Dorchester is a geographic parish in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada.

For governance purposes it is divided between the city of Dieppe, the town of Tantramar, the incorporated rural community of Strait Shores, the Fort Folly 1 Indian reserve, and the Southeast rural district. With exception of the Indian reserve, all are members of the Southeast Regional Service Commission.

Prior to the 2023 governance reform, the parish was divided between the villages of Dorchester and Memramcook; the Indian reserve; and the local service district of the parish of Dorchester, which further included the special services area of Calhoun Road.

Origin of name

The parish was named in honour of the Baron of Dorchester, Governor General of British North America at the time and elder brother of Thomas Carleton, Governor of New Brunswick.

Boundary History

Dorchester was erected in 1787 from unassigned territory between Moncton and Sackville Parishes. The parish included parts of modern Moncton, Sackville, and Shediac Parishes.

In 1827 the northeastern part of Dorchester was included in the newly erected Shediac Parish.

In 1835 all of Dorchester north of a line due east from the mouth of Fox Creek was transferred to Moncton Parish.

In 1894 northern line was changed to a magnetic bearing running 6° 15' south of due east. The 1894 boundaries were made retroactive to the erection of the parish.

Boundaries

Dorchester Parish is bounded:

• on the north by a line running south 83º 45' east from the southern side of the mouth of Fox Creek to a point about 5.75 kilometres past the Memramcook River;
• on the east and southeast by a line running south 11º west about 24 kilometres to a point about 100 metres south of Route 106, on the prolongation of the southeast line of a grant to John Sherwood on Shepody Bay, then running along the prolongation and grant line to strike Shepody Bay at the junction of Ralph Stiles Road and Route 935;
• on the west by Shepody Bay and the Petitcodiac River.

Communities

Communities at least partly within the parish. bold indicates an incorporated municipality or Indian reserve

Bodies of water

Bodies of water at least partly within the parish.

Other notable places

Parks, historic sites, and other noteworthy places at least partly within the parish.

• Dorchester Penitentiary
• Johnson's Mills Protected Natural Area
• Shepody Healing Centre
• Westmorland Institution

Demographics

Parish population total does not include the village of Dorchester, Memramcook, Fort Folly 1, and the portion within Dieppe

Access routes

Highways and numbered routes that run through the parish, including external routes that start or finish at the parish limits:

See also

• List of parishes in New Brunswick