Edmundston

Largest city in north New Brunswick, Canada, at the confluence of the St John and Madawaska rivers, 185 km/115 mi northwest of Fredricton; population (1996) 10,800. It lies at the neck of a finger of land, Madawaska county, which separates Québec province and Maine, USA. Timber is processed into pulp, and manufactured into paper in Edmundston, or transported to the US by pipeline across the border.

The inhabitants of Edmundston are Acadians, a different Francophone group from those in Québec. The town hosts the annual Foire Brayonne in July, New Brunswick's largest French festival.

In the early 19th century, possession of Edmundston and Madawaska county, was disputed between Québec, Canada, and Maine, USA. The local inhabitants celebrated the confirmation of their Canadian-New Brunswick status in 1842, by declaring their county ‘La République de Madawaska’ (the Republic of Madawaska) and Edmundston, its capital; a self-styled title which remains in common use.