This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(February 2024) |
Sussexis a town inKings County,New Brunswick,Canada. Sussex is located in south central New Brunswick, between the province's three largest cities, Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton.
Sussex | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Downtown Sussex | |
| Nickname(s): Cow Town, Dairy Town | |
| Motto(s): Gateway to the Fundy Experience, Mural Capital of Atlantic Canada | |
  Sussex  Sussex | |
| Coordinates:45°43′25″N65°30′37″W/ 45.72361°N 65.51028°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | New Brunswick |
| County | Kings County |
| Parish | Sussex Parish |
| Incorporated | June 2, 1904 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| • Mayor | Marc Thorne |
| • Deputy Mayor | Tim Wilson |
| • Councillors | Paul Maguire Doug Bobbitt Fred Brenan Eric Nelson Graham Milner Catherine MacLeod |
| Area | |
| • Land | 8.90 km2(3.44 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 18 to 124 m (59 to 406.8 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 4,440 |
| • Density | 498.9/km2(1,292/sq mi) |
| • Change(2016–21) |  3.7% |
| Time zone | UTC−04:00(AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−03:00(ADT) |
| Canadian Postal code | E4E |
| Area code | 506 |
| Telephone Exchange | 432, 433, 434, 435, 512, 944 |
| NTSMap | 21H12Sussex |
| GNBCCode | DASFF |
| Website | http://www.sussex.ca |
Sussex straddles theKennebecasis River,70 km (43 mi) northeast ofSaint John,and is a major dairy product producer in the province. It is home to Atlantic Canada's largesthot air balloon festival.
On 1 January 2023, Sussex amalgamated with the village ofSussex Cornerand part of thelocal service districtofthe parish of Sussex.[2][3]Revised census figures have not been released, although combining the 2016 census numbers[4]the total population would be approximately 5,900.[citation needed]
History
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 1,398 | — |
| 1911 | 1,906 | +36.3% |
| 1921 | 2,198 | +15.3% |
| 1931 | 2,252 | +2.5% |
| 1941 | 3,027 | +34.4% |
| 1951 | 3,224 | +6.5% |
| 1961 | 3,457 | +7.2% |
| 1981 | 3,972 | +14.9% |
| 1986 | 4,114 | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 4,132 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 4,293 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 4,182 | −2.6% |
| 2006 | 4,241 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 4,312 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 4,282 | −0.7% |
| 2021 | 4,440 | +3.7% |
| [1] | ||
In 1857, theEuropean and North American Railwaywas opened, connecting the farming communities of theKennebecasis Rivervalley with Saint John and Moncton. Sussex was incorporated in accordance with Chapter 44 of the Town Incorporation Act of 1896 and was officially established as a Town on June 2, 1904. Prior to its incorporation, the area was known as Sussex Vale from 1810 – 1898 and was a farming community of 185 people.This grew to include the surrounding area of Lower Sussex.
Thesettlerswere for the most partBritishLoyalistswho had fled theAmerican Revolutionin 1776, with manyIrishrefugees of theGreat Faminefrom the mid-19th century settling in the nearby farming communities.
In 1885, theSussex Military Campwas established on the eastern edge of the town. The facility was closed following theSecond World Warand the town purchased the land to expand the municipal boundaries. Today the agricultural exhibition and some areas remain as open land on the former site of Camp Sussex.[1]
Sussex underwent several changes in the post-war period. In the early 1960s, several local roads were upgraded as part of theTrans-Canada Highwayproject which sawRoute 2pass immediately north of the town betweenFrederictonandMoncton.At the same time, a series of local roads in the Kennebecasis River valley were designated asRoute 1,running from an interchange with the Trans-Canada at Sussex, southwest toSaint John.
The creation of Sussex as a highway interchange in this post-war period led to some transportation planners in New Brunswick calling for the consolidation or closure of theFredericton,Saint JohnandMonctonairports to be replaced by a single airport located in Sussex to serve all three population centres of southern New Brunswick; this was before the facilities underwent considerable expansion in the late 1950s to early 1960s.
