Quispamsis, New Brunswick, is a charming suburban town nestled in Kings County, Canada. Part of Saint John's metropolitan area, it shares borders with the town of Rothesay, forming the Kennebecasis Valley. The town is situated along the lower Kennebecasis River and, as of 2021, is home to 18,768 residents.
The region of Quispamsis, New Brunswick, was initially inhabited by the Maliseet First Nation, members of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The name "Quispamsis" is derived from the Maliseet language, signifying "little lake in the woods," possibly referring to the present-day Ritchie Lake. Around 1783, Acadians, British pre-Loyalists, and Loyalists settled in the area, receiving land grants along the Kennebecasis and Hammond Rivers.
The amalgamation of Quispamsis, New Brunswick, occurred on January 1, 1998, when it merged with the nearby communities of Gondola Point and Wells. This formed the present town, covering an area of 60 km² and bordering the town of Rothesay to the southwest with the Hammond River along its northeastern boundary. Despite occasional discussions about further amalgamating Rothesay with Quispamsis, the two municipalities have remained separate, though they collaborate extensively to share services and facilities.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Quispamsis, New Brunswick, had a population of 18,768 living in 6,855 of its 6,985 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 2.9% from its 2016 population of 18,245. With a land area of 56.97 km2 (22.00 sq mi), it had a population density of 329.4/km2 (853.2/sq mi) in 2021.
Quispamsis, New Brunswick, boasts a number of recreational parks that open at dawn and close at dusk. These include the Arts and Culture Park, Hammond River Park, Off Leash Park, Meenan's Cove Park, Ritchie Lake Park, Quispamsis Qplex, and Gondola Point Beach. These parks offer a variety of amenities such as walking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, and even a dog beach.
Quispamsis, New Brunswick, is served by the Gondola Point Ferry, which links the town with the Kingston Peninsula. This ferry, originally installed by William Pitt, is the first underwater cable ferry in the world. The COMEX bus service, run by Saint John Transit, shuttles commuters from Quispamsis to Saint John every day, Mondays to Fridays. There are also several "park and ride" locations for commuters to leave their cars for the day to take the bus into Saint John.
