Canada

Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there.

The city is situated in the west-central portion of the province and is one of the main urban centres in southern New Brunswick.

The Saint John River flows west to east as it bisects the city and provides the dominant natural feature for the municipality. In the 2011 census, the city's population was 56,224, making it the third largest city in the province after Saint John and Moncton.

An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities, the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design, and cultural institutions such as the Beaver brook Art Gallery, the York Sun bury Museum, and The Playhouse—a performing arts venue. The city hosts the annual Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, attracting regional and international jazz, blues, rock, and world artists. Fredericton is also known for its indie rock scene.

As a provincial capital, its economy is inextricably tied to the fortunes of the public sector; however, the city also contains a growing IT and commercial sector.

The city has the highest percentage of residents with a post secondary education in the province and one of the highest per capita incomes