Kings County, Nova Scotia

Last updated
Kings County
Kings County Montage.jpg
Montage of pictures of Kings County, starting from top left reading clockwise: Hall's Harbour, Cape Split, Cape Blomidon, Annapolis Valley Look Off, UNESCO World Heritage site at Grand-Pré
Municipality-of-Kings NS.jpg
Motto(s): 
Land of Orchards, Vineyards & Tides
KingsCountyNS.png
Location of Kings County, Nova Scotia
Coordinates: 45°04′44″N64°29′38″W / 45.07889°N 64.49389°W / 45.07889; -64.49389
CountryCanada
Province Nova Scotia
Towns Berwick, Kentville, Wolfville
First Nations Annapolis Valley, Glooscap
EstablishedAugust 17, 1759
IncorporatedApril 17, 1879
Electoral Districts      
Federal

Kings—Hants / West Nova
Provincial Kings North / Kings South / Kings West
Government
  TypeKings County Municipal Council
  MayorPeter Muttart [1]
Area
[2]
  Land2,120.31 km2 (818.66 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[ citation needed ]
  Total62,914
  Density29.7/km2 (77/sq mi)
  Change 2011-16
Increase2.svg3.8%
Time zone UTC-4 (AST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-3 (ADT)
Area code 902
Dwellings30,366
Median Income [2] $29,753 CDN
Website https://www.countyofkings.ca/

Kings County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. With a population of 62,914 in the 2021 Census,[ citation needed ] Kings County is the third most populous county in the province. It is located in central Nova Scotia on the shore of the Bay of Fundy, with its northeastern part forming the western shore of the Minas Basin.

Contents

Kings' economy and identity are tied into its current and historical role as the province's agricultural heartland. A strong agricultural base has been bolstered by the farm-to-table movement and a growing and acclaimed Nova Scotia wine industry, and the success of both has also bolstered the area's tourism industry. The county benefits from the profile, prestige and population gained from hosting both Acadia University in Wolfville and the NSCC Kingstec campus in Kentville. Canadian Forces Base Greenwood (the largest Royal Canadian Air Force base on Canada's East Coast) and the Michelin tire plant in Waterville both provide significant positive economic impact in the county.

While the majority of the area of county is governed by the Municipality of the County of Kings, the county also includes three separately incorporated towns, Wolfville, Kentville, and Berwick, and two First Nations reserves.

History

Traditional Mi'kmaw wikuom Micmac1.jpg
Traditional Mi'kmaw wikuom

The glaciers began their retreat from in the Maritimes approximately 13,500 years ago, [3] with final deglaciation, post-glacial rebound, and sea level fluctuation ending and leaving the New England-Maritimes region virtually ice free 11,000 years ago. [4] [5] The earliest evidence of Palaeo-Indian settlement in the region follows rapidly after deglaciation. Evidence of settlement found in the Debert Palaeo-Indian Site dates to 10,600 before present, though settlement seems likely to have occurred earlier, [4] following large game animals such as the caribou as they expanded into the land revealed by the retreating glaciers. The record of continuous habitation through the paleo and archaic period over ten thousand years culminated in the development of the culture, traditions, and language now known as the Mi'kmaq. [6]

For several thousand years the territory of the province has been a part of the territory of the Mi'kmaq nation of Mi'kma'ki. Mi'kma'ki includes what is now the Maritimes, parts of Maine, Newfoundland and the Gaspé Peninsula. King's County is located in the traditional Mi'kmaw districts of Sipekni'katik and Kespukwitk. [7]

Map of Acadie 1744 Acadie1744.jpg
Map of Acadie 1744

The colonization of "Les Mines" and Grand Pre began in the 1680s when a few families relocated from the French settlement at Port Royal. These "Acadian" 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 fresh water to enter but kept out the salt-water tide. The Acadian farmers prospered in Kings County, and lived harmoniously with the Mi'kmaq. The Acadians and Mi'kmaq jointly fought numerous battles against the British in the Raid on Grand Pré, Battle of Grand Pré, and the Siege of Grand Pré.

After forcibly expelling the Acadians, British control of the land was secured by repopulating the former French lands with settlers from New England. The county was formed in 1759 and named for King George III. [8] Between 1760 and 1768 some 8000 New England Planters arrived in Nova Scotia, the largest number settling in Kings County in three agricultural townships: Horton, Cornwallis, and Aylesford. The Planters revived and expanded the Acadian dykeland agriculture through projects such as the Wellington Dyke and cleared more upland fields, gradually moving west from the initial settlements along the Minas Basin Rivers. 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 old Cornwallis Inn on Mainstreet, Kentville, Kings County Kentville Hotel.jpg
The old Cornwallis Inn on Mainstreet, Kentville, Kings County

The Planters were followed in the 1780s by further settlers from the United Empire Loyalists and 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 townships. This initial African population increased with larger migrations of Black Loyalists following the American Revolution and especially Black refugees following the War of 1812. Further waves of immigration followed in the following two centuries, 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.

