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Campobello Island

Coordinates: 44°53′N 66°56′W / 44.883°N 66.933°W / 44.883; -66.933
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Campobello Island
Île Campobello
Rural community
Head Harbour Lighthouse and station, Passamaquoddy Bay
Head Harbour Lighthouse and station, Passamaquoddy Bay
Campobello Island is located in Canada
Campobello Island
Campobello Island
Location of Campobello Island in Canada
Campobello Island is located in New Brunswick
Campobello Island
Campobello Island
Campobello Island (New Brunswick)
Coordinates: 44°53′N 66°56′W / 44.883°N 66.933°W / 44.883; -66.933
CountryCanada
ProvinceNew Brunswick
CountyCharlotte County
Erected1803
Government
 • MayorHarvey Matthews
 • CouncillorAlex Carroll
 • CouncillorKyle Fletcher
 • CouncillorDianna Parker
Area
[1]
 • Land39.59 km2 (15.29 sq mi)
Highest elevation
90 m (300 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
949
 • Density24/km2 (60/sq mi)
 • Pop 2016-2021
Increase 8.8%
 • Pop 2016-2021 density24/km2 (60/sq mi)
 • Dwellings
612
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (ADT)

Campobello Island (/ˌkæmpəˈbɛloʊ/,[2][3] also US: /-poʊˈ-/)[4] is the largest and only inhabited island in Campobello Parish in southwestern New Brunswick, Canada,[5] near the border with Maine, United States.[6] It is the site of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park, Head Harbour Lighthouse, and of Herring Cove Provincial Park.

It has been an incorporated rural community since 2010 and is a member of the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission (SNBSC).[7] Despite the name, the rural community also includes all other islands in the parish.

The island is part of Charlotte County, which was formed in 1784 when New Brunswick was partitioned from Nova Scotia.[8]

In 1770, the island was granted to Capt. William Owen, who named it in honour of Lord William Campbell,[9] who was governor of Nova Scotia, and noting "Campo Bello" meant "Beautiful Field" in Italian.[10]

History

[edit]
See also: History of New Brunswick
Captain William Owen

The island was originally settled by the Passamaquoddy Nation, who called it Ebaghuit.[citation needed]

The first Europeans were from the French expedition of Pierre Dugua de Mons and Samuel de Champlain, who founded the nearby Saint Croix Island settlement in 1604. France named the island Port aux Coquilles ("Seashell Harbour"). It has been speculated that the fort of Jean Serreau di St Aubin, known to have been built somewhere in the Passamaquoddy Bay but vacated in the years surrounding King William's War and Benjamin Church's 1704 expulsion of the French from the Bay, may have been situated on Campobello Island.[11]

Following the War of the Spanish Succession, under terms of the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), the island became part of the British colony of Nova Scotia. Its first post office opened in 1795.[12]

In 1770, the island was granted to Captain Owen who immediately set to work building a town he dubbed New Warrington (Wilson's Beach, today) but after only a year on the island in June 1771, Owen was recalled to active military service; he never returned to Campobello Island although still advertising for industrious farmers to help settle it before his 1778 death in India.

The population was increased by United Empire Loyalists after the American Revolutionary War. Smuggling was a major part of the island's prosperity around this time, starting as soon as 1807.[13] In later years, it was remarked that merchant ships secretly putting ashore at Eastport, Maine would report in ledgers that they travelled to "Sweden" once or twice a day with their wares.[13] The first major smuggling trial in the Bay of Fundy convicted Gillam Butler, of Campobello Island in 1796 of illegally importing US whale oil under the pretense it was harvested in New Brunswick.[14]

During the War of 1812 the Royal Navy seized coastal lands of Maine as far south as the Penobscot River but returned them following the war, except for offshore islands. Capt. Owen wrote to the Prince Regent, noting that if the Crown insisted on ordering Campobello residents to perform military drills on the mainland as he had cautioned against, the Crown may find Campobello fighting against it,[15] and stating "the Crown alone, without our consent, has no right to tax us.".[15]

