The People

Nearly all of the people were Canadian-born. About 50 per cent were of British origin, and 35 per cent of French Acadian descent. There are also many Indians. New Brunswick's population is heavily concentrated in the St. John Valley and the coastal lowlands and is about evenly distributed between rural and urban areas.

English is the first language of two-thirds of the population; French, of one-third. Both languages are equal under the constitution. Almost half the population is Roman Catholic; the other major denominations are Baptist, Anglican, and United Church of Canada.

School attendance is free and compulsory in New Brunswick. Although there is no legal provision for parochial schools, Roman Catholic schools are incorporated into the public school system where the population is overwhelmingly of that faith, such as in Edmundston.

The University of New Brunswick at Fredericton began as a small academy of arts in 1785. It received a royal charter in 1819 and was given university status in 1823. Other institutions of higher learning include Mount Allison University at Sackville and the Université de Moncton.