Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick

Petit-Rocher was founded in 1797 by Acadian settlers. The name refers to a small rocky outcrop along the shoreline and is of French origin. During the 19th century, the settlement appeared under several names, including Little Roche and Madisco, before Petit Rocher became the standard form. The hyphenated spelling Petit-Rocher was officially adopted in 2009. As part of New Brunswick’s local governance reform, Petit-Rocher amalgamated with Beresford, Nigadoo, Pointe-Verte, and surrounding local service districts to form the town of Belle-Baie on January 1, 2023. == Demographics ==

In the 2021 Canadian census, Petit-Rocher recorded a population of 1,954 residents living in 890 of its 963 private dwellings, representing a slight increase from the 2016 census. With a land area of 4.52 km², the population density was 432.2 people per square kilometre. French is the predominant mother tongue in the community , reflecting its Acadian cultural heritage. AS of the last census in 2021, 89% of the population mother tongue is French, 8% mother tongue is English and 3% is both English and French. == Transportation ==

Petit-Rocher is served by the Ocean passenger train operated by VIA Rail, which runs between Montreal and Halifax. The station operates as a flag stop and is located west of the community. A replica station building was constructed in 2010 following the demolition of the original station in 1990. == Tourism ==

Petit-Rocher has hosted regional sporting and cultural events, including tournaments organized by the Campbellton–Chaleur Ball Hockey Association during the early 2010s. == See also ==