Antigonish County

Antigonish County is a historical county and census division of Nova Scotia, Canada. Local government is provided by the Municipality of the County of Antigonish, the Town of Antigonish, and by two reserves: Pomquet and Afton 23, and Summerside 38.

This article is about the historical county. For the modern municipality, see Municipality of the County of Antigonish.

Antigonish County
Gaelic: Siorramachd Antaiginis
County
Location of Antigonish County, Nova Scotia
Location of Antigonish County, Nova Scotia
Coordinates: 45°36′N 61°54′W
Country Canada
Province Nova Scotia
MunicipalityMunicipality of the County of Antigonish
Established as Sydney County1785
Renamed1863
Incorporated1879
Electoral Districts      
Federal
Central Nova
Cape Breton—Canso
ProvincialAntigonish
Government
 • TypeAntigonish County Municipal Council
 • WardenOwen McCarron
 • MLAMichelle Thompson Conservative Party of Nova Scotia)[1]
 • MP (Central Nova)Sean Fraser (L)[2]
 • MP (Cape Breton-Canso)Rodger Cuzner (L)[3]
Area
[4]
 • Land1,456.42 km2 (562.33 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[4][5]
 • Total20,129
 • Density13.8/km2 (36/sq mi)
 • Change 2011-16
Increase4.3%
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (ADT)
Area code902
Dwellings9,842
Median Earnings*$49,581
NTS Map011F12
GNBC CodeCBUCC
  • Median household income, 2005 (all households)

History

The County of Sydney was created in 1784.

When St. Mary's Township was established in 1818 it was partly in Sydney County and partly in Halifax County. In 1822 that part of St. Mary's Township which had been in Halifax County was annexed to the County of Sydney.

In 1836 Sydney County was diminished in size when Guysborough County was established out of what had been part of it. In 1863 the name of the County of Sydney was changed to Antigonish County. The word Antigonish is of Mi'kmaq origin, possibly derived from Nalegitkoonecht meaning "where branches are torn off". It is said that there were bears in the area that broke down branches to get beech nuts.

In 1879, the province officially incorporated the County of Antigonish as a municipality.[6]

In 2001, the Town of Antigonish applied to annex 1,600 hectares from the surrounding county so it could expand. The Municipality responded that the annexation would hurt its tax base so it instead applied for a total merger, or amalgamation. The issue was sent to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, and in 2005 it was decided that amalgamation of the Town and Municipality would better serve both parties. The board also ordered a plebiscite, promising to consider the results when making a final decision. The results were mixed, with 84% of Municipality residents voting yes to amalgamation and 74% of Town residents voting no. Voter turn-out was 45%. The board ultimately rejected the proposal for amalgamation, citing lack of public support.[7]

Demographics

As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Antigonish County had a population of 20,129 living in 8,711 of its 10,145 total private dwellings, a change of 4.3% from its 2016 population of 19,301. With a land area of 1,456.42 km2 (562.33 sq mi), it had a population density of 13.8/km2 (35.8/sq mi) in 2021.[8]

Forming the majority of the Antigonish County census division, the Municipality of the County of Antigonish, including its Subdivisions A and B, had a population of 15,101 living in 6,371 of its 7,327 total private dwellings, a change of 3.5% from its 2016 population of 14,584. With a land area of 1,448.72 km2 (559.35 sq mi), it had a population density of 10.4/km2 (27.0/sq mi) in 2021.[9]

Census subdivisions
  • Antigonish Subdivision A
  • Antigonish Subdivision B

Major highways

Highways and numbered routes that run through the county, including external routes that start or finish at the county limits:[14]

Protected areas
Antigonish Landing Wildlife Area
  • Arisaig Provincial Park
  • Antigonish Landing
  • Bayfield Provincial Park
  • Beaver Mountain Provincial Park
  • Eigg Mountain-James River Wilderness Area
  • Pomquet Beach Provincial Park[15]

Notable residents

See also

References
  1. "Michelle Thompson". 19 August 2021.
  2. "Sean Fraser". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  3. "Rodger Cuzner". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  4. "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Antigonish, County (CTY) [Census division], Nova Scotia". 9 February 2022.
  5. Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data
  6. "Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing". Communications Nova Scotia. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  7. "Antigonish (Town), Re, 2006 NSUARB 112 (CanLII)". Canadian Legal Information Institute. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  8. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and census divisions". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  9. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Nova Scotia". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  10. Censuses 1871-1941
  11. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  12. Statistics Canada: 2011 census
  13. 2006 Statistics Canada Census Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada: Antigonish County, Nova Scotia
  14. Atlantic Canada Back Road Atlas ISBN 978-1-55368-618-7 Pages 53-54, 69-71
  15. "Day Use Parks". Nova Scotia Provincial Parks. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  16. Stringer Sergeant Lewis John Stringer, C.V., C.D.
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