[5] For governance purposes the southwestern portion is divided between the city of Edmundston,[6] which includes the tier of grants on either side of the Madawaska River, and the Northwest rural district;[7] the northeastern portion is part of the rural district.

Both city and rural district are members of the Northwest Regional Service Commission.

[10] Saint-Jacques was erected in 1877 from Madawaska Parish;[11] the name was spelt without a hyphen.

[13] In 1946 Saint-Jacques was affected by the major reorganisation of Madawaska County parish boundaries.

[16][17][18] bold indicates an incorporated municipality; italics indicate a name no longer in official use Bodies of water[a] at least partly within the parish.