Inverness, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Inverness is a Canadian
rural community in Inverness County
, Nova Scotia
. In 2001 its population was 2,496.
Located on the west coast of Cape Breton Island
fronting the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Inverness sits astride a small coal
seam which was exploited from the late 19th century to the mid-late 20th century, beginning with a mine opened by William Mackenzie (railway entrepreneur)
and Donald Mann
during the 1890s after they achieved control of the Inverness and Richmond Railway
. Several more mines opened in and near Inverness during the early 20th century, but many closed following World War II
with the last one closing in the early 1990s following a fire.
The community was established in 1904. It experienced economic hardship since large scale industrial coal mining ended; the local economy is now based mainly on fishing
and tourism
.
Inverness Raceway was established in 1926, and harness races
are held twice weekly between May and October. A 200 acre (0.809372 km²) golf course is under development on the site of the former coal mine.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rural community in Inverness County
Inverness County, Nova Scotia
Inverness County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its territory is almost contiguous with the Municipality of Inverness County, which only excludes the town of Port Hawkesbury and First Nation reserves.-History:...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. In 2001 its population was 2,496.
Located on the west coast of Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
fronting the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Inverness sits astride a small coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
seam which was exploited from the late 19th century to the mid-late 20th century, beginning with a mine opened by William Mackenzie (railway entrepreneur)
William Mackenzie (railway entrepreneur)
Sir William Mackenzie was a Canadian railway contractor and entrepreneur.Born near Peterborough, Ontario, Mackenzie became a teacher and politician before entering business as the owner of a sawmill and gristmill in Kirkfield, Ontario...
and Donald Mann
Donald Mann
Sir Donald Mann was a Canadian railway contractor and entrepreneur.Born at Acton, Ontario, Mann studied as a Methodist minister but worked in lumber camps in Ontario and Michigan before moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba...
during the 1890s after they achieved control of the Inverness and Richmond Railway
Inverness and Richmond Railway
The Inverness and Richmond Railway is a historic Canadian railway that operated on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.The I&R traces its history to 1874 when the Inverness Railway Company was incorporated, changing its name to the Inverness Coal Field and Railway Company in 1875 and to the...
. Several more mines opened in and near Inverness during the early 20th century, but many closed following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with the last one closing in the early 1990s following a fire.
The community was established in 1904. It experienced economic hardship since large scale industrial coal mining ended; the local economy is now based mainly on fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
Inverness Raceway was established in 1926, and harness races
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
are held twice weekly between May and October. A 200 acre (0.809372 km²) golf course is under development on the site of the former coal mine.