Historic Saint Croix

The international communities of St. Stephen, New Brunswick and Calais, Maine have been linked historically since the first settlers arrived on the St. Croix River hundreds of years ago. One of the earliest settlements in North America was attempted just three miles downriver at St. Croix Island in 1604. Until quite recently, one river and one settlement had always been the presumption of the citizens of St. Stephen and Calais. The idea that an international border separated the two communities was a foreign concept to the residents. In fact, during the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States, hostilities were non-existent at the border and citizens shared their gunpowder with each other.