Nova Scotia
A Canadian province with a history of Mi'kmaq, French, Scottish, and British settlement.
Nova Scotia is a Canadian province in the Maritimes, situated on the country’s east coast. It holds the title of the most populous province in Atlantic Canada, is the second-most densely populated province nationwide, and ranks as the second-smallest by land area. The province consists of the Nova Scotia peninsula, Cape Breton Island, and roughly 3,800 other coastal islands. It links to the rest of Canada via the Isthmus of Chignecto, where its only land border—with New Brunswick—lies. The capital and largest city is Halifax, which contained over 45 percent of the province’s population according to the 2021 census. Halifax is the twelfth-largest census metropolitan area in Canada, the biggest municipality in Atlantic Canada, and the country’s second-largest coastal municipality, after Vancouver.
The area now known as Nova Scotia was originally inhabited by the Mi’kmaq people when Europeans began arriving. In 1605, France established its first New France colony, Acadia, by founding its capital at Port Royal. Over the following century, the Scots, English, and then British repeatedly fought France for control of the territory, eventually gaining it through the 1713 Peace of Utrecht, which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. Port Royal was renamed Annapolis Royal and served as Nova Scotia’s capital until Halifax was founded in 1749. In later years, the British brought in “foreign Protestants” to settle the region and forcibly deported large numbers of French-speaking Acadians. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), many Loyalists moved to Nova Scotia, as there was uncertainty in the colony about whether to join the American rebellion against Britain. In 1848, Nova Scotia became the first British colony to achieve responsible government. It joined Confederation in July 1867, alongside New Brunswick and the Province of Canada (now Ontario and Quebec), forming Canada.
The name Nova Scotia is Latin for “New Scotland,” and it is the recognized Canadian English name for the province. Before receiving this name, the area was referred to as Nova Francia. Some older maps also label it New Caledonia. In Canadian French and Canadian Gaelic, the province is directly translated as “New Scotland” (French: Nouvelle-Écosse; Gaelic: Alba Nuadh). Most Romance and Slavic languages use translations of “New Scotland,” while most other languages use transliteratio
- Capital
- Halifax
- Population (2026 est.)
- Over 1 million
- Area rank
- Second-smallest province in Canada
- Population density rank
- Second-most densely populated province in Canada
- Date of Confederation
- July 1867
- First British colony with responsible go
- 1848
- Etymology
- Latin for 'New Scotland'
Lore & Background
The land that makes up what is now Nova Scotia was inhabited by the Mi'kmaq people at the time of European colonization. In 1605, Acadia—France's first New France colony—was founded with the creation of Acadia's capital, Port Royal. The Scots, English, then British, fought France for the territory on numerous occasions for over a century afterwards, having gained it from them in the 1713 Peace of Utrecht. Port Royal was renamed Annapolis Royal and served as the capital of Nova Scotia until the founding of Halifax in 1749. In subsequent years, the British began settling 'foreign Protestants' in the region and deported the French-speaking Acadians en masse. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), thousands of Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia. In 1848, Nova Scotia became the first British colony to achieve responsible government. In July 1867, Nova Scotia joined in Confederation with New Brunswick and the Province of Canada, forming Canada.
Reader's Guide
Nova Scotia's significance lies in its role as a key site of early European colonization in North America, particularly through the founding of Acadia in 1605. It was a contested territory between France and Britain for over a century, with the British gaining control in 1713. The province's history includes the deportation of Acadians, the settlement of Loyalists during the American Revolution, and its pioneering achievement of responsible government in 1848, the first British colony to do so. Nova Scotia's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1867 helped shape the nation. Its capital, Halifax, remains the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada and Canada's second-largest coastal municipality after Vancouver. The province's name, Latin for 'New Scotland,' reflects its Scottish colonial origins, while its Mi'kmaq heritage and French Acadian past contribute to a diverse cultural legacy. Today, Nova Scotia is a populous and densely settled province with a distinct identity within Canada.
Did You Know?
- Nova Scotia is Latin for 'New Scotland' and was first named in a 1621 Royal Charter granting Sir William Alexander the right to settle lands as a Scottish colony.
- The province comprises the Nova Scotia peninsula, Cape Breton Island, and 3,800 other coastal islands.
- Halifax is home to over 45% of the province's population as of the 2021 census and is Canada's second-largest coastal municipality after Vancouver.
- Nova Scotia became the first British colony to achieve responsible government in 1848.
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