Potashwas subsequently discovered in large quantities in the area surrounding Sussex, with the deposit being the second largest in the world after an area inSaskatchewan.Three mines were built near the town, two atPenobsquis,8 km (5.0 mi) to the east, and another atCassidy Lake(no longer operational), 10 km (6.2 mi) to the southwest.CN Railbuilt track to serve both mines, which employed hundreds from the surrounding area. Since 2003, natural gas has been produced from the McCully field near Sussex.[5]Price decreases of the potash market combined with underground structural issues caused thePotash Corporation of Saskatchewanto close its Picadilly mining operation in January 2016,[6]and then its Penobsquis mine in November 2018.[7]
Sussex also began to see a growing tourism trade, with many flocking to see the collection of wood-constructedcovered bridgesthroughout the central area of Kings County.
Today, Sussex is primarily a regional service centre for the surrounding agricultural communities of the upper Kennebecasis River valley, as well as a highway service centre on Route 1, the primary highway between Moncton and Saint John, as well as being the most heavily travelled route in the Maritimes to theUnited States.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIvisited the town as part of herGolden Jubileetour of Canada. On October 12, 2002, she attended the opening of a new wing of Sussex Elementary School, unveiling a commemorative plaque at the event. She then visitedPrincess Louise Parkfor an agricultural exhibition. While there, it was announced that the community hall would be renamed Jubilee Hall in her honour. Both appearances drew thousands of visitors from Sussex and beyond.[8]
Amalgamation
editOn January 1, 2023, Sussex and the village of Sussex Corner wereamalgamated.The village of Sussex Corner was incorporated into the Town of Sussex.[9]
Economy
editThe town is home toSussex Golden Ginger Ale,a Maritime beverage.[10]
The town entered economic difficulty during the late 1990s after the Cassidy Lake potash mine flooded, resulting in hundreds of lay-offs. Another significant blow came in October 2002 with a realignment of the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 2) between Fredericton and Moncton which no longer passed through Sussex, instead carrying the province's east–west interprovincial traffic 30 km (19 mi) north of the town. At the same time, Route 1 was extended east on the old Trans-Canada alignment to an interchange atRiver GladenearThree RiversandRoute 10was extended on the old Trans-Canada from an interchange with the new Route 2 alignment atYoung's Cove Roadsouth to Sussex.
In 2022, there were rumours that the regionalpotash minesmight reopen, due to a substantial rise in the market price of the commodity; however,Nutriendeclined to do so.[11]
Media
editKings County Recordhas been in existence since 1887. It is a weekly paper which serves Sussex and the surrounding areas. The paper is published on Tuesdays.[12]
The town plays host to a handful of radio stations:
- CJCW AM 590,local radio station
- CITA 107.3 FM,aMonctonChristian radio stationrebroadcaster
- CBC Radio One 106.7 FM
Tourism
edit- As the heart of Kings County with its 16covered bridges,Sussex is known as the Covered Bridge Capital of Atlantic Canada. Eight of these wooden structures are within a ten-minute drive of town hall.
- 26 murals were created during the summers of 2006 and 2007, establishing its reputation as the Mural Capital of Atlantic Canada.Muralsexist as an outdoor art gallery in which the town provides a free digital tour guide.
- An international hot air balloon festival is held every September, and Canada's largest outdoorflea marketeach August.
- An agricultural fair takes place every fall at the Agricultural Museum of New Brunswick. The first fair was held in 1841.[13]
- Sussex is home to the Sussex Drive-In, a single screendrive-in theatre,which has been in operation since 1967.[14]The Sussex Drive-In has a 24m high screen and 300 car capacity. It is opened seasonally in the summer.
