Caraquet's history is linked to the sea, just like New Brunswick's Acadia. Caraquet is also proud to hold the title of capital of Acadia.
After the arrival of the first Europeans, in 1730, Caraquet really took root in 1758 when, headed by Alexis Landry, 34 Acadian families, victims of the 1755 deportation, established themselves right in the heart of the Sainte-Anne-du-Bocage sector.
The 19th century saw cultural, economic and Acadian developments highlighted by several milestones. The construction of the church, in 1857, of a convent for the education of young women, in 1874, (of which only ruins remain today) and of a classical college, in 1899, which would still be Caraquet's most important building if it hadn't burnt down, were important accomplishments. In that era, the maritime vocation was already very prevalent. Boats and fishing equipment had already been built, and fish was already being prepared for local or commercial consumption.
The Robin family, of Jerseyan descent, set up fish processing plants in 1837, creating an important economic boom, accompanied by the construction of sawmills and other industrial facilities such as cooper's shops, a tannery and a tinsmith shop. Then, the arrival of the railroad in 1887 really gave Caraquet access to the outside world.
It is impossible to talk about Caraquet without mentioning its people's pride in its Acadian roots, which was at the center of many fights for their rights.
During the 19th century, the population wanted to own land. In the 20th, the population defended their right to be educated in French and teach religion in schools. Incidentally, today, the Louis-Mailloux High School bares the name of a young 19 year old man who was killed during a riot, in 1875, when the Acadians defended their French catholic schools.
In the past, Caraquet has also been a place where important meetings have been held, the most important being the National Acadian Convention in 1905 and the Eucharistic Congress in 1950, which attracted more than 20,000 people.
The second half of the 20th century was characterized by the emergence of Caraquet's cultural and tourism industries. The exceptional reputation of the Acadian Festival, the establishment of the Acadian Historical Settlement, which rapidly became one of the most important tourist attractions in New Brunswick, the presence of the Théâtre populaire d'Acadie, the huge celebrations of National Acadian Day on August 15, the Acadian Museum, the Sainte-Anne-du-Bocage sanctuary and many more facilities have turned Caraquet into the perfect destination for tourists from all over the continent. According to the 2001 census, the Town of Caraquet had a population of 4,442. 
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