The territory that would become New Brunswick's future capital had Acadian inhabitants from the end of the 17th century. In fact, the Acadian village of Sainte-Anne-des-Pays-Bas developed during the colonial period. It was, however, destroyed during the Deportation and the city of Fredericton was founded a few years later by Loyalists. Acadian families settled in Fredericton in the 19th century and today the capital of New Brunswick can count on the cultural and economic contribution of a large French speaking community. The capital's Centre communautaire Sainte-Anne, a French school and community centre, was named in honour of the former Acadian village, Sainte-Anne-des-Pays-Bas.