- Southern New Brunswick's onlyalpine skihill,Poley Mountain,in the Caledonia Highlands is located southeast of the town.
Atlantic International Balloon Fiesta
edit
The largest hot air balloon festival in Atlantic Canada is held each summer in Sussex. On the weekend after Labour Day, Sussex hosts up to 50,000 - 80,000[15]visitors who come to watch 40 hot air balloons. Along with the twice-daily flights, the event includes a giant craft fair, a free outdoor concert and an amusement park. the festival has been held since 1985.
Princess Louise Park Show Centre
editThe Princess Louise Park Show Centre is Eastern Canada's premier Agricultural Exhibition Centre. Located in Sussex, this facility is the host of many shows that include equine, dogs, livestock, sales and exhibitions as well as 4H and youth group activities. Princess Louise Park Show Centre is a board owned and operated exhibition ground that was founded in 1985. It hosts shows attracting people from all over the county, province, and country. It doubles as a storage facility for RVs and trailers during the winter months. The centre has five barns with stalls, three riding rings, and electrical and sewage hookups.[16]
Agricultural Museum of New Brunswick
editSussex has been home to the Agricultural Museum of New Brunswick since 1983. The museum was opened by community members and it is now maintained by a board of volunteers. The land that the museum is situated on once belonged to the8th Hussars.The museum is closed every year from October to May.[2]
Education
editPrimary and Secondary Education
editTheAnglophone South School Districtmanages 4 public schools within the town:
- Sussex Elementary School
- Sussex Corner Elementary School
- Sussex Middle School
- Sussex Regional High School
Sussex also has one private school for students from Junior Kindergarten through to Grade 12:
Higher Education
editSussex is also home toKingswood University(formerly Bethany Bible College). Kingswood University is anaccreditedChristian university, it is the only college in Canada which is owned by theWesleyan Church.
Demographics
editIn the2021 Census of Populationconducted byStatistics Canada,Sussex had a population of4,440living in2,065of its2,219total private dwellings, a change of3.7% from its 2016 population of4,282.With a land area of 8.9 km2(3.4 sq mi), it had a population density of498.9/km2(1,292.1/sq mi) in 2021.[1]
Most people in Sussex have someScottish,French,English,orIrishancestry. There are smaller groups ofGermanandDutchlineage. The town is almost universallyanglophone,being in the heart of English-speaking southern New Brunswick.[citation needed]
Climate
edit| Climate data for Sussex, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1897–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.3 (63.1) |
16.1 (61.0) |
24.5 (76.1) |
29.4 (84.9) |
35.0 (95.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
35.6 (96.1) |
37.2 (99.0) |
33.3 (91.9) |
29.4 (84.9) |
23.3 (73.9) |
18.0 (64.4) |
37.2 (99.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.9 (26.8) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
3.4 (38.1) |
10.0 (50.0) |
17.2 (63.0) |
22.3 (72.1) |
25.3 (77.5) |
25.0 (77.0) |
20.2 (68.4) |
13.5 (56.3) |
6.8 (44.2) |
0.5 (32.9) |
11.7 (53.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −8.5 (16.7) |
−6.8 (19.8) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
4.8 (40.6) |
11.1 (52.0) |
16.0 (60.8) |
19.2 (66.6) |
18.8 (65.8) |
14.3 (57.7) |
8.1 (46.6) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
6.1 (43.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −14.0 (6.8) |
−12.5 (9.5) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
4.9 (40.8) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.1 (55.6) |
12.6 (54.7) |
8.3 (46.9) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −44.4 (−47.9) |
−38.9 (−38.0) |
−35.6 (−32.1) |
−22.2 (−8.0) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−25.0 (−13.0) |
−37.2 (−35.0) |
−44.4 (−47.9) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 108.8 (4.28) |
85.0 (3.35) |
