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Amherst, Nova Scotia | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Amherst in the evening | |
 Flag .jpg) Coat of arms | |
  Amherst, Nova Scotia Location of Amherst, Nova Scotia Show map of Nova Scotia Amherst, Nova Scotia Amherst, Nova Scotia (Canada) Show map of Canada | |
| Coordinates:45°50′00″N64°12′47″W / 45.83333°N 64.21306°W /45.83333; -64.21306[1] | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Nova Scotia |
| County | Cumberland |
| Founded | 1764 |
| Incorporated | December 18, 1889 |
| Named after | Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rob Small |
| • Deputy Mayor | TBD |
| • Councillors | List of Members
|
| • MLA | Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin Independent |
| • MP | Alana HirtleLiberal Party of Canada |
| Area (2021)[2] | |
| • Land | 12.07 km2 (4.66 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 12.38 km2 (4.78 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 22.11 m (72.5 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Town | 9,404 |
| • Density | 779.4/km2 (2,019/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 9,548 |
| • Urban density | 771.2/km2 (1,998/sq mi) |
| • Change 2016-21 |  −0.1% |
| • Census Ranking | 452 of 5,162 |
| Demonym | Amherstonian |
| Time zone | UTC−04:00 (AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−03:00 (ADT) |
| Postal code(s) | |
| Area codes |
|
Access Routes Hwy 104 (TCH) |  Trunk 2 Trunk 6 Route 204 |
| Dwellings | 4,799 |
| Median Income* | $55,600CAD |
| NTS Map | 21H16 Amherst |
| GNBC Code | CAAOO[3] |
| Website | www.amherst.ca |
| |
Amherst (/ˈæmɜːrst/AM-urst)[4] is a town in northwesternNova Scotia, Canada, located at the northeast end of theCumberland Basin, an arm of theBay of Fundy, and 22 km (14 mi) south of theNorthumberland Strait. The town sits on a height of land at the eastern boundary of theIsthmus of Chignecto andTantramar Marshes, 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the interprovincial border withNew Brunswick and 65 km (40 mi) southeast of the city ofMoncton. It is 60 km (37 mi) southwest of the New Brunswick abutment of theConfederation Bridge toPrince Edward Island atCape Jourimain.
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According to Dr. Graham P. Hennessey, "TheMicmac name wasNemcheboogwek meaning 'going up rising ground', in reference to the higher land to the east of the Tantramar Marshes. TheAcadians who settled here as early as 1672 called the villageLes Planches. The village was later renamed Amherst by Colonel Joseph Morse in honour ofLord Amherst, the commander-in-chief of theBritish Army in North America during theSeven Years' War."
The town was first settled in 1764 by immigrants fromYorkshire following theexpulsion of the Acadians, with the original settlement being located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of the present town on the shore of theBay of Fundy.[citation needed] These settlers were joined byUnited Empire Loyalists (Loyalists who fled theAmerican colonies during theAmerican Revolution). A mill was built on the current townsite, and the residents moved there to be closer to work.
During the 19th century, Amherst became an important regional centre for shipbuilding and other services to outlying communities. An indication of the town's importance in Canadian history is seen with its fourFathers of Confederation:Edward B. Chandler,Robert B. Dickey,Jonathan McCully, andSir Charles Tupper.
During the late 19th century, local industrialists and entrepreneurs constructed many fine Victorian and Edwardian homes along Victoria Street East, leading toward the farming hamlet ofEast Amherst. Many notable residents have lived in this district, including Sir Charles Tupper and SenatorThomas R. Black.
Amherst gained brief notoriety in the late 19th century as the location of allegedpoltergeist phenomena afflicting Amherst resident Esther Cox in 1878 and 1879, which became known as theGreat Amherst Mystery after the publication of a popular book on the affair.[5]
Amherst experienced unprecedented industrialization in the late 1870s after theIntercolonial Railway of Canada constructed its main line fromHalifax toQuebec through the town in 1872. The location of the railway line away from the Bay of Fundy coast further consolidated the town at its present location as industry and commercial activity centred around this important transportation link. The economic boom created by the arrival of the Intercolonial Railway lasted throughWorld War I and numerous foundries, factories and mills opened, giving rise to the nickname "Busy Amherst".
