East Preston, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
East Preston is an expansive rural area located in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
, in Atlantic Canada
.
East Preston was founded in the 19th century. It is believed to have been named after Preston, Lancashire, England or Thomas Preston, a British army officer involved in the Boston Massacre
the American Revolution
. While it is often thought that the community is named after Rev. Richard Preston
, the famous African Nova Scotia leader and minister, the community was established long before he arrived. Rev. Preston arrived after escaping American slavery to find his mother who had escaped earlier, free and living in Preston, an event that made such an impression that he took the name of her community. Rev. Preston started the two churches which are still located in this region. At first the two communities of East and North Preston were a whole. Known simply as Preston, soon the two would identify themselves differently by adding the North and East in front of it. East and North Preston are well known across the Maritimes and together are the largest indigenous black community in Canada.
Currently East Preston is within the Halifax Regional Municipality
. It was located East of another rural area, Preston
. East Preston is accessible off of Trunk 7 or No 207
on Marine Drive
through the Ross Road
or the Mineville Road
.
At one time when Preston was important as the source of market garden produce, East Preston also played an important role in supplying produce from small farm holdings. The area contains a large number of very popular lakes used for recreation. The boundaries of the Prestons have shrunken continually over the years. It once stretched from Porters Lake to the East, to well into the current confines of Dartmouth. Its current boundaries have been established since the mid 1970s.
East Preston was predominantly a Black Canadian
community in its early days, and to a degree still is, but now with the demand for land and the growth of the city of Halifax many people from other areas have decided to join the community. The local Recreation Centre and Black Baptist
Church provide a focus for the many Black families. Currently, North Preston
, has a nearly 100% Black Population and East Preston currently has a Black population of about 80%. A road exists that directly connects the two villages of North Preston
and East Preston.
Just east of East Preston the area around Porters Lake
is also experiencing an in-migration of new residents and business. This community serves as a shopping district for East Preston and other surrounding communities.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
.
East Preston was founded in the 19th century. It is believed to have been named after Preston, Lancashire, England or Thomas Preston, a British army officer involved in the Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, called the Boston Riot by the British, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers killed five civilian men. British troops had been stationed in Boston, capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, since 1768 in order to protect and support...
the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. While it is often thought that the community is named after Rev. Richard Preston
Richard Preston (clergyman)
Richard Preston, , was religious leader and abolitionist who escaped slavery in Virginia to become an important leader for the African Nova Scotian community and in the international struggle against slavery.-Personal life:...
, the famous African Nova Scotia leader and minister, the community was established long before he arrived. Rev. Preston arrived after escaping American slavery to find his mother who had escaped earlier, free and living in Preston, an event that made such an impression that he took the name of her community. Rev. Preston started the two churches which are still located in this region. At first the two communities of East and North Preston were a whole. Known simply as Preston, soon the two would identify themselves differently by adding the North and East in front of it. East and North Preston are well known across the Maritimes and together are the largest indigenous black community in Canada.
Currently East Preston is within the Halifax Regional Municipality
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
. It was located East of another rural area, Preston
Preston, Nova Scotia
Preston is an area in central Nova Scotia, Canada in the Halifax Regional Municipality, located on Trunk 7. The population in 2006 was 2,360 including East Preston and North Preston....
. East Preston is accessible off of Trunk 7 or No 207
Nova Scotia Route 207
Route 207 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located in the Halifax Regional Municipality and connects Dartmouth to Porter on the Eastern Shore.-Dartmouth:...
on Marine Drive
Marine Drive (Nova Scotia)
The Marine Drive is a designated scenic route along Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore. It closely follows the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the Strait of Canso from the Canso Causeway to the junction of Route 322 and Highway 111 in Dartmouth....
through the Ross Road
Nova Scotia Route 328
Route 328 is a short collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in the Halifax Regional Municipality and connects Lake Major at Exit 6 of Highway 107/Trunk 7 with Upper Lawrencetown at Route 207 .It runs on "Ross Road."...
or the Mineville Road
Mineville, Nova Scotia
Mineville, Nova Scotia is community within the Eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada, between Lake Echo on Trunk 7, Highway 107 and Upper Lawrencetown on Route 207. The main road is called the Mineville Rd. The other road is called Candy Mountain Road...
.
At one time when Preston was important as the source of market garden produce, East Preston also played an important role in supplying produce from small farm holdings. The area contains a large number of very popular lakes used for recreation. The boundaries of the Prestons have shrunken continually over the years. It once stretched from Porters Lake to the East, to well into the current confines of Dartmouth. Its current boundaries have been established since the mid 1970s.
East Preston was predominantly a Black Canadian
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
community in its early days, and to a degree still is, but now with the demand for land and the growth of the city of Halifax many people from other areas have decided to join the community. The local Recreation Centre and Black Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church provide a focus for the many Black families. Currently, North Preston
North Preston, Nova Scotia
North Preston is a rural community in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, in Canada. North Preston has a population of about 3,700 people. The community is populated mainly by African Canadians. The community borders its sister community East Preston. The community traces its...
, has a nearly 100% Black Population and East Preston currently has a Black population of about 80%. A road exists that directly connects the two villages of North Preston
North Preston, Nova Scotia
North Preston is a rural community in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, in Canada. North Preston has a population of about 3,700 people. The community is populated mainly by African Canadians. The community borders its sister community East Preston. The community traces its...
and East Preston.
Just east of East Preston the area around Porters Lake
Porters Lake, Nova Scotia
Porters Lake is a residential community in the eastern shore region of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada, between Trunk 7 and Route 207, 27.8 km from Halifax. The residents mainly commute to jobs in Dartmouth, Burnside Industrial Park or in Downtown Halifax...
is also experiencing an in-migration of new residents and business. This community serves as a shopping district for East Preston and other surrounding communities.