For governance purposes it is divided mainly between the village of
Doaktown[5] and the Greater Miramichi rural district,[6] with small areas along the eastern and western borders belonging to the
incorporated rural communities of
Miramichi River Valley and
Upper Miramichi, respectively.[5] All are members of the Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission.[7]
Blissfield was named in honour of
John Murray Bliss,[10] was Administrator of the province prior to Lieutenant-Governor
Howard Douglas's arrival. Neighbouring
Blackville Parish was named in honour of
William Black, Administrator of the province due to Douglas's absence at the time both parishes were erected.[10]
History
Blissfield was erected in 1830 by the three-way split of
Ludlow Parish,[11] Blissfield in the middle and Blackville to the east.
on the east by a line running north and south[a] from the mouth of Donnelly Brook, which is on the southern bank of the
Southwest Miramichi River west of Upper Blackville Bridge;
In 1845 the Kent County line was changed to run southwesterly instead of southeasterly, now meeting the line between
Queens and
Sunbury Counties. A triangle of wilderness at the southeastern corner was transferred to Kent County.[18]
Communities
Communities at least partly within the parish.[12][13][19]bold indicates an incorporated municipality; italics indicate a name no longer in official use
Parish population total does not include former incorporated village of
Doaktown. Revised census figures based on the 2023 local governance reforms have not been released.
^
abcBy the magnet of 1814,[14] when
declination in the area was between 16º and 17º west of north.[15] The Territorial Division Act clause referring to magnetic direction bearings was omitted in the 1952[16] and 1973 Revised Statutes.[2]
^The Territorial Division Act[2] divides the province into 152 parishes, the cities of
Saint John and
Fredericton, and one town of
Grand Falls. The Interpretation Act[3] clarifies that parishes include any local government within their borders.
^
abcde"No. 67". Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development. Retrieved 18 June 2021. Remainder of parish on maps 68, 76, 77, 85, 86, 96, and 97 at same site.
^
abcde"215"(PDF). Transportation and Infrastructure. Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 18 June 2021. Remainder of parish on mapbooks 216, 217, 230–232, 246–248, 262–264, 279–281, and 295–297 at same site.
^"Chapter 227 Territorial Division Act". The Revised Statutes of New Brunswick 1952 Volume III.
Fredericton: Government of New Brunswick. 1952. pp. 3725–3771.