Quispamsis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Quispamsis
Town
Quispamsis Town Hall
Flag Seal Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Quispam
Motto(s):  "Quispamsis Floreat"  (Latin) "Quispamsis Flourish"
Quispamsis Location in New Brunswick
Country	Canada
Province	New Brunswick
County	Kings County
Parish	Rothesay Parish
First settled	c. 1783
Incorporated (village)	1966
Incorporated (town)	December 22, 1982
Electoral Districts Federal	Fundy Royal
Provincial	Quispamsis
Government
• Type	Town Council
Area
• Land	56.97 km2 (22.00 sq mi)
Population  (2021)
• Total	18,768
• Density	329.4/km2 (853/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Quispammer, Pammer
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (ADT)
Canadian postal code	E2E, E2G, E2S
Area code(s)	506
Telephone Exchanges	847, 848, 849
NTS Map	021H05
GNBC Code	DAVTW

Quispamsis (pronounced kwi-SPAM-sis), often called Quispam, is a town in New Brunswick, Canada. It's located in Kings County and is part of the larger Saint John area. Quispamsis sits along the Kennebecasis River and borders the town of Rothesay. In 2021, about 18,768 people lived here.

Exploring Quispamsis History

The area where Quispamsis is now was first home to the Maliseet First Nation people. They were part of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The name "Quispamsis" comes from the Maliseet language. It means "little lake in the woods," likely referring to Ritchie Lake, which you can visit today.

Around 1783, people from Acadia, British settlers, and Loyalists (people loyal to Britain during the American Revolution) began to settle here. Many of them received land along the Kennebecasis and Hammond Rivers. Quispamsis officially became a village in 1966. Then, in December 1982, it became a town. At that time, it was the largest village in New Brunswick!

How Quispamsis Grew: Amalgamation

Quispamsis water tower

In the 1990s, the government looked at ways to make local governments stronger. They suggested combining some towns and communities. For the Saint John area, one idea was to merge several communities, including Quispamsis, into one larger town. Another idea was to combine almost all the communities into one big city.

However, many people living in the smaller towns liked their communities just the way they were. They also liked their lower taxes. They worried that joining a bigger city might mean losing control or friendly local services.

In the end, the government decided on a different plan. On January 1, 1998, Quispamsis joined with two nearby communities, Gondola Point and Wells. This created the Quispamsis we know today. The town now covers about 60 square kilometers. It borders Rothesay to the southwest and the Hammond River to the northeast.

Even though Quispamsis and Rothesay are separate towns, they work together a lot. They share services and facilities to help their residents.

Quispamsis Population Facts

In 2021, the population of Quispamsis was 18,768 people. This was a small increase from 2016, when the population was 18,245. The town covers about 56.97 square kilometers of land. This means there are about 329 people living in each square kilometer.

The population of Quispamsis has grown quite a bit over the years:

• 1981: 6,022 people
• 1991: 8,446 people
• 2001: 13,757 people
• 2011: 17,886 people
• 2021: 18,768 people

Most people in Quispamsis are of European background. However, the town is becoming more diverse. Over the years, the number of people from East Asian, Indigenous, African, and South Asian backgrounds has increased.

Fun Parks in Quispamsis

Quispamsis has many great parks for outdoor activities. They are usually open from sunrise to sunset.

• Arts and Culture Park (12 Landing Court) – This park has walking trails, free WiFi, and picnic tables. There's a stage where you can watch outdoor movies and listen to music in the summer. In winter, it's a fun spot for ice skating.
• Hammond River Park (28 Reynar Drive) – This large park covers 40 acres. It has a fire pit, barbecue areas, picnic tables, and hiking trails. There's even a log cabin you can rent!
• Off Leash Park (222 Vincent Road) – This is a special fenced-in area for dogs. Dog owners can let their pets run and play freely here. It also has trails and benches.
• Meenan's Cove Park (199 Model Farm Road) – This park is perfect for a day out. It offers picnic tables, barbecues, a beach, and a boat dock. There's also a playground, a ball field, walking trails, and beach volleyball courts.
• Ritchie Lake Park (Cedar Grove Drive) – This park is located by Ritchie Lake. It has picnic tables, a beach, and walking trails.
• Quispamsis Qplex (20 Randy Jones Way) – The Qplex is a big recreation complex. It includes two soccer fields, a baseball field, tennis courts, an arena, a swimming pool, and a playground. You'll also find many walking trails here.
• Gondola Point Beach – This is a freshwater beach with lifeguards during the summer. It has changing rooms and picnic areas. It's located on a sandbar overlooking the Kennebecasis River. In 2014, a special "dog beach" section was added for furry friends.

Getting Around Quispamsis

The Gondola Point Ferry connects Quispamsis to the Kingston Peninsula. This ferry was first set up by William Pitt and was the world's first underwater cable ferry!

For people who work in Saint John, the COMEX bus service is available. It runs through the Kennebecasis Valley, taking commuters from Quispamsis to Saint John on weekdays. There are "park and ride" spots where you can leave your car and catch the bus.

Schools in Quispamsis

Quispamsis has several schools for students from kindergarten to grade 12:

Famous People from Quispamsis

• Randy Jones – A former professional ice hockey player. He played for eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with teams like the Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets.
• Blaine Higgs – A politician who served as the 34th Premier of New Brunswick.