The town of Hampton is
nestled on the Lower Saint John River System, 30 km northeast of the City of
Saint John, Canada's first and New Brunswick's largest city. Hampton is a
small, friendly community with many points of interest and beautiful natural
scenery. The rolling hills, water ways, world renowned marsh area, farmland and
wildlife will reward you with a visual feast.
The Town of
Hampton, as Shiretown of Kings County, has a rich heritage and culture. It
boasts such historical buildings as the Court House, Kings County Gaol, Saint
Paul's Church and Loyalist Burial Ground and many Heritage Homes.
The Kings County
Museum, located in the Centennial Building, is operated by the Kings County
Historical and Archival Society. It is open to the public and houses an
extensive collection of artifacts related to past life in Kings County and
elsewhere. Main exhibits are located in the Centennial Building, with further
displays in the Gaol next door. The Museum also provides genealogy services for
residents and visitors.
Late in 1966, with the approach
of the Centennial Year, an agreement was made between the Kings County
Historical Society, the Municipality of Kings County, and the New Brunswick
Centennial Administration to have space for a Museum in the new County
Centennial Building in Hampton. Keys for this facility were given to the
Society on September 21, 1966. The official opening of our Museum was held on
June 1, 1968.
This part of the Museum consists of four
rooms. The main display area has a collection of beautiful crystal, pictures,
furniture, guns, a 150-piece bell collection, a broad assortment of textiles
ranging from clothing to quilts, and many other items. Two of the Museum's
greatest treasures are the "Confederation Conference Quilt" made from the
cuttings of dresses worn by the ladies to the balls and galas of the
Confederation Conference in 1964 at Charlottetown, P.E.I., and a print dress
worn by an 8-year-old girl who came to Kings County as a Loyalist over 200
years ago.
There are three other rooms including the vault where
historical records, over 80 partial genealogies, community histories and other
valuable artifacts are kept. This has been named the "Ernest C. G. Graham Room"
after one of the Society's Presidents who contributed many hours to historical
research. A collection of Royal and Military artifacts are kept in the "Lt.
Col. Otty Corbett Room", named after the Society's founding President.
The Kings County Gaol is a historic building which was
moved from the Kingston, New Brunswick area over the ice, one block at a time
and reconstructed in Hampton. It presently houses part of the Kings County
Museum. Tours of the building and the museum exhibits are available from June
through September. 
The Kings County Court House dates
back to the early 1870's and still houses the historic and well-preserved
county court and the registry office.
The Kennebecasis
River flows through Hampton, and provides an excellent opportunity for boating
enthusiasts with an easily accessible public launch. Anglers can enjoy fishing
for salmon, striped bass, smallmouth bass, sea-run brook trout, sturgeon,
gaspereau, pickerel, perch and eel. Downstream provides access to the Saint
John River.
The Hampton Marsh is recognized as one of the
most fertile and productive wetland systems in New Brunswick. These wetlands,
covering approximately 2000 hectares (5000 acres), are located along the
Kennebecasis River within and around the communities of Hampton, Quispamsis and
Nauwigewauk. Wetlands support the most diverse wildlife communities of any
natural habitats. 201 acres in the Hampton Kennebecasis Marsh system have been
developed by Ducks Unlimited Canada. These sites provide brood habitat for such
waterfowl as black ducks, blue winged teal, wood ducks, mallards and shovellers
as well as nesting habitat for other marsh birds such as rails, yellow throats
and bitterns. Birds and mammals including eagles, osprey, swallows, blackbirds,
several species of crane, moose, beaver, muskrat and otter also use these
wetlands as foraging areas.
Water levels are influenced by spring flooding
and daily tides. During spring floods water covers the marsh and surrounding
fields and replenishes nutrients. The flood waters disappear by late June
leaving marshes, ponds, wooded areas and wet meadows.
The extensive marshes receive tidal water every day. The flushing of the tides,
the unique vegetation and the variety of wildlife make these one of the most
valuable marshes in the Province.
Fish such as chain
pickerel, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and sturgeon attract hundreds of
anglers to the waters each year. Commercial fishermen catch gaspereau and
American eel. Salmon and sea run brook trout migrate through the marsh system
on their way to spawning grounds.
Plants such as wild
rice, arrowhead and bur-reed provide food for wildlife. Alders, willows and
larger hardwoods such as silver maple and black ash provide nesting areas, food
and escape cover. The wetlands of the Hampton area provide
many recreational opportunities to local residents and tourists, including
wildlife viewing, hunting and fishing. The rivers, lakes and marshes provide
boating and canoeing opportunities, and during the winter are used for
cross-country skiing and ice skating. 
Hampton has four school: Dr. A.T. Leatherbarrow
Primary School, Hampton Elementary School, Hampton Middle School, and Hampton
High School. The Hampton Learning Center offers free adult scholastic programs.
Most religious denominations have meeting places in
Hampton: Anglican, Baptist, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholic and
United.
Hampton boasts two theatres: the Hampton Community
Theatre, located in the recently built high school, and the Leah MacGowan
Theatre in the middle school. Both are open to the public for many different
forms of entertainment.
The business section of Hampton
offers all essential services: restaurants, Bed & Breakfasts, medical,
dental and veterinary services, hair styling, banking, vehicle service,
pharmacy and wide variety of small businesses. Farm Vacations, Camping (with
hookup for RVs, trailers and tenting) are available nearby.
