New Brunswick's most densely inhabited metro area is the city of Moncton. Moncton is likewise the 2nd largest city after the city of Halifax, within the Maritime Provinces. The area had its very first settlers during the year 1733, though the year 1766 was considered to be the year it was officially established, since it was the start of the arrival of Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants from the city of Philadelphia, the state of Pennsylvania. Moncton was once an agricultural settlement, and its name was taken from the name of Lt. Col. Robert Monckton, the British officer who was able to capture nearby Fort Beausejour a century earlier. The city of Moncton grew fast in the 20th century, especially after lobbying helped the city of Moncton become the eastern terminus of National Transcontinental Railway project during the year 1912.
Moncton's Capital Theatre is the city main centre for cultural entertainment in the city of Moncton. It is an 800-seat restored 1920's-era vaudeville house situated on the city's Main Street. The theatre play host to a lot of performing arts, such as the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra, Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, and various other theatrical performances. One more centre, the Aberdeen Cultural Centre, is a cooperative that contains a lot of galleries and studios. There are various community groups within Moncton which provide outstanding stage entertainment. Individuals could go to Theatre l'Escaouette, McSweeney's Dinner Theatre, Aberdeen Cultural Centre, and Universite de Moncton - Sociocultural Services to be able to see performing artists at their best.
The city of Moncton has various museums open to the public, like for instance the baptists Heritage centre, Acadian Museum, Lutz Mountain Meeting House and heritage Museum, Le Centre Culturel Aberdeen Cooperative Ltee, Moncton 100 Monument, Thomas Williams House, and the Prayer Garden. At the Acadian Museum, there are several features, such as a permanent exhibition, temporary exhibits, and guided tours and screenings of documentaries and historical films. The Heritage Center collects and exhibits the material history of the Baptist denomination within Atlantic Canada. Le Centre Culturel Aberdeen Cooperative Ltee features live theatre, painting, sculpture, dance, crafts, cinema, martial arts, photography and a lot more. Individuals who are into arts and crafts can go to the Art Across the Marsh Studio Tour, Economusee, The Oliver Soapery, Turner's Victoria Park Arts and Crafts fair and the Hudson Oddities.
Moncton has a tradition of being a strong influence in the distribution, commercial and transportation centres of the country. Amongst its main sectors consist of health care, education, information technology and insurance. In 2004, the city has been named by the Canadian Business Magazine as "The best city for business in Canada," and in the year 2007 was named "the fifth most business-friendly small-sized city in North America. Amongst the most well-known companies within the city of Moncton comprise: Atlantic Lottery Corporation, Assumption Life Insurance, Medavie Blue Cross Insurance, Armour Transportation Systems, Imvescor, Asurion, BBM Canada, Exxon Mobil, UPS, Royal Bank of Canada, Gtech, Fairmont Hotels, Nanoptix, International Game Technology, and OAO Technology Solutions.