In 1817, the United States relinquished its claim to Campobello, Deer, and Grand Manan islands, in exchange for islands in Cobscook Bay. The provincial government of New Brunswick funded the construction of Head Harbour Lighthouse, or East Quoddy Head Light, in 1829; this light station would be a counterpart to West Quoddy Head Light which the United States built in the previous decades. As of 1842, Thomas Wyer was one of three commissioners of the lighthouses on Machias Seal Island, Campobello and at Saint Andrews.[16]

1837 advertisement by WFW Owen, seeking tenants for the island

In 1835, the illegitimate son of Captain Owen, Vice-Admiral William Fitzwilliam Owen, became sole proprieter of the island and took great interest in his advanced years in building the island community but struggled with an "addiction" to local women.[10][17]

In 1866, a band of more than 700 members of the Fenian Brotherhood arrived at the Maine shore opposite the island with the intention of seizing Campobello[18] but were dispersed by British warships from Halifax.[19]

British naval officer John James Robinson became owner of the island in 1857 by virtue of having married Owen's daughter.[20] In 1881, it was sold to a group of American businessmen, including James Roosevelt. In the 1880s, the island was developed as a resort summer colony for wealthy Canadians and Americans, as was nearby St. Andrews, New Brunswick and Bar Harbor, Maine. A luxurious resort hotel and many grand estates were built.[21] From 1883, the Roosevelt family made Campobello Island their summer home.

By the mid-1800s, Campobello Island had a population in excess of 1,000, which grew to 1,230 by 1910.

Geography

[edit]

The island is at the entrance to Passamaquoddy Bay, adjacent to the entrance to Cobscook Bay, and within the Bay of Fundy. The island is one of the Fundy Islands. The island has no road connection to the rest of Canada; it is connected by the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bridge to nearby Lubec, Maine. Reaching mainland Canada by car without crossing an international border is possible only during the summer season and requires two separate ferry trips, first to nearby Deer Island, then to L'Etete.[22]

The ferry to Deer Island was stopped in 2017 after the boat sank, leaving the island without a direct connection to the rest of Canada.[23] Service was restored and became year-round due to the COVID pandemic.[24]

The jurisdiction of the eponymous rural community and of the census division include Head Harbour Island.

Measuring 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) long and about five kilometres (3.1 mi) wide, it has an area of 39.6 square kilometres (15.3 sq mi). On the north is a high bluff headland, East Quoddy Point.[25] On the west are Charley Point and the Mulholland Point navigation light.[25]

Economy

[edit]
Campobello fisherman in 1973

The island has several good harbours,[26] and the majority of residents are employed in the fishing, aquaculture or tourism industries.

The two major tourist attractions on the island are Herring Cove Provincial Park and Roosevelt Campobello International Park. The latter was created in 1964 and was officially opened by U.S. President Lyndon Johnson and Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson in 1966.

Infrastructure

[edit]
Franklin D. Roosevelt on Campobello, 1933

The island's only highway, Route 774, is connected by the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bridge to Lubec, Maine – the easternmost town in the continental United States. The only transportation link with the rest of Canada is a seasonal ferry service to Deer Island.[27]

United States Customs and Border Protection service began searching packages to the island, originating in Canada, in 2019, prompting outcry.[28][29][30]

In late 2020, residents renewed their demands for the Canadian government to build a bridge to the New Brunswick mainland given the current ferry cannot operate in winter (three other New Brunswick islands do benefit from year-round ferry services). Driving to mainland Canada requires travel into Maine via the bridge, which proved difficult during the restrictions imposed on both sides of the border during the COVID-19 pandemic in North America. The border closure meant driving to and from the island was prohibited, except for essential purposes.[31]

The government agreed to pay for an extension of the ferry service until 10 January 2021, however, winter weather after this was too dangerous. Member of Parliament John Williamson said "I think we’re in a position that some infrastructure dollars could be made available once the province has a plan and proposal ready to submit".[32][30]

The island has one school, Campobello Island Consolidated School, for all school grades, in the Anglophone South School District.