In 1908, the manufacturing output of Amherst's industries was not exceeded by any centre in theMaritime Provinces. Many of the fine old buildings along Victoria Street are considered industrial artifacts because they were constructed during a period of tremendous industry growth. Local contractors employed local craftsmen, who used local materials. Notice the emphasis on sandstone and brick, both locally produced and delightful detail which reflects the skilled craftsmanship prevalent in the 19th century.
Amherst's prosperity would not last as the failed economic policies of the federal and provincial governments, coupled with World War I, saw the town's industrial economy begin a slow decline during the 1910s. TheAmherst Internment Camp forprisoners of war andenemy aliens was set up at Malleable Iron Foundry in Amherst from April 1915 to September 1919,[6] andRussian revolutionaryLeon Trotsky was incarcerated there for one month after he was arrested inHalifax,Nova Scotia in April 1917.[7]
During the Amherst general strike in 1919, worker unrest over social and economic conditions led to mass protests in sympathy with theWinnipeg general strike.
The eventual closure of companies such asRobb Engineering & Manufacturing (purchased byCanada Car and Foundry and then closed) and Amherst Pianos, among others led to a resignation of lost dreams as the town was overtaken by other newer manufacturing centres in central Canada during the 20th century. Amherst had a modest-sized industrial park constructed during the 1960s when theTrans-Canada Highway was being developed. Today the majority of the town's major employers are located there, including Emmerson Packaging andIMP Aerospace.
During theSecond World War, theRoyal Canadian Navy named aFlower-classcorvetteHMCS Amherst.
In 2002, theCumberland Regional Health Care Centre opened on the outskirts of the town, replacing the older Highland View Regional Hospital on Pleasant Street.
The town is currently served byVia Rail's Halifax-to-Montreal trainOcean.
Basketball was introduced to Nova Scotia at theYMCA in Amherest in 1894, byJ. Howard Crocker who learned the game as a student ofJames Naismith, the inventor of basketball.[8][9]
Amherst is home of theAmherst Ramblers, a Junior A Hockey League team from the Maritime Hockey League. All home games are played out of the 2,500 seat Amherst Stadium. The season usually runs from mid-September to early March every year. The Ramblers draw some of the largest crowds in the Maritime Hockey League, and have placed third in average attendance over the past few years. They won the Atlantic Championship in 1989 advancing to the Centennial Cup tournament in BC. They also hosted the Centennial Cup in 1993 and the Fred Page Cup in 2019.
Every August, Amherst hosts an eight-team little league baseball tournament, featuring four teams fromNew England.
Amherst experiences ahumid continental climate (Dfb). The highest temperature ever recorded was 34.4 °C (94 °F) on 18 August 1935. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −37.2 °C (−35 °F) on 18 February 1922.[10] In 2020, Amherst (Nappan) only recorded 800.4 mm (31.51 in) of precipitation.[11]
| Climate data forNappan, 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1890−present[a] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.0 (64.4) | 16.2 (61.2) | 24.2 (75.6) | 26.1 (79.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 31.7 (89.1) | 32.7 (90.9) | 34.4 (93.9) | 32.2 (90.0) | 27.0 (80.6) | 23.5 (74.3) | 18.5 (65.3) | 34.4 (93.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.0 (28.4) | −1.4 (29.5) | 2.6 (36.7) | 9.1 (48.4) | 15.8 (60.4) | 20.7 (69.3) | 24.3 (75.7) | 24.1 (75.4) | 20.0 (68.0) | 13.7 (56.7) | 7.4 (45.3) | 1.6 (34.9) | 11.3 (52.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −6.9 (19.6) | −6.3 (20.7) | −2.0 (28.4) | 4.1 (39.4) | 10.1 (50.2) | 15.1 (59.2) | 18.8 (65.8) | 18.5 (65.3) | 14.6 (58.3) | 8.9 (48.0) | 3.3 (37.9) | −2.5 (27.5) | 6.3 (43.