Kings County, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Kings County is a county
in the Canadian
province of Nova Scotia
.
Kings County is located in central Nova Scotia on the shore of the Bay of Fundy
with its northeastern part also forming the western shore of the Minas Basin
.
The part of the county residing in the Annapolis Valley
comprises the agricultural heartland of the province and boasts over 600 farm
s; the area is famous for its fruit
crops, primarily apple
s. As with most coastal parts of the Maritimes, Kings County's shoreline was home to a productive shipbuilding
industry during the 19th century.
Wolfville houses the highly ranked Acadia University
. Cape Blomidon and the North Mountain preside over the Annapolis Valley, whereas the South Mountain
and interior forest
s to the southern part of the county support a variety of lake
s and recreational cottaging areas.
The colonization of "Les Mines" and Grand Pre began in the 1680s when a few families relocated from French
settlement at Port Royal
. These "Acadia
ns" settlers were named after the French name for the land "Acadie" meaning "land of plenty". These farmers were accustomed to farming on dyked lands, and did so here as well. This took place on the normally salty but fertile marshes that were found on the banks of the Minas Basin
, through the use of dykes and aboiteaux that allowed the fresh water entry but kept out the salt water tide. The Acadians farmers prospered in Kings County, and lived harmoniously with the Mi'kmaq. The Acadians and Mi'kmaq fought numerous battles against the British at Grand Pre:Raid on Grand Pre
, Battle of Grand Pre
, and the Siege of Grand Pre
.
After the final defeat of and expulsion of the Acadians, British control of the land was secured by repopulating the former French lands with settlers from New England
. Between 1760 and 1768 some 8000 New England
ers came to "plant" a new colony. Kings County comprised three agricultural township
s: Horton, Cornwallis, and Aylesford
. The legacy of the New England Planters
is still a tangible part of the life in Kings County, and had an important influence on Nova Scotian ideas on democratic government, freedom of religion
and equality
of education.
The Planters were followed in the 1780s by further settlers from the United Empire Loyalists
as well as significant numbers of Irish immigrants. The roots of Black
Heritage in Kings County began almost 250 years ago when the New England Planters
were accompanied by slaves and freed Blacks to settle in Horton and Cornwallis Township
s. This initial African population would swell with larger migrations following the American Revolution
and especially the War of 1812
. Further waves of immigration followed in the following two centuries increasing and adding to the population and diversity of Kings County.
The County's agricultural industry blossomed in the 19th century, especially after the arrival of the Dominion Atlantic Railway
which led to a major expansion of exports, especially the apple
industry. After the loss of the British export market for apples in World War II
, Kings County farmers diversified into other crops and livestock. Agriculture remains a major industry as the county has some of the best farmland in Nova Scotia, but farmland now faces pressure from suburban development around valley towns. The county also faces serious pollution problems in its major water artery, the Cornwallis River
.
Kings County was a major wooden shipbuilding
area in the 19th Century, including a four-masted barque
built in Kingsport
named Kings County
which was one of the largest ever built in Canada. Today a number of light industrial factories are located in Coldbrook
and Waterville
.
The county's history is preserved and interpreted at the Kings County Museum
in Kentville
and a number of Kings County towns have museums related to their specific stories such as the Wolfville Historical Society
and the Apple Capital Museum
in Berwick.
Mother tongue language (2006)
Ethnic Groups (2006)
, Kentville
and Wolfville
. Incorporated villages include New Minas, Greenwood, Coldbrook, Kingston
, Aylesford
, Canning
, Port Williams
and Cornwallis Square
. Smaller communities include Kingsport
on the Minas Basin
shore, as well as Halls Harbour and Baxters Harbour
, current and former fishing communities, respectively, on the Bay of Fundy
shore.
Indian Reserves in Kings County include Cambridge
and Glooscap
.
See List of communities in Kings County, Nova Scotia.
}
}
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County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
in the Canadian
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...
province of 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...
.
Kings County is located in central Nova Scotia on the shore of the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
with its northeastern part also forming the western shore of the Minas Basin
Minas Basin
The Minas Basin is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and a sub-basin of the Fundy Basin located in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is known for its extremely high tides.- Geography :- Boundary :...
.
