Kings County | |
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 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 | |
 Seal | |
| Motto(s): Land of Orchards, Vineyards & Tides | |
 Location of Kings County, Nova Scotia | |
| Coordinates:45°04′44″N64°29′38″W / 45.07889°N 64.49389°W /45.07889; -64.49389 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Nova Scotia |
| Towns | Berwick,Kentville,Wolfville |
| First Nations | Annapolis Valley,Glooscap |
| Established | August 17, 1759 |
| Incorporated | April 17, 1879 |
| Electoral Districts Federal | Kings—Hants /West Nova |
| Provincial | Kings North /Kings South /Kings West |
| Government | |
| • Type | Kings County Municipal Council |
| • Mayor | Dave Corkum[1] |
| Area | |
| • Land | 2,120.31 km2 (818.66 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[citation needed] | |
• Total | 62,914 |
| • Density | 29.7/km2 (77/sq mi) |
| • Change 2011-16 |  3.8% |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) |
| Area code | 902 |
| Dwellings | 30,366 |
| Median Income[2] | $29,753CDN |
| Website | https://www.countyofkings.ca/ |
Kings County is acounty in theCanadian province ofNova 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 theBay of Fundy, with its northeastern part forming the western shore of theMinas Basin.
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 thefarm-to-table movement and a growing and acclaimedNova 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 bothAcadia University inWolfville and theNSCC Kingstec campus inKentville.Canadian Forces Base Greenwood (the largestRoyal Canadian Air Force base on Canada's East Coast) and theMichelin 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, andBerwick, and twoFirst Nations reserves.
Theglaciers began their retreat from inthe Maritimes approximately 13,500 years ago,[3] with finaldeglaciation,post-glacial rebound, andsea level fluctuation ending and leaving the New England-Maritimes region virtually ice free 11,000 years ago.[4][5] The earliest evidence ofPalaeo-Indian settlement in the region follows rapidly after deglaciation. Evidence of settlement found in theDebert 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 thepaleo and archaic period over ten thousand years culminated in the development of the culture, traditions, and language now known as theMi'kmaq.[6]
For several thousand years the territory of the province has been a part of the territory of theMi'kmaq nation of Mi'kma'ki. Mi'kma'ki includes what is now the Maritimes, parts ofMaine,Newfoundland and theGaspé Peninsula. King's County is located in the traditional Mi'kmaw districts of Sipekni'katik and Kespukwitk.[7]
The colonization of "Les Mines" and Grand Pre began in the 1680s when a few families relocated from theFrench settlement atPort Royal. These "Acadian" settlers were named after the French name for the land "Acadie" meaning "land of plenty". These farmers were accustomed to farming ondyked lands, and did so here as well. This took place on the normally salty but fertile marshes that were found on the banks of theMinas 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 theRaid on Grand Pré,Battle of Grand Pré, and theSiege of Grand Pré.
After forciblyexpelling the Acadians, British control of the land was secured by repopulating the former French lands with settlers fromNew England. The county was formed in 1759 and named for KingGeorge III.[8] Between 1760 and 1768 some 8000New England Planters arrived in Nova Scotia, the largest number settling in Kings County in threeagriculturaltownships:Horton,Cornwallis, andAylesford. The Planters revived and expanded the Acadian dykeland agriculture through projects such as theWellington 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 ondemocratic government,freedom of religion andequality of education.
The Planters were followed in the 1780s by further settlers from theUnited Empire Loyalists and significant numbers of Irish immigrants. The roots ofBlack 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 ofBlack Loyalists following theAmerican Revolution and especiallyBlack refugees following theWar 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 theDominion Atlantic Railway which led to a major expansion of exports, especially theapple industry. After the loss of the British export market for apples inWorld 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, theCornwallis River.
Kings County was a major woodenshipbuilding area in the 19th Century, including a four-mastedbarque built inKingsport namedKings County which was one of the largest ever built in Canada. Today a number of light industrial factories are located inColdbrook andWaterville.
The county's history is preserved and interpreted at theKings County Museum inKentville and a number of Kings County towns have museums related to their specific stories such as theWolfville Historical Society and theApple Capital Museum in Berwick.
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, andBerwick, with their own independent municipal governments. In addition to municipal governments there are two First Nations reserves underband government, theAnnapolis Valley First NationCambridge reserve and theGlooscap First NationGlooscap reserve.[9]
The Municipal Council for the county (outside of the Towns and Reserves) is composed of aMayor elected at-large and 9Councillors each elected to represent a separate district. Municipal Council is responsible for all facets of themunicipal 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 thesolid waste management,library services, andtransit.
