Dorchester is a geographic parish in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada.
For governance purposes it is divided between the city of Dieppe, the town of Tantramar, the incorporated rural community of Strait Shores, the Fort Folly 1 Indian reserve, and the Southeast rural district. With exception of the Indian reserve, all are members of the Southeast Regional Service Commission.
Prior to the 2023 governance reform, the parish was divided between the villages of Dorchester and Memramcook; the Indian reserve; and the local service district of the parish of Dorchester, which further included the special services area of Calhoun Road.
Origin of name The parish was named in honour of the Baron of Dorchester, Governor General of British North America at the time and elder brother of Thomas Carleton, Governor of New Brunswick.
Boundary History Dorchester was erected in 1787 from unassigned territory between Moncton and Sackville Parishes. The parish included parts of modern Moncton, Sackville, and Shediac Parishes.
In 1827 the northeastern part of Dorchester was included in the newly erected Shediac Parish.
In 1835 all of Dorchester north of a line due east from the mouth of Fox Creek was transferred to Moncton Parish.
In 1894 northern line was changed to a magnetic bearing running 6° 15' south of due east. The 1894 boundaries were made retroactive to the erection of the parish.
Boundaries Dorchester Parish is bounded: Remainder of parish on maps 132, 133, and 144 at same site. Remainder of parish on mapbooks 360, 380, 381, 400, and 401 at same site.
on the north by a line running south 83º 45' east from the southern side of the mouth of Fox Creek to a point about 5.75 kilometres past the Memramcook River; on the east and southeast by a line running south 11º west about 24 kilometres to a point about 100 metres south of Route 106, on the prolongation of the southeast line of a grant to John Sherwood on Shepody Bay, then running along the prolongation and grant line to strike Shepody Bay at the junction of Ralph Stiles Road and Route 935; on the west by Shepody Bay and the Petitcodiac River.
Communities Communities at least partly within the parish. bold indicates an incorporated municipality or Indian reserve
Calhoun Cherry Burton Dieppe Upper Dover Dorchester Dorchester Cape Fort Folly 1 Middleton Taylor Village Upper Dorchester village of Memramcook Beaumont Belliveau Village Boudreau Village Breau Creek College Bridge Cormier Cove Dover Gautreau Village Gaytons La Hêtrière La Montagne Le Lac Little Dover McGinleys Corner MemramcookThe community of Memramcook is part of the village of Memramcook. Memramcook East Memramcook West Pré-d'en-Haut Saint-Joseph
Bodies of water Bodies of waterNot including brooks, ponds or coves. at least partly within the parish.
Memramcook River Petitcodiac River Belliveau Creek Boudreau Creek Boyd Creek Breau Creek Cormier Cove Creek Downing Creek Grindstone Creek LeBlanc Creek McFarlane Creek Palmers Creek Rockwell Creek Steeves Creek Stony Creek Turner Creek Upper Creek Shepody Bay Folly Lake Memramcook Lake
Other notable places Parks, historic sites, and other noteworthy places at least partly within the parish. Dorchester Penitentiary Johnson's Mills Protected Natural Area Shepody Healing Centre Westmorland Institution
Demographics Parish population total does not include the village of Dorchester, Memramcook, Fort Folly 1, and the portion within Dieppe
Population
Language Mother tongue (2016) Language Population Pct (%) English only 345 81.2% French only 75 17.6% Both English and French 0 0% Other languages 5 1.2%
Access routes Highways and numbered routes that run through the parish, including external routes that start or finish at the parish limits:Atlantic Canada Back Road Atlas
Highways
Principal Routes
Secondary Routes:
External Routes: None
See also List of parishes in New Brunswick
Notes
References