The part of the county residing in the Annapolis Valley
Annapolis Valley
The Annapolis Valley is a valley and region in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located in the western part of the Nova Scotia peninsula, formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy.-Geography:...
comprises the agricultural heartland of the province and boasts over 600 farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
s; the area is famous for its fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
crops, primarily apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s. As with most coastal parts of the Maritimes, Kings County's shoreline was home to a productive shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
industry during the 19th century.
Wolfville houses the highly ranked Acadia University
Acadia University
Acadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
. Cape Blomidon and the North Mountain preside over the Annapolis Valley, whereas the South Mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
and interior forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s to the southern part of the county support a variety of lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s and recreational cottaging areas.
History
The first inhabitants of the coast, valley and interior of Kings County were the Mi'kmaq. Archaeological evidence from sites in the area indicate Mi'kmaq habitation dates back thousands of years. The Mi'kmaq were a semi-nomadic people who followed seasonal food sources. Their lives would be forever changed with the arrival of the Europeans.The colonization of "Les Mines" and Grand Pre began in the 1680s when a few families relocated from French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
settlement at Port Royal
Port Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
. These "Acadia
Acadia
Acadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire of New France, in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. At the end of the 16th century, France claimed territory stretching as far south as...
ns" settlers were named after the French name for the land "Acadie" meaning "land of plenty". These farmers were accustomed to farming on dyked lands, and did so here as well. This took place on the normally salty but fertile marshes that were found on the banks of the Minas Basin
Minas Basin
The Minas Basin is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and a sub-basin of the Fundy Basin located in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is known for its extremely high tides.- Geography :- Boundary :...
, through the use of dykes and aboiteaux that allowed the fresh water entry but kept out the salt water tide. The Acadians farmers prospered in Kings County, and lived harmoniously with the Mi'kmaq. The Acadians and Mi'kmaq fought numerous battles against the British at Grand Pre:Raid on Grand Pre
Raid on Grand Pre
The Raid on Grand Pré was the major action of a raiding expedition conducted by New England militia Colonel Benjamin Church against French Acadia in June 1704, during Queen Anne's War...
, Battle of Grand Pre
Battle of Grand Pré
The Battle of Grand Pré, also known as the Battle of Minas, was a battle in King George's War that took place between British and French forces near present-day Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia in the winter of 1747 during the War of the Austrian Succession...
, and the Siege of Grand Pre
Siege of Grand Pre
The Siege of Grand Pre happened during Father Le Loutre’s War and was fought between the British and a militia made up of Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, and Acadians. The siege happened at Fort Vieux Logis, Grand Pre...
.
After the final defeat of and expulsion of the Acadians, British control of the land was secured by repopulating the former French lands with settlers from New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Between 1760 and 1768 some 8000 New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
ers came to "plant" a new colony. Kings County comprised three agricultural township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
s: Horton, Cornwallis, and Aylesford
Aylesford, Nova Scotia
Aylesford is a farming community in the county of Kings in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is nestled between the North and South Mountains and located roughly 15 minutes from CFB Greenwood and 10 minutes from Berwick...
. The legacy of the New England Planters
New England Planters
The New England Planters were settlers from the New England colonies who responded to invitations by the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, to settle lands left vacant by the Bay of Fundy Campaign of the Acadian Expulsion...
is still a tangible part of the life in Kings County, and had an important influence on Nova Scotian ideas on democratic government, freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
and equality
Equal opportunity
Equal opportunity, or equality of opportunity, is a controversial political concept; and an important informal decision-making standard without a precise definition involving fair choices within the public sphere...
of education.
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
as well as significant numbers of Irish immigrants. The roots of Black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
Heritage in Kings County began almost 250 years ago when the New England Planters
New England Planters
The New England Planters were settlers from the New England colonies who responded to invitations by the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, to settle lands left vacant by the Bay of Fundy Campaign of the Acadian Expulsion...
were accompanied by slaves and freed Blacks to settle in Horton and Cornwallis Township
Cornwallis Township
Cornwallis Township was one of the original townships of Kings County, Nova Scotia. The township was named after Edward Cornwallis, the founder of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It bordered Aylesford Township to the west and Horton Township to the south. While the name has fallen into disuse on maps, many...
s. This initial African population would swell with larger migrations following the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and especially the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Further waves of immigration followed in the following two centuries increasing and adding to the population and diversity of Kings County.
