Westville, Nova Scotia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Westville
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settlement_type = Town
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image_blank_emblem = Westville logo.pngblank_emblem_size =


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dot_mapsize = 250px
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pushpin_map_caption = Location of Westville
pushpin_mapsize = 200
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = NS
subdivision_type2 = Municipality
subdivision_name2 = Pictou County
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leader_title =Mayor
leader_name =Sandy Cyr
leader_title1 = Governing Body
leader_name1 =Westville Council
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established_title = Incorporated
established_date = August 20, 1894
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area_total_km2 = 14.39
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population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes = Cite web|url= http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=1212008&Geo2=PR&Code2=12&Data=Count&SearchText=Westville&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=1212008 |title= Westville Community Profile|author=Statistics Canada|authorlink=Statistics Canada|year=Census 2006|accessdate=2008-06-18]
population_note =
population_total = 3805
population_density_km2 = 264.4
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timezone = AST
utc_offset = -4
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latd=45 |latm=33 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=62 |longm=42 |longs= |longEW=W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 70.1
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type = Postal code span
postal_code = B0K 2A0
area_code = 902
blank_name =Telephone Exchange
blank_info =396, 695
blank1_name =Median Earnings*
blank1_info =$24,757
blank2_name = NTS Map
blank2_info = 011E10
blank3_name = GNBC Code
blank3_info = CBOLU
website = [http://www.westville.ca/ http://www.westville.ca/]
footnotes =

Westville (2006 pop.: 3,805) is a town in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located immediately west of Stellarton and about four kilometres southwest of New Glasgow, the major town in the area.

History

Westville was named so, as it was the west-most point on the East River.Fact|date=April 2008

Founded in 1894 by greg boardway, Westville has a long history of coal mining dating back to 1864 when coal was first discovered. The opening of the Acadia Mine followed in 1866. Westville, along with Stellarton, was once home to a thriving coal mining industry. At it's peak, during WWI, Westville boasted three underground workings; the Black Diamond, the Acadia and the Drummond. However, the last underground mine, the Drummond pit, closed in the 1970s. Open-pit mining was carried out in the community throughout the 1980s. Like many coal towns Westville was a hotbed of sports. Baseball was very popular among the miners. One of the Westville baseball teams was crowned Maritime champion in 1927 and the legendary Babe Ruth visited the town in 1936 and hit a ball over the center field fence. The town also sponsored championship cricket, lacrosse, football and hockey teams.In the early 1900s Westville also boasted the largest natural ice skating rink east of Montreal . Today the miner's monument at Acadia Park honoring those touched by the town's mining disasters, and a community center is all that remains of its proud coal mining heritage.

Amenities

While mainly a bedroom community, Westville's Main Street features banks, shops, restaurants and a recently renovated and renamed Foodland supermarket. Also the newly built Lawtons, it is attached to the local doctors office in the community. A Nova Scotia highway rest stop was opened at the end of Cowan Street off exit 21 of the Trans Canada Highway. It includes Dairy Queen, Tim Hortons and Visitor Information Centre. A car dealership moved from New Glasgow to an expanded location at exit 21 a few years after the rest stop opened. Another dealership relocated to exit 21 from Stellarton in 2008.

One of the three remainingFact|date=April 2008 drive-in theaters in the province is located on the northern edge of town on the Westville Highway. The other two are in Sydney and Cambridge Station (near Berwick).

One of the largest Canada Day celebrations in Atlantic Canada takes place in Westville. The five day event provides all the fun of a county fair plus a giant street parade with annual guest bands from around the world. The year 2007 marked the 100th anniversary of Westville's Canada Day celebrations.

Notable residents

It is the home town to Alvah Mayo (Nova Scotia chess Champion), and Kris MacFarlane (the drummer of Great Big Sea)

References