Communities

[edit]

Communities within the rural community:[33][34][35]

Bodies of water

[edit]

Bodies of water[a] at least partly within the rural community:[33][34][35]

  • Friars Bay
  • Lake Glensevern
  • Harbour de Lute
  • Head Harbour
  • Head Harbour Passage
  • Lubec Channel
  • Lubec Narrows
  • Mill Cove Creek
  • Mill Stream
  • Quoddy Narrows
  • Passamaquoddy Bay

Other islands

[edit]

Other named islands within the rural community:[33][34][35]

  • Duck Islands
  • Duck Rock
  • Head Harbour Island
  • Little Island
  • Sugar Loaf Rock

Conservation areas

[edit]

Conservation areas at least partly within the rural community:[33][34][35]

Demographics

[edit]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Campobello Island had a population of 949 living in 423 of its 612 total private dwellings, a change of 8.8% from its 2016 population of 872. With a land area of 39.59 km2 (15.29 sq mi), it had a population density of 24.0/km2 (62.1/sq mi) in 2021.[37]

Canada census – Campobello Island community profile
202120162011
Population949 (+8.8% from 2016)872 (-5.7% from 2011)925 (-12.4% from 2006)
Land area39.59 km2 (15.29 sq mi)39.67 km2 (15.32 sq mi)39.67 km2 (15.32 sq mi)
Population density24/km2 (62/sq mi)22.0/km2 (57/sq mi)23.3/km2 (60/sq mi)
Median age50.8 (M: 48.0, F: 52.0)48.4 (M: 48.2, F: 48.4)46.0 (M: 46.1, F: 45.9)
Private dwellings612 (total)  423 (occupied)616 (total)  641 (total) 
Median household income$66,000$52,139
References: 2021[38] 2016[39] 2011[40]
Historical census data
Campobello Parish, NB
YearPop.±%
1991 1,317—    
1996 1,305−0.9%
2001 1,195−8.4%
YearPop.±%
2006 1,056−11.6%
2011 925−12.4%
2016 872−5.7%
YearPop.±%
2021 949+8.8%
[41][42]

Language

[edit]
Canada census mother tongue - Campobello Parish, New Brunswick[41]
Census Total
English
French
English & French
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2011
895
 885 Decrease 10.2% 98.88% 5 Decrease 83.3% 0.56% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 5 Decrease 75.0% 0.56%
2006
1,035
 985 Decrease 15.4% 95.17% 30 Increase n/a% 2.90% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 20 Increase n/a% 1.93%
2001
1,165
 1,165 Decrease 9.0% 100.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00%
1996
1,280
 1,280 n/a 100.00% 0 n/a 0.00% 0 n/a 0.00% 0 n/a 0.00%