The County's agricultural industry blossomed in the 19th century, especially after the arrival of the Dominion Atlantic Railway
Dominion Atlantic Railway
The Dominion Atlantic Railway was a historic Canadian railway which operated in the western part of Nova Scotia, primarily through an agricultural district known as the Annapolis Valley....
which led to a major expansion of exports, especially the apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
industry. After the loss of the British export market for apples in 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...
, Kings County farmers diversified into other crops and livestock. Agriculture remains a major industry as the county has some of the best farmland in Nova Scotia, but farmland now faces pressure from suburban development around valley towns. The county also faces serious pollution problems in its major water artery, the Cornwallis River
Cornwallis River
The Cornwallis River is a river in Nova Scotia, Canada.It has a meander length of approximately 48 km from its source on the North Mountain near Berwick to its mouth near Wolfville on the Minas Basin. The lower portion of the river is tidal and there are extensive tidal marshes in the lower...
.
Kings County was a major wooden shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
area in the 19th Century, including a four-masted barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
built in Kingsport
Kingsport, Nova Scotia
Kingsport, is a small seaside village located in Kings County, Nova Scotia on the shores of the Minas Basin.-Geography:Kingsport is located just northeast of the mouth of the Habitant River, on the west side of Minas Basin, a few miles east of Canning at the eastern end of Route 221. It is bordered...
named Kings County
Kings County (barque)
Kings County was a four masted barque built in 1890 at Kingsport, Nova Scotia on the Minas Basin. She was named to commemorate Kings County, Nova Scotia and represented the peak of the county's shipbuilding era...
which was one of the largest ever built in Canada. Today a number of light industrial factories are located in Coldbrook
Coldbrook, Nova Scotia
Coldbrook is a Canadian suburban community in Kings County, Nova Scotia.As of 2001, the population was 1,289.The population, as of May 2006, was 4499.The total land area is 83.6458km² -External links:**...
and Waterville
Waterville, Nova Scotia
Waterville is a Canadian community in Kings County, Nova Scotia.Located on the Cornwallis River, the community is located 15 kilometres west of Kentville and is home to the Waterville/Kings County Municipal Airport, a Michelin tire factory, as well as the provincial youth detention facility.As of...
.
The county's history is preserved and interpreted at the Kings County Museum
Kings County Museum
The Kings County Museum is a museum located in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada exploring the history of Kings County, Nova Scotia. It is housed in the restored 1903 Kings County Courthouse. The Museum hosts a variety of permanent and changing displays about Kings County...
in Kentville
Kentville, Nova Scotia
Kentville is a town in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It is one of the main towns in the Annapolis Valley, and it is the county seat of Kings County. As of 2006, the town of Kentville had a population of 5,815 people....
and a number of Kings County towns have museums related to their specific stories such as the Wolfville Historical Society
Wolfville Historical Society
The Wolfville Historical Society is tasked with the maintenance and promotion of the history of the town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia and its surrounding area. The Society employs staff and volunteers to maintain a seasonal museum at the Randall House in Wolfville, and to collect and preserve local...
and the Apple Capital Museum
Apple Capital Museum
The Apple Capital Museum is a museum located in Berwick, Nova Scotia exploring the history of the Town of Berwick and near-by Kings County communities. The museum is housed in a restored 19th century store, originally the Harry Lyons harbess shop. In the 1940s, it was purchased by Howard Margeson...
in Berwick.
Demographics
Population trend| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 60,035 | 2.0% |
| 2001 | 58,866 | 0.6% |
| 1996 | 59,193 | 5.1% |
| 1991 | 56,317 | N/A |
Mother tongue language (2006)
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 56,365 | 95.11% |
| Other languages | 1,680 | 2.83% |
| French only | 1,150 | 1.94% |
| Both English and French | 70 | 0.12% |
Ethnic Groups (2006)
| Race | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 57,875 | 97.66% |
| Black | 740 | 1.25% |
| Asian | 550 | 0.93% |
| Other | 80 | 0.13% |
Notable people
- Alex ColvilleAlex ColvilleDavid Alexander Colville, is a Canadian painter.Colville's family moved from Toronto to Amherst, Nova Scotia in 1929. He attended Mount Allison University from 1938-1942, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Colville married Rhoda Wright that year and enlisted in the Canadian Army under the...
is a renowned artist living in the town of Wolfville.
- Leslie R. FairnLeslie R. FairnLeslie Raymond Fairn was a Canadian architect whose career is notable for its longevity and for the range of styles it encompassed, including Beaux Arts and Modernism. Most of his work was completed in Maritime Canada....
was a well-known architect from the Wolfville area who designed several buildings on the Acadia University campus, including University Hall, as well as many other buildings in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.