114.7 (4.52) |
89.7 (3.53) |
103.0 (4.06) |
88.4 (3.48) |
84.0 (3.31) |
74.3 (2.93) |
99.9 (3.93) |
106.5 (4.19) |
110.0 (4.33) |
105.6 (4.16) |
1,169.9 (46.06) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 44.3 (1.74) |
38.7 (1.52) |
64.9 (2.56) |
69.4 (2.73) |
100.3 (3.95) |
88.4 (3.48) |
84.0 (3.31) |
74.3 (2.93) |
99.9 (3.93) |
106.3 (4.19) |
95.1 (3.74) |
60.3 (2.37) |
926.1 (36.46) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 64.5 (25.4) |
46.3 (18.2) |
49.7 (19.6) |
20.3 (8.0) |
2.7 (1.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.1) |
14.8 (5.8) |
45.3 (17.8) |
243.8 (96.0) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 11.4 | 9.9 | 11.9 | 12.7 | 13.8 | 12.8 | 11.0 | 10.3 | 10.7 | 12.9 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 144.1 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 4.4 | 4.8 | 7.0 | 10.4 | 13.7 | 12.8 | 11.0 | 10.3 | 10.7 | 12.9 | 12.4 | 7.0 | 117.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 8.4 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 3.4 | 0.40 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.08 | 3.0 | 6.8 | 35.2 |
| Source:Environment Canada[17][18][19][20] | |||||||||||||
Notable people
edit- Julian Austin,country music artist
- Mike Eagles,NHL hockey player, 1983-2000
- Christian Meier,cyclist
- William Pugsley,lawyer and 11th Premier of New Brunswick
- Melanie Robillard,curling World Champion2010
- Tim Steeves,comedian, 1964-2022
- Ellen Watters,cyclist, 1988-2016. In 2017, community members created Ellen's Tour de Sussex, an annualgran fondoin memory of Watters.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcd"Census Profile of Sussex, Town (TV)".Statistics Canada.December 6, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 21,2023.
- ^ab"Local Governments Establishment Regulation – Local Governance Act".Government of New Brunswick.October 12, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 21,2023.
- ^"RSC 8 - Regional Service Commission 8".Government of New Brunswick.January 31, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 21,2023.
- ^Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (February 9, 2022)."Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Sussex, Town (TV) [Census subdivision], New Brunswick".www12.statcan.gc.ca.RetrievedFebruary 15,2024.
- ^Corridor Resources Inc.,McCully Field,Accessed 11-Aug-2010.
- ^"PotashCorp mine closure 'unexpected,' says industry reporter".CBC News.January 20, 2016.
- ^"PotashCorp to close Penobsquis mine at end of November".CBC News.October 29, 2018.RetrievedNovember 11,2018.
- ^Government of New Brunswick.IGA
- ^"- Local Governments Establishment".laws.gnb.ca.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
- ^"HistoricPlaces.ca - HistoricPlaces.ca".www.historicplaces.ca.RetrievedFebruary 20,2024.
- ^Brown, Laura (April 27, 2022)."Could the shuttered N.B. potash mine reopen? Premier says yes, company says no".
- ^"Kings County Record | New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project".newspapers.lib.unb.ca.RetrievedFebruary 20,2024.
- ^"The Agricultural Fair".Sussex, New Brunswick.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
- ^"Sussex Drive-In".tourismnewbrunswick.ca.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
- ^"Atlantic Balloon Fiesta marks its 36th year".Atlantic.September 9, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 15,2024.
- ^"Home | PLP Show Centre".PLP Show Centre.RetrievedDecember 5,2017.
- ^"Sussex, new Brunswick".Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010.Environment Canada.September 25, 2013.RetrievedJune 10,2015.
- ^"Daily Data Report for December 2008".Canadian Climate Data.Environment Canada.October 31, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^"Daily Data Report for February 2016".Canadian Climate Data.Environment Canada.October 31, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^"Daily Data Report for January 2018".Canadian Climate Data.Environment Canada.September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
External links
edit