Government

Cape Split Cape Split.jpg
Cape Split

The majority of the land area of county is governed by the Municipal Council of the Municipality of the County of Kings, though the county also includes three incorporated towns, Wolfville, Kentville, and Berwick, with their own independent municipal governments. In addition to municipal governments there are two First Nations reserves under band government, the Annapolis Valley First Nation Cambridge reserve and the Glooscap First Nation Glooscap reserve. [9]

The Municipal Council for the county (outside of the Towns and Reserves) is composed of a Mayor elected at-large and 9 Councillors each elected to represent a separate district. Municipal Council is responsible for all facets of the municipal government, including directly delivered and shared or regional services. Directly delivered services include services such as police and fire, public works, roads, and water. The municipality participates in shared services, such as the solid waste management, library services, and transit.

The municipal operating budget of $45.7 million and combined capital and water capital budget of $4.3 million in the 2017/18 fiscal year. [10] The current mayor is Peter Muttart. Municipal governments in Nova Scotia are elected every four years and the most recent round of elections took place in October 2020. [11] The provincial legislation that creates and empowers the municipality is the Nova Scotia Municipal Government Act. [12]

Kings is represented by three ridings in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. The municipality shares representation by two ridings in Canada's House of Commons.

Economy

Michelin plant in Waterville, Kings County Michelin Entrance Waterville NS.png
Michelin plant in Waterville, Kings County

Kings County is considered agricultural heartland of the province. The economy in Kings County is largely built on its diversified agricultural industry. Although agriculture is a dominant industry in the Kings economy, there are many emerging industries such as trade, health care, construction, and manufacturing. The largest employment sectors in the county include retail trade (3,621), health care and social assistance (3,352), public administration (2,659), manufacture (2,459), and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (2,064). [13] Manufacturing employment is over 30% higher and agricultural employment more than double the provincial averages. [13] Kings enjoys 33% of arable land used for agricultural production compared to the provincial average of 13%, and since 2006 the number of acres used for farming purposes and the number of farms have been on the rise. [14]

While there are light industrial clusters throughout the county, the over half the manufacturing jobs are a result of the Michelin tire plant in Waterville, which opened in 1982. The plant employs about 1,300 people and is set to continue to expand its production capacity starting 2013 until 2018. [15] Kings is home to Canadian Forces Base Greenwood, the east coast's largest air force base. The county also benefits from the location of Acadia University in Wolfville and the NSCC Kingstec campus in Kentville. Nova Scotia's federally funded agriculture and agri-food research centre, Kentville Research and Development Centre, supports the local economy through agriculture related research.

Luckett Vineyards, Gaspereau Valley, Kings County Luckett Vineyards Gaspereau Valley Nova Scotia Canada.jpg
Luckett Vineyards, Gaspereau Valley, Kings County

The region is also celebrated for its wineries, many located in the county communities of Gaspereau Valley, Canning, and Grand Pré. The recently launched Tidal Bay appellation, created in 2012, was the first wine appellation for Nova Scotia [16] and has helped to raise Nova Scotia wines profile in Canada and around the world. The region's sparking wine has been added to wine lists in high-profile restaurants and received acclaim around the world. [17] [18]

Tourism is also an important industry, and the county benefits from scenic farmland, increasing support for farm-to-table movement, and attractions including Cape Split, the look off at Blomodin, and the UNESCO World Heritage site at Grand-Pré. Farmers markets in Kentville, Kingsport, Berwick and Wolfville attract visitors with fresh produce and other fine goods throughout the growing season. Events such as the Apple Blossom Festival, the annual Steer Bar-B-Que in Kingston, Mud Creek Days, Deep Roots Music Festival and the Devour The Food Film Fest in Wolfville, and the Pumpkin People in Kentville draw tourist throughout the summer and fall.