- Colonel G.D. Ward was the Commanding Officer of CFS MassetCFS MassetCanadian Forces Station Masset is a signals intercept site located near Masset, BC.Naval Radio Station Masset was constructed in 1942 and used as a HFDF intercept station and also as a ship to shore relay station....
and graduated from West Kings District High School in AuburnAuburn, Nova ScotiaAuburn is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Kings County, situated west of Aylesford. The second oldest Anglican church in Nova Scotia is situated there, consecrated in 1790 by Bishop Inglis. Modelled on Christopher Wren's London church designs, St. Marys Anglican...
, Kings County.
Communities
Towns in Kings County include BerwickBerwick, Nova Scotia
Berwick is a Canadian town in Kings County, Nova Scotia. The town is located in the eastern part of the Annapolis Valley on the Cornwallis River. The town site stretches south from the river and Exit 15 of Highway 101 to Highway 1...
, Kentville
Kentville, Nova Scotia
Kentville is a town in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It is one of the main towns in the Annapolis Valley, and it is the county seat of Kings County. As of 2006, the town of Kentville had a population of 5,815 people....
and Wolfville
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Wolfville is a small town in the Annapolis Valley, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada, located about northwest of the provincial capital, Halifax. As of 2006, the population was 3,772....
. Incorporated villages include New Minas, Greenwood, Coldbrook, Kingston
Kingston, Nova Scotia
Kingston is a village in Kings County on the north bank of the Annapolis River in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. As of 2001, the population was 3,009....
, Aylesford
Aylesford, Nova Scotia
Aylesford is a farming community in the county of Kings in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is nestled between the North and South Mountains and located roughly 15 minutes from CFB Greenwood and 10 minutes from Berwick...
, Canning
Canning, Nova Scotia
Canning, Nova Scotia is a village in northeastern Kings County located at the crossroads of Route 221 and Route 358.-History:The area was originally settled by Acadians who were expelled in 1755 during the Acadian Expulsion...
, Port Williams
Port Williams, Nova Scotia
Port Williams is a Canadian village in Kings County, Nova Scotia.It is located on the north bank of the Cornwallis River, opposite Greenwich and Wolfville.As of 2006, the population was 1,079...
and Cornwallis Square
Cornwallis Square, Nova Scotia
Cornwallis Square is a Canadian village in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It is located on the Cornwallis River.The village commission was originally established in 1947 as the WCG Commission and was responsible for fire protection, recreation and sidewalks in Waterville, Cambridge, and Grafton...
. Smaller communities include Kingsport
Kingsport, Nova Scotia
Kingsport, is a small seaside village located in Kings County, Nova Scotia on the shores of the Minas Basin.-Geography:Kingsport is located just northeast of the mouth of the Habitant River, on the west side of Minas Basin, a few miles east of Canning at the eastern end of Route 221. It is bordered...
on the Minas Basin
Minas Basin
The Minas Basin is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and a sub-basin of the Fundy Basin located in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is known for its extremely high tides.- Geography :- Boundary :...
shore, as well as Halls Harbour and Baxters Harbour
Baxters Harbour
Baxters Harbour is a former fishing community on the shore of the Bay of Fundy in Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada, located 15 kilometres from Kentville. It was named for Dr. William Baxter and his son John Baxter who lived there in the early nineteenth century...
, current and former fishing communities, respectively, on the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
shore.
Indian Reserves in Kings County include Cambridge
Cambridge 32, Nova Scotia
Cambridge 32 is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Kings County, Nova Scotia.It is administratively part of the Annapolis Valley First Nation....
and Glooscap
Glooscap 35, Nova Scotia
Glooscap 35 is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Kings County, Nova Scotia.It is administratively part of the Glooscap First Nation....
.
- Census Subdivisions
- Kings, Subd. A
- Kings, Subd. B
- Kings, Subd. C
- Kings, Subd. D
See List of communities in Kings County, Nova Scotia.
Access routes
Highways and numbered routes that run through the county, including external routes that start or finish at the county limits:- Highways
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- Trunk Routes
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- Collector Routes:
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- External Routes:
- None
External links
- Photographs of historic monuments in Kings County
- Kings County Museum
- Parks Canada New England Planters Exhibit