Petitcodiac, sometimes shortened to Petit, is a former village located in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada. The village, named after the Petitcodiac River, held its status until 2023. The river begins in the village at the junction of the North River and Anagance River. The name Petitcodiac is believed to be derived either from a Mi'kmaq word meaning "bends like a bow" or from a Maliseet word meaning "sound of thunder". The village has been known by various names throughout history, including Petcoucoyee (Franquelin, 1686) and Pacoudiac (deCouagne, 1749), with the present spelling being used from the mid 19th century. On 1 January 2023, as part of the 2023 local governance reforms, all or parts of four local service districts were annexed to Petitcodiac to establish a new village named Three Rivers. Despite these changes, the community's name remains in official use.
The community of Petitcodiac, New Brunswick centres around Route 890, Route 885, Route 905, Route 106, and Route 1. The village boasts a regional school, an outdoor swimming pool, an arena, a bowling alley, and several family-owned shops and churches that service the surrounding area. Additionally, there is a Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron. One of the highlights of the community is the Westmorland County Agricultural Fair. Established by William Balzer in 1967, the fair features a horse show, a sheep show, a produce contest, crafts and baked goods, and a beauty pageant.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Petitcodiac had a population of 1,476 living in 609 of its 630 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 6.7% from its 2016 population of 1,383. With a land area of 17.18 km2 (6.63 sq mi), Petitcodiac had a population density of 85.9/km2 (222.5/sq mi) in 2021.
Petitcodiac, New Brunswick is surrounded by several communities. These include Intervale, River Glade, The Glades, Pollett River, Anagance, Hillgrove, and Glenvale. Each of these communities contributes to the rich tapestry of life in and around Petitcodiac.
