Oromocto (2001 pop.: 8,843) is a Canadian town in west-central New Brunswick approximately 20 kilometres southeast of Fredericton.
The town is located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Oromocto River. The town's name is derived from the name of the Oromocto River; "oromocto" is thought to have originated from the Maliseet word welamooktook which means "good river".
Oromocto was originally a shipbuilding town in the 19th century, but went into decline after the industry closed. It was a small hamlet until it was selected as the headquarters for a large military training area, in the early 1950s. The Gagetown Military Camp (Camp Gagetown) opened in 1955 as the largest military reservation in the Commonwealth of Nations at the time.
Oromocto underwent a major transformation as it was planned as a "model town" and was at the forefront of such efforts, along with locations such as Richmond Hill, Ontario and Nepean, Ontario. Today, Oromocto's entire economy is dominated by CFB Gagetown.
The town's location in the Saint John River valley provides lush vegetation and an attractive waterfront on both rivers. A small park and marina occupy an area on the Oromocto River waterfront near the "downtown".
Canadian National Railway abandoned its railway line which ran through the town to CFB Gagetown in March 1996. Today, this railway right-of-way has been developed as a recreational trail and is part of the "Sentier NB Trail" network. This particular portion of the Sentier NB Trail between Fredericton-Oromocto-Burton also hosts the Trans-Canada Trail.
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