one of the original parishes of Charlotte County.

## Boundaries

Saint George Parish is bounded:
* on the north by the York County line;
* on the east by a line beginning on the prolongation of the eastern line of grants crossing Lake Utopia then running southerly along the prolongation and the grants to the Letang River, then down the river and through Letang Harbour, passing east of Hills Island, to the Bay of Fundy;
* on the south by the Bay of Fundy, the Letete Passage, and Passamaquoddy Bay;
* on the west by a line beginning near the western end of Shore Road on the prolongation of the western line of a tier of grants along the Magaguadavic River, then running north along the western line of the tier and its prolongation to York County.

### Evolution of boundaries

The southern line of the Cape Ann Association grant in Saint David Parish was prolonged eastward to the Saint John County to provide the northern line of all parishes in the eastern part of Charlotte County; in Saint George's case the line cut through McDougall Lake. The western line of the parish was the same; the eastern line ran along the eastern side of the Letang River, Letang Harbour, putting all the islands in them in Saint George; the southern boundary extended to include all islands within 2 miles (3.2 km) of the coast, including islands that are now part of West Isles Parish. The eastern line diverted around a grant on the Letang River that's mostly in Pennfield Parish along Route 785.
In 1814 the parish was extended north to the county line.
In 1850 the eastern line was extended south to the Letang River, taking part of Pennfield Parish; the Letang boundary was reworded, implying that the western shore was the new boundary of Saint George.
In 1877 the water boundaries of Saint George were altered and clarified, now running through the channel of Letang River and Harbour, then west through Letete Passage, transferring several islands to West Isles Parish.

## Former governance units
### Municipality

St. George is located at the bend of the Magaguadavic River south of Route 1.

### Local service districts

Both LSDs assessed for the basic LSD services of fire protection, police services, land use planning, emergency measures, and dog control.

#### Saint George Parish

The local service district of the parish of Saint George originally included all of the parish outside St. George.
The LSD was established in 1970 to assess for fire protection. First aid & ambulance services were added in 1975 and community services to the Bonny River-Second Falls service area in 1991.
In 2022, the LSD assessed for only basic services. The taxing authorities were 515.00 Saint George and 515.01 Bonny River-Second Falls.

##### Bonny River-Second Falls

Bonny River-Second Falls took in an area west of the Magaguadavic River from the parish line south almost to the Old St. Andrews Road and grants east of the river from the Red Rock Road to The Canal. It formerly had enhanced services and was sometimes inaccurately described as an LSD in its own right.

#### Fundy Bay

Fundy Bay comprised the mainland south of Route 1 and St. George.
The LSD was established in 1978 to add recreational facilities.
In 2022, the LSD additionally assessed for community & recreation services. The taxing authority was 525.00 Fundy Bay.

## Communities

Communities at least partly within the parish. bold indicates an incorporated municipality; italics indicate a name no longer in official use
* Back Bay
* Bonny River
* Breadalbane
* Caithness
* Canal
* Elmcroft
* Greens Point
* Lee Settlement
* Letang
* Letete
* Mascarene
* Pomeroy
* St. George
* Second Falls
* Upper Letang
* Utopia

## Bodies of water

Bodies of water at least partly within the parish.
* Bonny River
* Letang River
* Magaguadavic River
* Lake Stream
* Linton Stream
* Piskahegan Stream
* Red Rock Stream
* Trout Lake Stream
* Addies Creek
* Lelands Creek
* McDougall Outlet
* The Canal
* Hinds Bay
* Lime Kiln Bay
* Passamaquoddy Bay
* Scotch Bay
* Bliss Harbour
* Letang Harbour
* Magaguadavic Basin
* Letete Passage
* Lake Utopia
* more than a dozen other officially named lakes

## Islands

Islands at least partly within the parish.
* Bar Island
* Big Island
* Bliss Island
* Cailiff Island (also called Frye's Island)
* Cannonball Island
* Cooks Island
* Crow Island
* Douglas Island
* Eagle Island
* Flea Island
* Fox Island
* Grassy Islands
* Hills Island
* Hog Island
* Howards Island
* Hoyt Island
* Hoyt Nub
* Jail Island
* Long Island
* Man of War Island
* McGraws Island
* Mink Island
* Morans Island
* Park Islands
* Spruce Island
* Thumb Island
* Tub Island
* Turnover Island
* Vernon Island

## Other notable places

Parks, historic sites, and other noteworthy places at least partly within the parish.
* Magaguadavic Protected Natural Area
* Utopia Game Refuge

## Demographics

Parish population total does not include incorporated town of St. George

### Population

| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1991 | 2,207 | — |
| 1996 | 2,357 | +6.8% |
| 2001 | 2,350 | −0.3% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 2006 | 2,476 | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 2,472 | −0.2% |
| 2016 | 2,341 | −5.3% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 2021 | 2,495 | +6.6% |

### Language

Canada Census mother tongue - Saint George Parish, New Brunswick :
| Census | Total | English | English | English | French | French | French | English & French | English & French | English & French | Other | Other | Other |
| Year | Responses | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % |
| 2011 | 2,470 | 2,390 | 0.2% | 96.76% | 30 | 14.3% | 1.21% | 10 | n/a% | 0.40% | 40 | 12.5% | 1.62% |
| 2006 | 2,465 | 2,395 | 3.1% | 97.16% | 35 | 71.4% | 1.42% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.00% | 35 | 71.4% | 1.42% |
| 2001 | 2,340 | 2,320 | 1.1% | 99.15% | 10 | 33.3% | 0.43% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.00% | 10 | 75.0% | 0.43% |
| 1996 | 2,350 | 2,295 | n/a | 97.66% | 15 | n/a | 0.64% | 0 | n/a | 0.00% | 40 | n/a | 1.70% |

## Access routes

Highways and numbered routes that run through the parish, including external routes that start or finish at the parish limits: