Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick

Petit-Rocher
Community (Dissolved village)
Petit-Rocher welcome sign, 2002
Motto: 
Ascencio Populi

Petit-Rocher
Location within New Brunswick.
Coordinates: 47°47′36″N 65°42′58″W / 47.79333°N 65.71611°W / 47.79333; -65.71611
CountryCanada
ProvinceNew Brunswick
CountyGloucester
ParishBeresford
Founded1797
Village1966
Dissolved2023
Area
 • Total
4.52 km2 (1.75 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
1,954
 • Density432.2/km2 (1,119/sq mi)
 • Change (2016–21)
0.1%
 • Dwellings
963
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (ADT)
Postal code
Area code506
Highways Route 11
Route 134
Route 315
Petit-Rocher Lighthouse
Constructed1929 
Constructionmetal 
Height7 m (23 ft) 
Shapesquare prism skeletal tower[2][3][4]
Markingsgrey metallic tower
Power sourcesolar power 
OperatorCanadian Coast Guard 
Focal height7.6 m (25 ft) 
Range15 nmi (28 km; 17 mi) 
CharacteristicL Fl W 6s 
Original light
Constructed1879 
Constructionlumber 
Height9.5 m (31 ft) 
Shapetruncated square pyramid 
Markingswhite 
Deactivated1929 
Focal height10.6 m (35 ft) 

Petit-Rocher (French pronunciation: [pəti ʁɔʃe]) was a Village in Gloucester County, New Brunswick. It was dissolved 2023, when it amalgamated with surrounding municipalities to form the New Town of Belle-Baie. It’s name remains for adddress purposes only.

The community sits on the western shore of both Chaleur Bay and Nepisiguit Bay 20 km northwest of Bathurst. The former local service districts of Petit-Rocher-Nord (Devereaux) and Petit-Rocher-Sud had bordered the village on the north and south, respectively.

History

The village was founded in 1797 by Acadian settlers. The name literally means "little rock", and is pronounced by most anglophones in the region as Petty Roche. The name of the village is reputed to derive from the fact that the village's founders disembarked on a small rock. The village was named Little Roche from 1850 to 1854, then Madisco until 1870, and then Petit Rocher. The hyphenated form Petit-Rocher was adopted in 2009. Some old maps have the name Petite Roche (1812) and Sainte Roque or Little Russia (1827).[5]

On January 1, 2023, Petit-Rocher amalgamated with Beresford, Nigadoo, Pointe-Verte and all or part of ten local service districts to form the new town of Belle-Baie.[6][7] The community's name remains only for address purposes.[8]

Demographics

Historical Census Data - Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick[9]
YearPop.±%
1991 1,988—    
1996 2,078+4.5%
2001 1,966−5.4%
2006 1,949−0.9%
2011 1,908−2.1%
2016 1,897−0.6%
2021 1,954+3.0%
Source: [1]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Petit-Rocher had a population of 1,954 living in 890 of its 963 total private dwellings, a change of 3% from its 2016 population of 1,897. With a land area of 4.52 km2 (1.75 sq mi), it had a population density of 432.3/km2 (1,119.7/sq mi) in 2021.[1]


Canada census – Petit-Rocher community profile
20212011
Population1,954 (+3.0% from 2016)1,908 (-2.1% from 2006)
Land area4.52 km2 (1.75 sq mi)4.49 km2 (1.73 sq mi)
Population density432.2/km2 (1,119/sq mi)425.2/km2 (1,101/sq mi)
Median age56 (M: 55.2, F: 56.8)51.3 (M: 49.9, F: 52.2)
Private dwellings890 (total)  938 (total) 
Median household income$55,666
References: 2021[10] 2011[11]

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick[9]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2021
1,885
1,690 0.05% 89.65% 145 26.08% 7.69% 35 75.0% 1.85% 20 0.0% 1.06%
2016
1,885
1,700 2.85% 90.18% 115 15.00% 6.10% 20 1.06% 1.33% 20 0.0% 1.06%
2011
1,875
1,750 4.4% 93.33% 100 42.9% 5.33% 25 25.0% 1.33% 0 0.0% 0.00%
2006
1,920
1,830 1.9% 95.31% 70 44.0% 3.65% 20 0.0% 1.04% 0 0.0% 0.00%
2001
1,940
1,795 8.2% 92.53% 125 38.9% 6.44% 20 100.0% 1.03% 0 100.0% 0.00%
1996
2,065
1,955 n/a 94.67% 90 n/a 4.36% 10 n/a 0.48% 10 n/a 0.48%

Transportation

The Petit Rocher station is served by The Ocean train of VIA Rail. There are three trains per week in each direction. The Flag stop station is located 1 kilometre west of the village. The old station was demolished in 1990, but replaced in 2010 with a replica of the old station master's residence.

Tourism

In 2012 and 2013, Petit-Rocher was host to the CCBHA's annual ball hockey tournament with a team from nearby Dundee taking home the Allen, Paquet & Arseneau cup as champions for both tournaments.[12]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Census Profile of Petit-Rocher". Statistics Canada. December 6, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  2. ^ List of Lights, Pub. 110: Greenland, The East Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. Except the East Coast of Florida) and the West Indies (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2015.
  3. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Canada: Northern New Brunswick". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  4. ^ Petit Rocher Light Lighthouse Explorer. Retrieved 26 March 2017
  5. ^ Alan Rayburn, Geographical Names of New Brunswick, Énergie, Mines et Ressources Canada, Ottawa, 1975, p. 215.
  6. ^ "Local Governments Establishment Regulation – Local Governance Act". Government of New Brunswick. October 12, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "RSC 3 Chaleur Regional Service Commission". Government of New Brunswick. January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "Proposed entity names reflect strong ties to nature and history" (Press release). Irishtown, New Brunswick: Government of New Brunswick. May 25, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  10. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  12. ^ "Home - Campbellton-Chaleur Ball Hockey".


47°47′2.1″N 65°42′57.3″W / 47.783917°N 65.715917°W / 47.783917; -65.715917 (Petit-Rocher)