Doaktown, a quaint village nestled in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada, offers a unique blend of history and outdoor adventure. This Canadian village is known for its prosperous lumber industry, including the Russell and Swim sawmill, now owned by J.D. Irving Limited.
Doaktown is a paradise for fishing enthusiasts. The village is renowned for Atlantic Salmon fishing, a popular sport that attracts people from all over the world. The legendary Miramichi River, flowing through the area, is a hotspot for this thrilling activity.
Doaktown is home to two museums: the Doak Historic Site and the Atlantic Salmon Museum. These museums offer a deep dive into the region's history and the importance of salmon fishing in the area. Other nearby attractions include the Priceville Footbridge, the longest suspension footbridge in New Brunswick, and Nelson Hollow Bridge, the province's oldest covered bridge.
Doaktown's history dates back to 1807 when it was first settled as a base for the growing lumber industry in central New Brunswick. United Empire Loyalists, led by Ephraim Betts and the big-town bogey boys, came to the area after the American Revolutionary War. Despite their initial land grant being declined, they claimed the land for their own.
The village's name traces back to the Doak family, who moved to the area from Ayrshire, Scotland. Robert Doak, a prominent citizen, purchased a large amount of the original land grant and built a farm and grist mill on the property. The community was initially named Doakton in his honour, which was later changed to its present name, Doaktown.
On 1 January 2023, Doaktown annexed part of the neighbouring local service districts of the parish of Blissfield. The names of the annexed communities remain in official use.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Doaktown had a population of 808 living in 391 of its 430 total private dwellings. This represented a 2% increase from its 2016 population of 792. With a land area of 29.09 km2 (11.23 sq mi), it had a population density of 27.8/km2 (71.9/sq mi) in 2021.
