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Image:Map_of_Nova_Scotia_Highlighting_Kingspng
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212221
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58,866
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277
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$38,222
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Fred Whalen
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Kings County Municipal Council
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Berwick (town) , Kentville (town) , Wolfville (town)
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http://wwwcountykingsnsca
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2001
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Cumberland
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Hants, Lunenburg
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Annapolis
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Hants, Lunenburg
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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 boundary 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 farms; the area is famous for its fruit crops, primarily apples. As with most coastal parts of the Maritimes, Kings County's shoreline was home to a productive shipbuilding industry during the
1800s .
Wolfville is home to the highly ranked
Acadia University . Cape Blomidon and the North Mountain preside over the Annapolis Valley, whereas the South Mountain and interior forests to the southern part of the county support a variety of lakes and recreational cottaging areas.
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 1680’s when a few families relocated from
French settlement at
Port Royal . These “
Acadians ” 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 out but kept out the salt water tide. The Acadians farmers prospered in Kings County, and lived harmoniously with the Mi’kmaq.
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 the ,
Cornwallis , and
Aylesford . The legacy of the
New England Planters is still a tangible part of the life in Kings County, and remains as the bedrock of many ideals held dear by Nova Scotians such as
Democratic Government ,
Freedom Of Religion and
Equality of education.
The roots of
Black Heritage in Kings County were established almost 250 years ago when the New England Planters brought slaves and freed Blacks with them to Horton and Cornwallis Townships. This initial population would swell with later migrations following the
American Revolution and the
War Of 1812 .
During the past two centuries these “founding cultures” would be supplemented by many other waves of immigration increasing and adding to the population and diversity of Kings County.
Towns in Kings County include
Berwick ,
Kentville and
Wolfville .
Indian Reserves in Kings County include
Cambridge , and
Horton .