In 1996 Fredericton's population was 46,507, up from 44,352 in 1986. The city has grown significantly in recent decades: Between 1951 and 1981 Fredericton's population grew from 16,018 to 43,723. This growth was due primarily to the annexation of the adjoining communities of Nashwaaksis and Marysville in 1973. It also reflected the expansion in provincial government services in the 1960s and 1970s, which brought more civil servants to Fredericton, and the growth of the educational sector of the economy, as more students enrolled in local universities.
New Brunswick is bilingual—both French and English are official languages and are used in all government functions. The province became officially bilingual in 1969, and its bilingual status became part of the Canadian constitution in 1982. As a result, many French-speaking citizens became civil servants in Fredericton. In 1991 the city's French-speaking residents numbered 1780. As of that year, Fredericton also was home to more than 300 Chinese. In recent years, population growth has slowed as a result of reduced employment in government and education.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Fredericton Information info
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