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Miramichi ( 2001 population 18,508) is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it flows into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The city was formed in 1995, when five smaller town governments (Newcastle, Chatham, Douglastown, Loggieville and Nelson) merged with several other rural communities to form a so-called "megacity".
The two largest towns, Newcastle and Chatham, are located on opposite sides of the river approximately 10 km apart. Newcastle was first settled by the Scottish in the late 18th century, and originally called Miramichi before it changed its name because the early settlers often spelled it incorrectly. The town was based on forestry, and at the edge of town is a large pulp and paper mill owned by UPM-Kymmene.
Chatham was settled by the British and Irish and billed itself as Canada's Irish Capital for many years. St. Thomas University was located in Chatham until it moved to Fredericton, and the Royal Canadian Air Force had a base in Chatham between 1940Events January-February January 5 FM radio is demonstrated to the FCC for the first time. January 6 World War II: Mass execution of Poles, committed by Germans in the Poznan, Warthegau. January 12 World War II: Russia bombs cities in Finland. February 2 F and 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan. Part of the former base is now used as a retirement community.