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 Dave Corkum. 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 theNova Scotia House of Assembly. The municipality shares representation by two ridings in Canada'sHouse of Commons.
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 theMichelin tire plant inWaterville, 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 toCanadian Forces Base Greenwood, the east coast's largest air force base. The county also benefits from the location ofAcadia University in Wolfville and theNSCC 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.
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 sparkling 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 includingCape Split, the look off atBlomodin, and the UNESCO World Heritage site atGrand-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 theApple Blossom Festival, the annual Steer Bar-B-Que in Kingston, Mud Creek Days, Deep Roots Music Festival and theDevour The Food Film Fest in Wolfville, and the Pumpkin People in Kentville draw tourists throughout the summer and fall.
As acensus division in the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Kings County had a population of62,914 living in27,538 of its30,366 total private dwellings, a change of3.8% from its 2016 population of60,600. With a land area of 2,120.31 km2 (818.66 sq mi), it had a population density of29.7/km2 (76.9/sq mi) in 2021.[19]
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 of47,918 living in20,733 of its22,958 total private dwellings, a change of1.1% from its 2016 population of47,404. With a land area of 2,087.88 km2 (806.13 sq mi), it had a population density of23.0/km2 (59.4/sq mi) in 2021.[20]
| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62,914 | 3.8% |
| 2016 | 60,600 | 0.02% |
| 2011 | 60,589 | 0.9% |
| 2006 | 60,035 | 2.0% |
| 2001 | 58,866 |  0.6% |
| 1996 | 59,193 | 5.1% |
| 1991 | 56,315 | 5.7% |
| 1986 | 53,275 | 7.1% |
| 1981 | 49,739 | N/A |
| 1941 | 28,920 | |
| 1931 | 24,357 | |
| 1921 | 23,723 | |
| 1911 | 21,780 | |
| 1901 | 21,937 | |
| 1891 | 22,489 | |
| 1881 | 23,469 | |
| 1871 | 21,500 | N/A |
| Panethnic group | 2021[23] | 2016[24] | 2011[25] | 2006[26] | 2001[27] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| European[a] | 55,590 | 90.07% | 54,875 | 92.41% | 56,225 | 94.73% | 56,895 | 96.01% | 56,240 | 96.74% |
| Indigenous | 2,990 | 4.84% | 2,610 | 4.4% | 1,515 | 2.55% | 980 | 1.65% | 590 | 1.01% |
| African | 1,125 | 1.82% | 740 | 1.25% | 775 | 1.31% | 740 | 1.25% | 940 | 1.62% |
| Southeast Asian[b] | 590 | 0.96% | 235 | 0.4% | 90 | 0.15% | 135 | 0.23% | 30 | 0.05% |
| South Asian | 575 | 0.93% | 100 | 0.17% | 160 | 0.27% | 55 | 0.09% | 25 | 0.04% |
| East Asian[c] | 425 | 0.69% | 425 | 0.72% | 295 | 0.5% | 360 | 0.61% | 200 | 0.34% |
| Middle Eastern[d] | 200 | 0.32% | 150 | 0.25% | 175 | 0.29% | 30 | 0.05% | 100 | 0.17% |
| Latin American | 110 | 0.18% | 105 | 0.18% | 35 | 0.06% | 25 | 0.04% | 10 | 0.02% |
| Other/multiracial[e] | 125 | 0.2% | 150 | 0.25% | 20 | 0.03% | 30 | 0.05% | 10 | 0.02% |
| Total responses | 61,720 | 98.1% | 59,380 | 97.99% | 59,350 | 97.96% | 59,260 | 98.71% | 58,135 | 98.76% |
| Total population | 62,914 | 100% | 60,600 | 100% | 60,589 | 100% | 60,035 | 100% | 58,866 | 100% |
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | ||||||||||
Ethnic Origin (2006)[28]
| Origin | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian | 21,155 | 43.3% |
| English | 17,575 | 35.9% |
| Scottish | 13,335 | 27.3% |
| Irish | 10,010 | 20.5% |
| German | 6,780 | 13.9% |
| French | 5,790 | 11.8% |
| Dutch | 3,205 | 6.6% |
| North American Indian | 1,870 | 3.8% |
| Welsh | 1,050 | 2.1% |
Mother tongue (2011)[29]
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 56,685 | 94.91% |
| French only | 1,220 | 2.04% |
| Non-official languages | 1,575 | 2.64% |
| Multiple responses | 240 | 0.40% |
Highways and numbered routes that run through the county, including external routes that start or finish at the county limits:[32]
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Places adjacent to Kings County, Nova Scotia | |
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