The name “Pokemouche” comes from the Mi'kmaq language word “Pokomújpetúák” in the Francis-Smith orthography, pronounced,. According to sources this word could mean salt water entrance, lots of fish or ground of abundance. The name was first mentioned in 1685 with the spelling Pakmouch, on a geographical chart of the Emanuel Jumeau recollects mission, based at the time in Miramichi. This was followed by Poquemouche, Pokemushi, Bamush, Pockmouche and Pokamouche. The current orthography appeared in 1852. The common name of the village used to be upper Pokemouche while the village of Inkerman was called lower Pokemouche, in reference to the respective positions of these villages along the Pokemouche River. The name Pokemouche can apply to all of the lower valley of the river. For instance, there is the Pokemouche Airport at Village-Blanchard and the Pokemouche golf club in Landry.
Geography
Physical Geography
Location
Pokemouche is due east of Bathurst, on the Acadian Peninsula. The local service district covers an area of. By road, Pokemouche is south of Caraquet, southwest of Shippagan and in the north of Tracadie-Sheila. Given its position relative to the three main cities of the peninsula, Pokemouche could be considered to be the geographical centre of the region. The village is located on the edge of the Pokemouche River, west of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Pokemouche has a territory lying roughly in the shape of a north-south oriented rectangle, bordered by Six Roads to the south, by Landry to the west, Evangeline to the northeast, and Inkerman to the east. To the north, Village-Blanchard meets Pokemouche on a corner at the intersection of Basile Street and Highway 11. The village is generally regarded as being part of Acadia.
The subsurface of Pokemouche is made up mainly of sedimentary rocks, especially grey sandstone, dating from the Pennsylvanian era. The soil around Pokemouche is better than many other places along the East coast of the province allowing for better agriculture.
Flora and fauna
Pokemouche is located in the east lowlands ecoregion, more precisely in the Caraquet ecodistrict. The long history of colonisation and disruption of the forest led to the prevalence of red maple, white poplar and gray birch. The hollows of the valleys and areas of coarse soil are covered with black spruces and jack pines, which is evidence of a high frequency of fires. There is also hemlock, cedar and tamarack larch growing in some places. Fifteen quarries have been mined, mainly in Upper Pokemouche. Recreational fishing is done on the river but has never led to any commercial activity. The Pokemouche River Environmental Management Board has undertaken years of work for the protection of the banks as well as public awareness. In addition, the organisation plans to introduce trout and other species of fish into the river.
Transport
Halfway between the main municipalities of the peninsula, the village is located at the crossroads of Route 11, Route 113 and Route 350. Route 345 passes through the northern end of the village. The construction work of the new Route 11 linking Janeville in Pokemouche via Paquetville, was scheduled to begin in 2012, at a cost of 200 million dollars The Pokemouche river is navigable by small boats up to Maltempèque but there are no public docks.
