Kedgwick, a rural community nestled in the northern part of New Brunswick, Canada, is a place of rich history and stunning natural beauty. This Canadian incorporated rural community has grown significantly over the years, with its most recent expansion on 1 January 2023. This expansion saw Kedgwick annex a large area, including the local service districts of St. Jean Baptiste – Menneval and White's Brook, along with parts of two others. The revised census figures following this annexation have yet to be released.
Kedgwick's history is as rich as its landscape. The name Kedgwick is a shortened version of the original Micmac Madawamkedjwik, a name given by the river men. The meaning of the name remains uncertain. On some maps, Kedgwick appears as Grande Fourche, which translates to "Big Fork". However, the older variant of the name has prevailed.
Kedgwick started as a local improvement district, then became an incorporated village. In 2012, it transformed into a rural community when it amalgamated with the surrounding local service district of the parish of Grimmer. Today, forestry is the major industry in the area, contributing significantly to its economy.
Kedgwick is located in the Appalachian Mountains in the western part of the county. It is approximately 75 kilometres southwest of Campbellton and 15 kilometres east of the Restigouche River along Route 17. The community is surrounded by woods, making it a spectacular sight during the Fall season. Every autumn, the population celebrates the changing colors with the "Festival d'Automne" (Fall fest).
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Kedgwick had a population of 1,986 living in 913 of its 951 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 1.1% from its 2016 population of 1,964. With a land area of 649.36 km2 (250.72 sq mi), Kedgwick had a population density of 3.1/km2 (7.9/sq mi) in 2021.
Kedgwick experiences a humid continental climate (Dfb) and once had a subarctic climate (Dfc). Summers consist of warm days and cool nights with about half of all days experiencing rain. Winters are characterized by cold days and frigid nights below zero with extremely heavy annual snowfall averaging 103 inches (261 cm). Kedgwick is one of the coldest and snowiest inhabited places in New Brunswick, making it a winter wonderland for those who enjoy the snow.
