Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

Infobox Settlement
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settlement_type = Town
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = NS
subdivision_type2 = Municipality
subdivision_name2 = Annapolis County
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leader_title =Mayor
leader_name =John Kinsella
leader_title1 = Governing Body
leader_name1 =Annapolis Royal Town Council
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 1605
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = November 29, 1892
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population_total = 444
population_density_km2 = 217.7
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latd=44 |latm=44 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=65 |longm=130 |longs= |longEW=W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 0-7
elevation_ft = 0-23
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = B0S
area_code = 902
blank_name =Telephone Exchange
blank_info =526, 532
blank1_name =Median Earnings*
blank1_info =$40,949
blank2_name = NTS Map
blank2_info = 021A12
blank3_name = GNBC Code
blank3_info = CAASF
website = [http://www.annapolisroyal.com/ http://www.annapolisroyal.com/]
footnotes = *Median household income, 2000 ($) (all households)

Part of a series about Places in Nova Scotia

Annapolis Royal (2006 Population 444) is a Canadian town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port-Royal to France until being renamed in 1710 by Britain, the town is located in an area that claims to have the second oldest continuous European settlement in North America after St. Augustine, Florida.

__NOTOC__

Geography

The community is situated at the western end of the fertile Annapolis Valley, nestled between the North and South mountains which define the valley. The Bay of Fundy is just over the North Mountain, 10 kilometers out of town, and Annapolis Basin forms the waterfront for this historic town on the southern bank of the Annapolis River at the mouth of Allains Creek. Directly opposite Annapolis Royal on the northern bank of the river is the community of Granville Ferry.

History

The original French settlement at Port Royal, known as the Habitation at Port-Royal, was settled by Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Monts in 1605. This site is approximately convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on west of present-day Annapolis Royal at the mouth of the Annapolis River on the Annapolis Basin.

The first settlement was abandoned after being destroyed by British attackers in 1613 and a second settlement was established by France at present-day Annapolis Royal. [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002923] It was also called Port-Royal and it developed into the capital of the French colony of Acadia. Port-Royal prospered for nearly a century, though it was subject to frequent attacks and capture by British military forces or those of its New England colonists, only to be restored each time to French control by subsequent recapture or treaty stipulations. Acadia remained in French hands throughout most of the 17th century.

In 1710, Port-Royal surrendered for the last time to British forces who renamed it Annapolis Royal after Queen Anne (1665-1714), the reigning monarch. The name is formed through a mix of the former French name Port-Royal and combining the queen's name with that of 'polis', the Greek word for city. The French fort was renamed Fort Anne and established as a British garrison. The Fort, built originally around 1703, was designed to defend the capital from seaward attack. Today, much of the original earthen embankments are preserved for tours by the public, as well as some buildings original to the military facility and the Garrison Cemetery. The oldest cemetery in Canada, dating back to the French and later the British. The oldest gravestone in Canada is among the graves...Bethiah Douglas, 1710.

Under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, Acadia was granted to the British; however the vague boundary definitions saw only the peninsular part of Nova Scotia granted to Britain, and the next half century would be turbulent years as Britain and France acted out the final struggle for Acadia and North America.

Annapolis Royal served as the first capital of the Colony of Nova Scotia from 1710 until the founding of Halifax in 1749. Incorporation as a town under the provincial municipalities act took place in 1893. The Annapolis Basin, Annapolis River and the Annapolis Valley all take their name from the town. Under the French reign, Annapolis River had been known as Rivière Dauphin.

Since the early 20th century, the outskirts of the town has been the site of a bridge connecting the south side of the Annapolis River to the north side at Granville Ferry; before the bridge, there was a ferry connection. In 1961, the bridge was replaced with a causeway or dam and in 1984, as part of Nova Scotia Power's tidal power project, the causeway was incorporated as part of the Annapolis Royal Tidal Power Generating Station.

The construction of the tidal generating station at Annapolis Royal by the then-provincially owned electrical utility was part of a pilot project to investigate this alternative method of generating electricity. It is the first and only tidal power facility in operation in North America. The generating station has created tangible environmental changes in water and air temperatures in the area, siltation patterns in the river, and increased erosion of the river banks on both sides of the dam.

Economy

The trains of the Dominion Atlantic Railway ceased operations in 1990, bringing much industrial commerce within the confines of Nova Scotia's smallest town to a halt. Today, after many years of neglect, the old brick railway station is being privately renovated into professional office space.

The fleet of scallop boats moored in the Annapolis Basin continue to generate millions of dollars of economic activity each year, and support many businesses in the Annapolis Royal area. Fort Anne, contained within the boundaries of the town, was designated as a National Historic Site in 1917 and is a natural tourist attraction. The town also contains the largest Registered Historic District in Canada, as well as a waterfront boardwalk, a variety of unique shops, and many mature trees. Visitors can enjoy a fine selection of Bed & Breakfast accommodations, the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens (established in 1986), and a number of historical walking tours. During the summer, late night, guided candle light Garrison Cemetery tours are available and very popular. An added benefit is the scenery of the surrounding countryside, much of which is agricultural. The mild climate and scenic location make this a favourite destination in all seasons. Nova Scotia's largest amusement park, Upper Clements Park, was built several kilometres west of the town in nearby Upper Clements.

The town, along with most of Annapolis and Digby counties, experienced a severe economic decline during the mid-1990s after a nearby military training base, CFB Cornwallis, was closed as a result of defence budget cuts. The former base located on the shores of the Annapolis Basin in Cornwallis is now the site of an international peacekeeping training centre, and an innovative industrial park for small businesses.

ee also

* Monarchy in Nova Scotia

References

External links

* [http://www.annapolisroyal.com Town of Annapolis Royal website]
* [http://www.fundycommunities.com Fundy Communities Development Association website]

References and further reading

* Brenda Dunn, "A History of Port-Royal/Annapolis Royal 1605-1800", Halifax: Nimbus, 2004.