Beresford, New Brunswick

For the geographic parish, former local service district, and rural census subdivision, see Beresford Parish, New Brunswick.

Beresford was a town from 1984 to 2023 but was dissolved in 2023 as a result of amalgamation to form the new town of Belle-Baie. The name Beresford is retained for addresses purposes.^[2]

Beresford
Dissolved Town
Town of Beresford
Seal
Motto:  "Simul Crescere"
Beresford Location within New Brunswick.
Coordinates: 47.695°N 65.701666°W / 47.695; -65.701666
Country	Canada
Province	New Brunswick
County	Gloucester
Parish	Beresford
Founded	1814
Incorporated	1967
Town	1984
Dissolved	January 1, 2023
Electoral Districts    Federal	Acadie—Bathurst
Provincial	Nigadoo-Chaleur
Area [1]
• Land	19.24 km2 (7.43 sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Highest elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	4,294
• Density	223.2/km2 (578/sq mi)
• Pop 2016-2021	0.1%
• Dwellings	2,225
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (ADT)
Postal code	E8K
Area code	506
Highways Route 11	Route 134
Website	www.beresford.ca

History

On January 1, 2023, Beresford amalgamated with three villages, seven local service districts (LSDs) and parts of three other LSDs to form the new town of Belle-Baie.^[3][4]

Geography

It is on the shore of Nepisiguit Bay, part of Chaleur Bay immediately north of the city of Bathurst.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Beresford had a population of 4,294 living in 2,013 of its 2,225 total private dwellings, a change of 0.1% from its 2016 population of 4,288. With a land area of 19.24 km² (7.43 sq mi), it had a population density of 223.2/km² (578.0/sq mi) in 2021.^[5]

Canada census – Beresford community profile

	2021	2016	2011
Population	4,294 (+0.1% from 2016)	4,288 (-1.4% from 2011)	4,351 (+2.0% from 2006)
Land area	19.24 km2 (7.43 sq mi)	19.41 km2 (7.49 sq mi)	19.20 km2 (7.41 sq mi)
Population density	223.2/km2 (578/sq mi)	220.9/km2 (572/sq mi)	226.6/km2 (587/sq mi)
Median age	54.4 (M: 54.0, F: 54.4)	50.2 (M: 50.1, F: 50.4)	46.5 (M: 46.7, F: 46.4)
Private dwellings	2,225 (total)  2,013 (occupied)	2,150 (total)	2,067 (total)
Median household income	$66,500	$59,136	$55,118

References: 2021^[6] 2016^[7] 2011^[8]

Historical Census Data - Beresford, New Brunswick^[9][10][11]

Year Pop. ±% 1991 3,836 —     1996 4,641 +21.0% 2001 4,414 −4.9%	Year Pop. ±% 2001A 4,439 +0.6% 2006 4,264 −3.9% 2011 4,351 +2.0%	Year Pop. ±% 2016 4,288 −1.4%
(A) adjustment due to boundary change

79% of the former town's residents are francophone.

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Beresford, New Brunswick[9]
Census		Total		French				English				French & English				Other
Year		Responses		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %
2021		4,275		3,410	2.29%	79.77%		680	0%	15.91%		135	107.69%	3.16%		50	42.86%	1.17%
2016		4,275		3,490	2.65%	81.64%		680	0%	15.91%		65	44.4%	1.52%		35	133.33%	0.80%
2011		4,325		3,585	0.3%	82.89%		680	20.4%	15.72%		45	50.0%	1.04%		15	70.0%	0.35%
2006		4,240		3,595	0.6%	84.79%		565	29.4%	13.32%		30	100.0%	0.71%		50	233.3%	1.18%
2001		4,405		3,575	6.4%	81.16%		800	2.6%	18.16%		15	78.6%	0.34%		15	66.7%	0.34%
1996		4,715		3,820	n/a	81.02%		780	n/a	16.54%		70	n/a	1.48%		45	n/a	0.95%

Attractions

One of Beresford's main attractions is its beach. Renovated in the late 1990s, the beach features an observation tower overlooking the marshes, a boardwalk and change room, restroom and shower facilities. A popular tourist attraction, it is not rare to find local musicians featuring their talents at the beach on warm summer nights.

Every year a carnival called "Carnaval du Siffleux" is held in Beresford. Sculptures made of snow collected by ploughing parking lots are presented all around town. This is one of the many activities available to Beresford residents during this carnival. However, in recent years, fewer sculptures have been seen around the time of the festival.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Gloucester County, New Brunswick

• Ray Frenette - Former Premier of New Brunswick.

See also

• List of communities in New Brunswick