Dalhousie, New Brunswick, is a former town nestled in the northern part of the province. On January 1, 2023, Dalhousie merged with the village of Charlo and five local service districts to form the new town of Heron Bay, or Baie-des-Hérons in French. This new town is the northernmost point of land in New Brunswick.
Dalhousie is the shire town of Restigouche County and has a rich history dating back to European settlement in 1800. The town experienced significant growth after the Great Miramichi Fire in 1825, which led lumbermen to the great pine stands of the Nipisiguit and the Restigouche. The town's economy was primarily driven by lumber and fishing, with agriculture playing a significant role in the early days.
The arrival of the railway following confederation marked a turning point for Dalhousie. The town was bypassed by the Intercolonial Railway due to its steep hills, leading to a surge in its nearby rival, Campbellton. However, Dalhousie's fortunes changed in the late 1920s when it was chosen as the site for a giant paper mill by the International Paper Company. This mill, one of the largest newsprint mills in the world at the time, transformed the town and its economy.
Dalhousie was officially incorporated in 1905 and has been affectionately referred to as "Papertown" in the past. The town is home to a diverse population, including descendants of the original European settlers and the Micmac natives of the Eel River Bar First Nation.
Dalhousie, the most northern point in New Brunswick, is situated in the Restigouche River valley. The town is surrounded by a hilly region, part of the Appalachian mountain range, and is home to many species of wildlife, unique birds, and fish. The area is rich in natural resources.
The town faces Miguasha, Quebec on the Gaspé Peninsula to the north. The city of Campbellton lies 20 km upriver to the west, and the city of Bathurst is approximately 80 km southeast along the shore of Chaleur Bay.
Dalhousie benefits from its geography with a deep sea port that is ice-free year-round. The port, privatised in 2006, includes two cargo facilities and is located adjacent to the now-demolished pulp and paper mill. The town is also served by the New Brunswick East Coast Railway and is located on the Highway 11 arterial highway. Via Rail Canada provides passenger train service three days per week, and the Charlo Airport is located several kilometres east of the town.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Dalhousie had a population of 3,223 living in 1,523 of its 1,678 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 3.1% from its 2016 population of 3,126.
Dalhousie experiences a humid continental climate. Despite its marine position, the town experiences vast differences in temperature between the warm summers and the cold snowy winters, a climate regime typical of New Brunswick.
