[4] For governance purposes it is divided between the towns of Champdoré and Grand-Bouctouche, the village of Five Rivers,[a] and the incorporated rural community of Beausoleil,[5] all of which are members of the Kent Regional Service Commission,[6] and the Buctouche 16 Indian reserve, which is not.

Prior to the 2023 governance reform, the parish was divided between the town of Bouctouche,[7] the Indian reserve, the incorporated rural community of Cocagne, and the local service districts of Grand Saint-Antoine, Sainte-Anne-de-Kent and the parish of Wellington, which included areas with enhanced services named Bouctouche Cove, Desroches, Dixon Point-Route 134, Wellington - Dixon Point-Route 134, and Saint-Grégoire.

The parish was named for the Marquess of Wellington,[b] British commander in the Peninsular War.

[9] Wellington was erected in 1814 as part of Northumberland County from Newcastle Parish.

[13] In 1867 Sainte-Marie was erected from the western part of Wellington, including modern Saint-Paul.