Durham is a geographic parish in Restigouche County, New Brunswick, Canada.

For governance purposes it is divided between the town of Heron Bay, village of Belledune, the Moose Meadows 4 Indian reserve, and the Restigouche rural district; the town, village, and rural district are members of the Restigouche Regional Service Commission.

Prior to the 2023 governance reform, the parish was divided between Belledune, the Indian reserve, and the local service districts of Chaleur and Lorne. The 2023 reform had no effect on Belledune but the community of Benjamin River on the western parish line was annexed by Heron Bay; Lorne and the remainder of Chaleur became part of the Restigouche rural district.

Origin of name

The parish was named in honour of the Earl of Durham, Governor General of British North America at the time the legislation erecting the parish was passed; he resigned his post before the Act became effective.

History

Durham was erected in 1840 from Beresford Parish. Durham comprised Restigouche County between the eastern county line and a line due south from the mouth of Benjamin River.

In 1881 the county line was altered, removing part of Durham and adding it to Gloucester County.

Boundaries

Durham Parish is bounded:

• on the north by Chaleur Bay;
• on the east and southeast by the Gloucester County line;
• on the south by Gloucester County and the Northumberland County line;
• on the west by a line running true south from the mouth of Benjamin River;
• including any islands in front except Heron Island.

Communities

Communities at least partly within the parish. bold indicates an incorporated municipality; italics indicate a name no longer in official use

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.

• Jacquet River Gorge Protected Natural Area
• Rocky Turn Falls

Demographics

Parish population total does not include portion in Belledune

Population

Historical Census Data
Durham Parish, NB

Year Pop. ±% 1991 1,618 —     1996 1,622 +0.2%	Year Pop. ±% 2001 1,491 −8.1% 2006 1,303 −12.6%	Year Pop. ±% 2011 1,207 −7.4% 2016 1,076 −10.9%

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Durham Parish, New Brunswick
Census		Total		English				French				English & French				Other
Year		Responses		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %
2011		1,210		905	14.2%	74.79%		265	20.5%	21.90%		35	133.3%	2.89%		5	50.0%	0.41%
2006		1,300		1,055	7.5%	81.15%		220	33.3%	16.92%		15	40.0%	1.15%		10	n/a%	0.77%
2001		1,495		1,140	0.4%	76.25%		330	22.4%	22.07%		25	28.6%	1.67%		0	0.0%	0.00%
1996		1,605		1,145	n/a	71.34%		425	n/a	26.48%		35	n/a	2.18%		0	n/a	0.00%

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