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −11.7 (10.9) | −11.2 (11.8) | −6.7 (19.9) | −0.8 (30.6) | 4.4 (39.9) | 9.4 (48.9) | 13.3 (55.9) | 12.9 (55.2) | 9.1 (48.4) | 3.9 (39.0) | −0.8 (30.6) | −6.6 (20.1) | 1.3 (34.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −36.7 (−34.1) | −37.2 (−35.0) | −29.5 (−21.1) | −21.1 (−6.0) | −6.7 (19.9) | −3.3 (26.1) | −1.1 (30.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | −4.5 (23.9) | −12.2 (10.0) | −18.9 (−2.0) | −34.0 (−29.2) | −37.2 (−35.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 101.8 (4.01) | 79.7 (3.14) | 91.2 (3.59) | 93.3 (3.67) | 83.8 (3.30) | 96.3 (3.79) | 80.5 (3.17) | 82.7 (3.26) | 108.9 (4.29) | 115.3 (4.54) | 114.4 (4.50) | 113.5 (4.47) | 1,161.2 (45.72) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 47.9 (1.89) | 36.1 (1.42) | 49.1 (1.93) | 62.7 (2.47) | 91.7 (3.61) | 79.6 (3.13) | 89.0 (3.50) | 74.4 (2.93) | 98.4 (3.87) | 97.2 (3.83) | 95.9 (3.78) | 64.2 (2.53) | 886.0 (34.88) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 62.4 (24.6) | 51.2 (20.2) | 49.9 (19.6) | 23.9 (9.4) | 5.2 (2.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.1) | 15.6 (6.1) | 45.8 (18.0) | 254.2 (100.1) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 17.7 | 15.4 | 16.1 | 15.4 | 16.7 | 16.7 | 14.9 | 13.5 | 13.6 | 16.5 | 17.1 | 16.9 | 190.5 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.3 | 4.9 | 6.9 | 10.0 | 13.8 | 13.6 | 12.7 | 12.1 | 11.4 | 12.8 | 12.3 | 6.9 | 122.6 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 10.4 | 8.4 | 7.3 | 3.6 | 0.52 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.09 | 2.8 | 7.6 | 40.7 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 93.9 | 108.6 | 137.9 | 146.5 | 186.0 | 208.5 | 229.7 | 218.0 | 161.1 | 130.7 | 76.2 | 79.3 | 1,776.1 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 33.1 | 37.2 | 37.4 | 36.2 | 40.2 | 44.4 | 48.4 | 49.8 | 42.7 | 38.4 | 26.7 | 29.3 | 38.6 |
| Source:Environment Canada (rain, snow, sun 1981−2010)[12][10] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1871 | 1,839 | — |
| 1881 | 2,274 | +23.7% |
| 1891 | 3,781 | +66.3% |
| 1901 | 4,964 | +31.3% |
| 1911 | 8,973 | +80.8% |
| 1921 | 9,998 | +11.4% |
| 1931 | 7,450 | −25.5% |
| 1941 | 8,620 | +15.7% |
| 1951 | 9,870 | +14.5% |
| 1956 | 10,301 | +4.4% |
| 1961 | 10,788 | +4.7% |
| 1971 | 9,966 | −7.6% |
| 1981 | 9,684 | −2.8% |
| 1986 | 9,671 | −0.1% |
| 1991 | 9,742 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 9,669 | −0.7% |
| 2001 | 9,470 | −2.1% |
| 2006 | 9,505 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 9,717 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 9,413 | −3.1% |
| 2021 | 9,404 | −0.1% |
| [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] | ||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Amherst had a population of9,404 living in4,480 of its4,799 total private dwellings, a change of-0.1% from its 2016 population of9,413. With a land area of 12.07 km2 (4.66 sq mi), it had a population density of779.1/km2 (2,017.9/sq mi) in 2021.[22]
| Canada 2006 Census[23] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ethnic Origin | Population | % of Total Population |
| Canadian | 4,215 | 45.4 |
| English | 3,625 | 39.1 |
| Scottish | 2,745 | 29.6 |
| Irish | 2,040 | 22.0 |
| French | 1,840 | 19.8 |
| German | 655 | 7.1 |
| Dutch (Netherlands) | 385 | 4.1 |
In the period between 1996 and 2006, Amherst lost over half of itsBlack population.[24][25] The African Nova Scotian community has lived in the area since 1783, largely settled around the south end of the town in an area calledSand Hill.[26]
Amherst is served locally byEastLink TV. The station also serves the communities ofSpringhill,Oxford, and others in the county, as well asSackville, New Brunswick.
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Leon Trotsky's description of his month in Nova Scotia April 1917
Places adjacent to Amherst, Nova Scotia | |
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