Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Fredericton is an important cultural, artistic and educational centre for the province. Fredericton boasts two universities - the University of New Brunswick and the liberal arts focused St. Thomas University. Fredericton is also home to cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the York-Sunbury Museum and The Playhouse, the latter which serves as a venue for local talent/writers. As well, adding to the city's rich cultural milieu, Fredericton is home to the annual Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival every fall which attracts regional and international jazz and blues artists. The city also contains a growing IT and commercial sector. The city boasts the highest percentage of residents with a post-secondary education in the province and one of the highest per capita incomes.
The city is situated in the west-central portion of the province and, along with Moncton and Saint John, is one of the main urban centres in southern New Brunswick. The St. John River flows in a west-east direction, bisecting the city and providing the dominant natural feature for the municipality.