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Not including brooks, ponds or coves.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Campobello Island, Rural community (RCR) [Census subdivision], New Brunswick". www12.statcan.gc.ca.
  2. ^ "Campobello Island". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Campobello". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Campobello". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  5. ^ "New Brunswick Regulation 84-168 under the Municipalities Act (O.C. 84-582)". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  6. ^ Community Profile: Campobello Parish, Charlotte County, New Brunswick Archived 19 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine; Statistics Canada.
  7. ^ "Communities in each of the 12 Regional Service Commissions (RSC) / Les communautés dans chacune des 12 Commissions de services régionaux (CSR)" (PDF), Government of New Brunswick, July 2017, retrieved 1 February 2021
  8. ^ Slumkoski, Corey (2005). "The Partition of Nova Scotia". The Winslow Papers. Electronic text centre (UNB Libraries). Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  9. ^ Ganong, William F. (1896). A Monograph of the Place-Nomenclature of the Province of New Brunswick. Royal Society of Canada. p. 224. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  10. ^ a b https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/owen_william_4E.html
  11. ^ Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, 1883, https://archive.org/details/proceedingstrans2121roya/page/n415/mode/2up?q=%22deer+island%22
  12. ^ Wells, Kate Gannett. s:Campobello, An Historical Sketch
  13. ^ a b https://www.saltscapes.com/roots-folks/2105-bluebloods-black-market.html
  14. ^ Craven, Paul. "Petty Justice: Low Law and the Sessions System in Charlotte County"
  15. ^ a b Wells, Kate Gannett. s:Acadiensis/Volume 1/Number 1/David Owen of Campobello, N. B., 1901
  16. ^ https://ia804501.us.archive.org/8/items/cihm_38425/cihm_38425.pdf
  17. ^ https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/owen_william_fitz_william_8E.html
  18. ^ Jennifer Crump (26 July 2010). Canada Under Attack. Dundurn. p. 133. ISBN 9781459704879.
  19. ^ Buescher, John. "What Happened to the Fenians After 1866?" Teachinghistory.org, accessed 8 October 2011
  20. ^ Lorimer, John G. "History of Islands and Islets in the Bay of Fundy, Charlotte County, New Brunswick", Archive.org copy, 1876
  21. ^ Erika J. Waters (2010). Kittery to Bar Harbor: Touring Coastal Maine. Arcadia Publishing. p. 119. ISBN 9780738572819.
  22. ^ Paul Karr (18 March 2005). Frommer'sMaine Coast. John Wiley & Sons. p. 248. ISBN 9780764595974.
  23. ^ O'Connor, Joe (23 January 2018). "The island Canada forgot: On Campobello, citizens are left exiles in their own land". Financial Post. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  24. ^ Sutherland, Marie (16 December 2021). "Campobello ferry to run all winter amid worsening COVID situation". CBC News. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  25. ^ a b U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (1879). Atlantic Local Coast Pilot: Sub-division 1: Passamaquoddy Bay to Schoodic. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 15.
  26. ^ Richardson Clover (1891). Sailing Directions for Nova Scotia, Bay of Fundy, and South Shore of Gulf of St. Lawrence. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 29.
  27. ^ David Goss (2002). St. George and Its Neighbours. Arcadia Publishing. p. 91. ISBN 9780738511498.
  28. ^ "Canadian islanders angry over US mail searches". BBC. December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  29. ^ "On quiet Campobello Island, Canadians angered by US inspection of their mail". Boston Globe. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Cut off by geography and COVID-19, this Canadian island is calling out for a link to the rest of Canada — to no avail". Toronto Star. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  31. ^ "Canada extends restrictions on U.S. travellers until January 21". Toronto Star. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021. The historic border closure between Canada and the U.S. will extend into the new year.
  32. ^ "Campobello ferry service extended to January". CBC News. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021. The ferry, privately owned ... typically runs from late June to September. It connects Campobello Island to Deer Island, where people can take a year-round ferry to mainland New Brunswick.
  33. ^ a b c d "No. 166". Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development. Retrieved 5 July 2021. Remainder of parish on maps 108, 117, 118, 129, and 130 at same site.
  34. ^ a b c d "501" (PDF). Transportation and Infrastructure. Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 5 July 2021. Remainder of parish on mapbook 503 at same site.
  35. ^ a b c d "Search the Canadian Geographical Names Database (CGNDB)". Government of Canada. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  36. ^ "New Brunswick Regulation 2017-46 under the Parks Act (O.C. 2017-293)" (PDF). The Royal Gazette. 175. Fredericton: Queen's Printer: 1496–1497. 13 December 2017. ISSN 1714-9428. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  37. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), New Brunswick". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  38. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  39. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  40. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  41. ^ a b Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  42. ^ "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Campobello Island, Rural community [Census subdivision]". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
[edit]
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