Demographics

As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Kings County had a population of 62,914 living in 27,538 of its 30,366 total private dwellings, a change of

Forming the majority of the Kings County census division, the Municipality of the County of Kings, including its Subdivisions A, B, C, and D, had a population of 47,918 living in 20,733 of its 22,958 total private dwellings, a change of

Population trend [21] [22]

CensusPopulationChange (%)
202162,914Increase2.svg3.8%
201660,600Increase2.svg0.02%
201160,589Increase2.svg0.9%
200660,035Increase2.svg2.0%
200158,866Decrease2.svg0.6%
199659,193Increase2.svg5.1%
199156,315Increase2.svg5.7%
198653,275Increase2.svg7.1%
198149,739N/A
194128,920
193124,357
192123,723
191121,780
190121,937
189122,489
188123,469
187121,500N/A

Ethnicity

Panethnic groups in Kings County (2001−2021)
Panethnic group2021 [23] 2016 [24] 2011 [25] 2006 [26] 2001 [27]
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
European [lower-alpha 1] 55,59054,87556,22556,89556,240
Indigenous 2,9902,6101,515980590
African 1,125740775740940
Southeast Asian [lower-alpha 2] 5902359013530
South Asian 5751001605525
East Asian [lower-alpha 3] 425425295360200
Middle Eastern [lower-alpha 4] 20015017530100
Latin American 110105352510
Other/multiracial [lower-alpha 5] 125150203010
Total responses61,72059,38059,35059,26058,135
Total population62,91460,60060,58960,03558,866
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Ethnic Origin (2006) [28]

OriginPopulationPct (%)
Canadian21,15543.3%
English17,57535.9%
Scottish13,33527.3%
Irish10,01020.5%
German6,78013.9%
French5,79011.8%
Dutch3,2056.6%
North American Indian1,8703.8%
Welsh1,0502.1%

Language

Mother tongue (2011) [29]

LanguagePopulationPct (%)
English only56,68594.91%
French only1,2202.04%
Non-official languages1,5752.64%
Multiple responses2400.40%

Notable people


The Lookoff, North Mountain, Kings County The Lookoff, North Mountain, Nova Scotia, Canada.jpg
The Lookoff, North Mountain, Kings County

Communities

Towns
Villages
Reserves

Access routes

Highways and numbered routes that run through the county, including external routes that start or finish at the county limits: [32]

See also

Notes

  1. Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  3. Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  4. Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annapolis Valley</span> Economic region in Nova Scotia, Canada

The Annapolis Valley is a valley and region in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. 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. Statistics Canada defines the Annapolis Valley as an economic region, composed of Annapolis County, Kings County, and Hants County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Scotia</span> Province of Canada

Nova Scotia is a province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolfville</span> Town in Nova Scotia, Canada

Wolfville is a Canadian town in the Annapolis Valley, Kings County, Nova Scotia, located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northwest of the provincial capital, Halifax. The town is home to Acadia University and Landmark East School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colchester County</span> County in Nova Scotia, Canada

Colchester County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. With a population of 51,476 the county is the fourth largest in Nova Scotia. Colchester County is located in north central Nova Scotia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentville</span> Town in Nova Scotia, Canada

Kentville is an incorporated town in Nova Scotia. It is the most populous town in the Annapolis Valley. As of 2021, the town's population was 6,630. Its census agglomeration is 26,929.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia</span> Town in Nova Scotia, Canada

Mahone Bay is a town on the northwest shore of Mahone Bay along the South Shore of Nova Scotia in Lunenburg County. A long-standing picturesque tourism destination, the town has recently enjoyed a growing reputation as a haven for entrepreneurs and business startups. The town has the fastest growing population of any municipality in Nova Scotia according to the 2016 census, experiencing 9.9% population growth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Breton Regional Municipality</span> Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada

Cape Breton Regional Municipality is the Canadian province of Nova Scotia's second largest municipality and the economic heart of Cape Breton Island. As of 2021 the municipality has a population of 93,694. The municipality was created in 1995 through the amalgamation of eight municipalities located in Cape Breton County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipality of the District of Lunenburg</span> District municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, is a district municipality in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Statistics Canada classifies the district municipality as a municipal district.

New Minas is a Canadian village located in the eastern part of Kings County in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley. As of 2011, the population was 5,135.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipality of the District of Clare</span> District municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada

Clare, officially named the Municipality of the District of Clare, is a district municipality in western Nova Scotia, Canada. Statistics Canada classifies the district municipality as a municipal district.

