Trenton, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Trenton is a town located in Pictou County
, Nova Scotia
.
Trenton is situated on the east bank of the East River of Pictou, adjacent to and immediately north of the larger town of New Glasgow
.
's Trenton Generating Station
, Michelin
's tire factory in Granton
, or Neenah Paper's pulp mill in Abercrombie
.
The massive TrentonWorks Ltd.
facility dominates the town's waterfront, having opened in the 1870s as Canada's first steel mill before being converted to focus exclusively on manufactured steel products by the late 19th century. The TrentonWorks site was used to produce railway
cars throughout the entire 20th century before production ceased in 2007. Part of the facility was used as a shipyard to produce small cargo ships during both world wars; the railcar plant was temporarily retooled during these conflicts to produce munitions. As of 2010, the facility is undergoing a $60 million conversion to produce components for wind turbines in a partnership between South Korean industrial conglomerate Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
(DMSE) and the governments of Nova Scotia and Canada. The end of railcar manufacturing on the TrentonWorks site saw the loss of 1300 jobs (at peak employment); it is currently hoped that the conversion to produce wind turbine components by DMSE will return employment to pre-2007 levels.
Trenton Forge is a separate company located adjacent to the TrentonWorks property dates to the 1870s and operates one of the largest forges in the world. At one time, Trenton also hosted a glass works and paint factory.
The town has been facing significant economic turmoil in recent decades as the local economy transitions from industrial to post-industrial. Rural depopulation in Canada has affected Pictou County and Trenton has witnessed the loss of numerous institutions and businesses over the years. These include: 5 schools, a movie theatre, doctors' offices, many businesses, and several industries. The town has very few local services, relying on the growing commercial district in neighbouring New Glasgow; it has recently seen its last bank branch and gas station close.
In 2004, Trenton lost its only high school during a round of school consolidations and there are currently discussions into closing the only remaining middle school as well.
With the town's residential and commercial tax base in decline, finances are strained for maintaining existing services and it is believed that amalgamation with other incorporated municipalities in Pictou County is inevitable.
Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Pictou County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It was established in 1835, and was formerly a part of Halifax County from 1759 to 1835. It had a population of 46,513 people in 2006, which represents a decline of 6.3 percent from 1991. It is the sixth most populous county in Nova...
, 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...
.
Trenton is situated on the east bank of the East River of Pictou, adjacent to and immediately north of the larger town of New Glasgow
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait....
.
Economy
The town's economy is tied to heavy industry and its residents are largely employed at Nova Scotia PowerNova Scotia Power
Nova Scotia Power Inc. is a power generating and delivery company in Nova Scotia. It is privately owned by Emera and regulated by the provincial government via the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board .-History:...
's Trenton Generating Station
Trenton Generating Station
The Trenton Generating Station is a 310 MW Canadian electrical generating station located in the town of Trenton, Nova Scotia.A thermal generating station, Trenton was opened on the bank of the East River of Pictou by then-provincial Crown corporation Nova Scotia Power Corporation in 1969...
, Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
's tire factory in Granton
Granton, Nova Scotia
Granton is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County. It is the birthplace of Leonard W. Murray.-References:*...
, or Neenah Paper's pulp mill in Abercrombie
Abercrombie, Nova Scotia
Abercrombie is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County.-References:*...
.
The massive TrentonWorks Ltd.
TrentonWorks Ltd.
TrentonWorks is an industrial manufacturing facility located in the town of Trenton, Nova Scotia, Canada.This collection of factories on the bank of the East River of Pictou has witnessed a large variety of industrial operations, ranging from steel making , rolling mills, forging, shipbuilding,...
facility dominates the town's waterfront, having opened in the 1870s as Canada's first steel mill before being converted to focus exclusively on manufactured steel products by the late 19th century. The TrentonWorks site was used to produce railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
cars throughout the entire 20th century before production ceased in 2007. Part of the facility was used as a shipyard to produce small cargo ships during both world wars; the railcar plant was temporarily retooled during these conflicts to produce munitions. As of 2010, the facility is undergoing a $60 million conversion to produce components for wind turbines in a partnership between South Korean industrial conglomerate Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd ' is the second largest shipbuilder in the world and one of the "Big Three" shipbuilders of South Korea.On 21 February 2011, the A. P...
(DMSE) and the governments of Nova Scotia and Canada. The end of railcar manufacturing on the TrentonWorks site saw the loss of 1300 jobs (at peak employment); it is currently hoped that the conversion to produce wind turbine components by DMSE will return employment to pre-2007 levels.
Trenton Forge is a separate company located adjacent to the TrentonWorks property dates to the 1870s and operates one of the largest forges in the world. At one time, Trenton also hosted a glass works and paint factory.
The town has been facing significant economic turmoil in recent decades as the local economy transitions from industrial to post-industrial. Rural depopulation in Canada has affected Pictou County and Trenton has witnessed the loss of numerous institutions and businesses over the years. These include: 5 schools, a movie theatre, doctors' offices, many businesses, and several industries. The town has very few local services, relying on the growing commercial district in neighbouring New Glasgow; it has recently seen its last bank branch and gas station close.
In 2004, Trenton lost its only high school during a round of school consolidations and there are currently discussions into closing the only remaining middle school as well.
With the town's residential and commercial tax base in decline, finances are strained for maintaining existing services and it is believed that amalgamation with other incorporated municipalities in Pictou County is inevitable.