The first settler in the area of what would become Hartland was William Orser (b.1762) and his son William Jr. William traveled there from
New York with his wife and six children. His wife died of an illness and he remarried to a widow, Mary Blake, who also had six children. The pair later conceived an additional six children. The land was settled in 1797, and granted in 1809. The town was named Hartland in 1874, to honour
James R. Hartley, a surveyor and MLA. It is the hometown of two of New Brunswick's
premiers during the 20th century:
Hugh John Flemming and
Richard Hatfield. U.S.
Congressmen Isaac &
Samuel Stephenson and
Prince Edward Island's
Lieutenant-Governor Barbara Oliver Hagerman are also from Hartland. Renowned Canadian poet
Alden Nowlan also lived in the town for several formative years while working for the Hartland Observer newspaper. The town is best known for being the site of the
Hartland Bridge, the longest
covered bridge in the world. Originally opened on July 4, 1901, the 1,282 foot (390.75 m) bridge is a
national historic site. The bridge was covered as part of major repairs in 1921, and the pedestrian walkway added in 1945. Prior to the building of the
Mactaquac Dam, Hartland was also famous for its
salmon pools, located slightly upstream of the Hartland Bridge. Hartland is the headquarters of the North American trucking company Day & Ross, itself a subsidiary of
McCain Foods, as well as home to the
New Brunswick Bible Institute. == Demographics ==