Hantsport is an unincorporated area in the West Hants Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is at the western boundary between West Hants Regional Municipality and Kings County, along the west bank of the Avon River's tidal estuary. The community is best known for its former industries, including shipbuilding, a pulp mill, as well a marine terminal that once loaded gypsum, mined near Windsor. The community is the resting place of Victoria Cross recipient William Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canning, Nova Scotia</span> Village in Nova Scotia, Canada

Canning is a village in northeastern Kings County, Nova Scotia located at the crossroads of Route 221 and Route 358.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parrsboro</span> Community in Nova Scotia, Canada

Parrsboro is a community located in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New England Planters</span> Settlers from New England who moved to Nova Scotia

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 (1755) of the Acadian Expulsion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Scotia Trunk 1</span> Highway in Nova Scotia

Trunk 1 is part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia's system of Trunk Highways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berwick, Nova Scotia</span> Town in Nova Scotia, Canada

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. Berwick occupies 6.80 km2 and has an elevation of 43 m (141 ft) above sea level.

Port Williams is a Canadian village in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It is located on the north bank of the Cornwallis River, named after Edward Cornwallis, first governor of Nova Scotia. As of 2021, the population was 1,110.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Nova Scotia</span> Demographics of region

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province located on the country's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada, and its capital, Halifax, is a major economic centre of the region. Geographically, Nova Scotia is the second smallest province in Canada, with an area of 52,824.71 km2 (20,395.73 sq mi). As of 2021, it has a population of 969,383 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of New Brunswick</span> Demographics of region

New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and the only officially bilingual province in the country. The provincial Department of Finance estimates that the province's population in 2006 was 729,997 of which the majority is English-speaking but with a substantial French-speaking minority of mostly Acadian origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornwallis River</span> River in Nova Scotia, Canada

The Cornwallis River is in Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It has a meander length of approximately 48 kilometres (30 mi) through eastern Kings County, from its source on the North Mountain at Grafton to its mouth near Wolfville on the Minas Basin. The lower portion of the river beginning at Kentville is tidal and there are extensive tidal marshes in the lower reaches. In its upper watershed at Berwick, the river draws on the Caribou Bog while a longer branch continues to the official source, a stream on the North Mountain at Grafton.

References

  1. "Municipality of the County of Kings".
  2. 1 2 "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Kings, County (CTY) [Census division], Nova Scotia". 9 February 2022.
  3. Stea, Robert (1998). "Deglaciation of Nova Scotia: Stratigraphy and chronology of lake sediment cores and buried organic sections" (PDF). erudit. Géographie physique et Quaternaire. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 Lothrop, Jonathon (2016). "Early Human Settlement of Northeastern North America". Paleoamerica. 2 (3): 192–251. doi: 10.1080/20555563.2016.1212178 .
  5. Stea, Robert (1998). "Deglaciation of Nova Scotia: Stratigraphy and chronology of lake sediment cores and buried organic sections" (PDF). erudit. Géographie physique et Quaternaire. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  6. "A Mi'kmaw History". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 2018-03-31. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  7. "Map of the Districts of Mi'kma'ki (Kjipuktuk aq Mi'kma'ki)". 17 July 2023.
  8. Brown, Thomas J. (1922), Nova Scotia Place Names (PDF), p. 75, retrieved 13 August 2023
  9. "Mi'kmaw Bands in Nova Scotia". Cape Breton University. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  10. Starratt, Kirk (1 June 2017). "Kings County council approves 'challenging' budget, holds line on tax rates". Kings County Register. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  11. "Here are all the mayors elected in Nova Scotia's municipal election | CBC News".
  12. https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/municipal%20government.pdf "Municipal Government Act"
  13. 1 2 http://www.valleyren.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Community-Quick-Facts-Kings-County.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  14. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2018-03-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. Delany, Gordon. "Michelin plant gets $73m expansion". Chronicle Herald. Saltwire Media. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  16. "Wines of Nova Scotia". Wines of Nova Scotia.
  17. Lagerquist, Jeff (24 August 2017). "Gordon Ramsay to pour N.S. wine at his posh London restaurant". CTV Atlantic. CTV News. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  18. Hammond, Carolyn (30 June 2017). "Five Canadian wines that celebrate our diversity: The Wine Find". The Star. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  19. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and census divisions". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  20. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Nova Scotia". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  21. Censuses 1871-1941
  22. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  23. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  24. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  25. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  26. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  27. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  28. 2006 Statistics Canada Community Profile: Kings County, Nova Scotia
  29. Statistics Canada: 2011 census
  30. Reid, Richard M. (2014). African Canadians in Union Blue: Volunteering for the Cause in the Civil War. Vancouver, British Columbia: UBC Press. pp. 197–198. ISBN   978-0-7748-2745-4.
  31. Elliott, Shirley B. (1984). The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758–1983 : a biographical directory. Public Archives of Nova Scotia. p.  121. ISBN   978-0-88871-050-5 . Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  32. Atlantic Canada Back Road Atlas ISBN   978-1-55368-618-7 Pages 65-66, 78-79