Shubenacadie Valley
Encyclopedia
The Shubenacadie Valley is a Canadian
rural region in central Nova Scotia
.
The picturesque Shubenacadie River
flows through the valley, which is framed by low hills from its source at Shubenacadie Grand Lake
in north-central Halifax County
, then through a rolling landscape of rich soils left by glacial deposits through the border area of eastern Hants County
and southwestern Colchester County
.
The valley is a historic transportation corridor in the province, having once been a portage
route for the Mi'kmaq Nation and European settlers. The Shubenacadie River was incorporated into the ill-fated Shubenacadie Canal
system which linked the Atlantic coast to the Bay of Fundy
until it was made redundant shortly after completion by the Nova Scotia Railway
which was built through the valley; this railway was merged into the Intercolonial Railway and today is owned and operated by CN Rail
. During the 1970s, the Highway 102
expressway was constructed between Halifax and Truro
to relieve traffic pressure on the historic Trunk 2.
Resulting from its location astride the Halifax-Truro transportation corridor, the communities in the Shubenacadie Valley are experiencing a high rate of residential growth as they become a suburban/exurban
area of Halifax.
The valley includes the following communities from the river's source to its outlet:
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rural region in central Nova Scotia
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...
.
The picturesque Shubenacadie River
Shubenacadie River
The Shubenacadie River is a river in Nova Scotia, Canada.It has a meander length of approximately 72 km from its source at Shubenacadie Grand Lake to its mouth at the historic seaport village of Maitland on Cobequid Bay, site of the building of the William D. Lawrence, the largest wooden ship ever...
flows through the valley, which is framed by low hills from its source at Shubenacadie Grand Lake
Shubenacadie Grand Lake
Shubenacadie Grand Lake is a large Canadian lake straddling the Halifax Regional Municipality and Hants county on mainland Nova Scotia.It drains into the Shubenacadie River at its northeastern outlet....
in north-central Halifax County
Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Halifax County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.The Municipality of the County of Halifax was the municipal government of Halifax County, apart from the separately incorporated towns and cities therein...
, then through a rolling landscape of rich soils left by glacial deposits through the border area of eastern Hants County
Hants County, Nova Scotia
Hants County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia which was the home of Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Alden Nowlan and Noel Doiron. The county of Hants was created June 17, 1781, and consisted of the townships of Windsor, Falmouth and Newport...
and southwestern Colchester County
Colchester County, Nova Scotia
Colchester County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The appellation Colchester was applied in 1780 to the district previously called "Cobequid," and was derived from the town of Colchester in Essex...
.
The valley is a historic transportation corridor in the province, having once been a portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
route for the Mi'kmaq Nation and European settlers. The Shubenacadie River was incorporated into the ill-fated Shubenacadie Canal
Shubenacadie Canal
The Shubenacadie Canal is a Canadian canal in central Nova Scotia, linking Halifax Harbour with Shubenacadie Grand Lake which drains into the Bay of Fundy by way of the Shubenacadie River. Currently small craft use the river and lakes, but no locks are fully operational...
system which linked the Atlantic coast to the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
until it was made redundant shortly after completion by the Nova Scotia Railway
Nova Scotia Railway
The Nova Scotia Railway is a historic Canadian railway. It was composed of two lines, one connecting Richmond with Windsor, the other connecting Richmond with Pictou via Truro....
which was built through the valley; this railway was merged into the Intercolonial Railway and today is owned and operated by CN Rail
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
. During the 1970s, the Highway 102
Nova Scotia Highway 102
Highway 102 is a north-south freeway in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia that runs from Halifax to Truro. It is the busiest highway in Atlantic Canada....
expressway was constructed between Halifax and Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
to relieve traffic pressure on the historic Trunk 2.
Resulting from its location astride the Halifax-Truro transportation corridor, the communities in the Shubenacadie Valley are experiencing a high rate of residential growth as they become a suburban/exurban
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
area of Halifax.
The valley includes the following communities from the river's source to its outlet:
- EnfieldEnfield, Nova ScotiaEnfield, , is a Canadian exurban community located in the Shubenacadie Valley on the border of Hants and Halifax counties. Specifically, Enfield exists in both the East Hants Municipal District and the Halifax Regional Municipality and is divided by the Shubenacadie River.The history of European...
- ElmsdaleElmsdale, Nova ScotiaElmsdale is an unincorporated Canadian community located on the boundary of Hants and Halifax counties in Nova Scotia.Specifically, the community is divided by the Shubenacadie River, with the eastern half being in the Halifax Regional Municipality and the western half being in the Municipality of...
- LantzLantz, Nova ScotiaLantz is an unincorporated community located on the Shubenacadie River between the communities of Milford and Elmsdale, in the Municipality of East Hants and the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada...
- Dutch SettlementDutch Settlement, Nova ScotiaDutch Settlement is a Canadian rural community in Halifax County, Nova Scotia.Situated in the Shubenacadie Valley, Dutch Settlement is part of the Halifax Regional Municipality and is serviced by Route 277....
- MilfordMilford, Nova ScotiaMilford, Nova Scotia could mean one of the folling communities in Nova Scotia*Milford , Nova Scotia in Annapolis County*Milford , Nova Scotia in the Halifax Regional Municipality and Hants County...
- Indian Brook ReserveIndian Brook 14, Nova ScotiaIndian Brook 14 is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Hants County, Nova Scotia.It is administratively part of the Shubenacadie First Nation....
- ShubenacadieShubenacadie, Nova ScotiaShubenacadie is a community located in Hants County, in central Nova Scotia, Canada. As of 2006, the population was 2,074.In the Micmac language, Shubenacadie means "abounding in ground nuts" or "place where the red potato Shubenacadie (['ʃuːbə'nækədiː]) is a community located in Hants County, in...
- MaitlandMaitland, Hants County, Nova ScotiaMaitland, East Hants, Nova Scotia is a village in the East Hants, Nova Scotia municipal district, and home to the historic Lawrence House Museum, part of the Nova Scotia Museum...