Kentville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kentville
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The iconic Cornwallis Inn, now Main Street Station, in Downtown Kentville
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| Motto(s):
"Magna E Parva"
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 Kentville
Location in Nova Scotia
Kentville
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Nova Scotia | ||
| County | Kings County | ||
| Incorporated | 7 December 1886 | ||
| Electoral Districts Federal |
Kings-Hants |
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| Provincial | Kings North | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Town Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Land | 17.08 km2 (6.59 sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 17.84 km2 (6.89 sq mi) | ||
| • Metro | 609.76 km2 (235.43 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 31 m (102 ft) | ||
| Population
(2021)
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| • Town | 6,630 | ||
| • Density | 388.2/km2 (1,005/sq mi) | ||
| • Metro | 26,929 | ||
| • Metro density | 44.4/km2 (115/sq mi) | ||
| • Change (2016-21) |  5.7 |
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| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) | ||
| Postal code(s) |
B4N
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| Area code(s) |
902
300, 365 ,670 ,678, 679, 680, 681, 690, 691, 692 ,698
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| Dwellings | 3,090 | ||
| Median Income* | $44,164 CDN | ||
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Kentville is a town located in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the largest town in the beautiful Annapolis Valley. In 2021, about 6,630 people lived in Kentville. If you include the surrounding areas, the population is around 26,929.
Contents
Discovering Kentville's Past
Kentville is located by the Cornwallis River. This river becomes a large tidal river that flows into the Minas Basin. The riverbank here was an easy place to cross the river. This made Kentville an important crossroads for other towns in the Annapolis Valley. It was also as far as sailing ships could go up the river. The Mi'kmaq people called this place "Penooek."
Early Acadian Settlers
The first European settlers in this area were the Acadians. They built many dykes along the river. These dykes kept the high Bay of Fundy tides from flooding their farmland. This created the rich, fertile soil that the Annapolis Valley is famous for. In 1755, the Acadians were forced to leave by the British. This happened because they would not promise loyalty to the British king. After they left, new settlers from New England arrived. Later, during the American Revolution, more settlers called United Empire Loyalists also moved here.
How Kentville Got Its Name
The town was first known as Horton's Corner. But in 1826, it was renamed Kentville. This was to honor Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent. He was the son of King George III and the father of Queen Victoria. Prince Edward lived in Nova Scotia from 1794 to 1800.
At first, Kentville was smaller than other towns with better harbors. But its location at a crossroads attracted early shopkeepers. It also had several inns for stagecoaches. Small ships could even bring goods to the "Klondyke" area by the Cornwallis River. In the early 1800s, Kentville was known as a lively place with horse races. It even earned the nickname "The Devil's Half Acre."
Mi'kmaq and African Nova Scotian Communities
Before Kentville became a town, the northern part was called Pine Woods. This area was home to a large Mi’kmaq community for a long time. The first English-speaking settlers, the New England Planters, arrived between 1759 and 1768. They quickly settled on the rich farmlands that the Acadians used to farm.
Later, in the late 1700s and early 1800s, many Black Nova Scotian families moved to the Pine Woods area. These families were descendants of enslaved people or freed Black Loyalists from the United States. Pine Woods is one of the 52 historic Black communities in Nova Scotia. Since Kentville became a town in 1886, it has welcomed many different cultures. Today, people from the Philippines, Latin America, South Asia, and other parts of the world live here. Kentville is now the fastest-growing town in Nova Scotia!
Kentville's Growth and Development
Kentville really started to grow when the Windsor and Annapolis Railway (later called the Dominion Atlantic Railway) set up its main office here in 1868. The railway helped ship Annapolis Valley apples to markets in Britain. This created many jobs and attracted other businesses. These included mills, dairies, a large metal factory, and a company that made carriages and even early cars.
A special railway line, the Cornwallis Valley Railway, was built in 1889. It went north to Canning and Kingsport. This helped the apple industry even more. It also allowed workers, shoppers, and schoolchildren to travel easily to and from Kentville. The railway also brought large institutions to the town. These included a TB hospital, a federal agricultural research station, and an army training base at Camp Aldershot.
Kentville became a major travel hub. A large hotel called the Cornwallis Inn was built in the town center by the railway. The town thrived during World War I and World War II. There was a lot of railway traffic for the war effort. Thousands of soldiers were also trained at Camp Aldershot. Many local residents served overseas in the West Nova Scotia Regiment. A Royal Canadian Navy ship, HMCS Kentville, was even named after the town. Its crew often visited Kentville.
Challenges After the Wars
After World War II, Kentville faced some tough times. The apple industry, which was very important, struggled. This was because it lost its main market in Britain. The nearby military base at Camp Aldershot also became much smaller. The Dominion Atlantic Railway, a big employer, saw its business decline. This was due to the apple industry's problems and more people traveling by car.
In the 1970s, the town's main shopping area also suffered. New shopping malls and large "big box" stores opened in nearby New Minas. The university town of Wolfville also became more popular for restaurants and cultural places. Passenger train service ended in 1990. Freight service stopped in 1993, and the railway repair shops moved away. Kentville also lost many historic buildings after the war. For example, the large railway station, which was very old and important, was torn down in 1990.
Population Changes
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In 2021, the Census of Population showed that Kentville had 6,630 people living there. They lived in 2,956 homes out of 3,090 total homes. This was a 5.7% increase from its 2016 population of 6,271. Kentville covers a land area of 17.08 square kilometers. This means it had about 388.2 people per square kilometer in 2021.
What Industries Thrive in Kentville?
In the early 1900s, Kentville became the main business center for Kings County. Even though some businesses moved to other towns after the wars, Kentville is still an important center for professional services in the Annapolis Valley. You can find many law offices, doctors, and investment companies here. The Valley Regional Hospital, built in 1991, is located just outside of town. Kentville also has the Annapolis Valley Regional Industrial Park. Many different businesses operate there, providing jobs for local people.
Agriculture is still a very important industry in the Kentville area. Growing fruit, especially apples, is a big part of this. Kentville is home to one of the largest agricultural research centers in Nova Scotia. It was founded in 1911 and locals call it The Research Station. Today, over 200 people work there. The center covers 473 acres of land on the east side of town.
Kentville shares its northern border along the Cornwallis River with Camp Aldershot. This is a military training base that started in 1904. During World War II, the camp was very busy, housing about 7,000 soldiers. Today, it is an army reserve training center. It is also the main office for The West Nova Scotia Regiment.
Kentville's Electric Utility (Sold in 1997)
Until 1997-1998, Kentville was one of seven towns in Nova Scotia that owned its own electricity company. This company, called the Kentville Electric Commission, provided power within the town limits. While the other six towns joined together in 1998, Kentville decided to sell its utility. It was sold to Nova Scotia Power, a private company that provides electricity to the rest of the province.
Fun Community Events
The Apple Blossom Festival started in 1933. It is held every May to celebrate the beautiful apple blossoms. This festival highlights the local apple industry, which is a very important part of the region's farming.
Kentville is also famous for its Pumpkin People Festival.
Other yearly festivals and events in Kentville include:
- Devil's Half Acre Motorcycle Rally
- Open Street Chalk Art Festival
- Kentville Multicultural Festival (This is currently the biggest Multicultural Festival in Nova Scotia!)
- Kentville Harvest Festival
- KBC's Great Big Country Fair
What is Kentville's Climate Like?
Kentville has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Kentville was 37.8°C (100°F) on August 12, 1944. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -31.1°C (-24°F) on February 1, 1920.
| Climate data for Kentville CDA, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1913–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 18.1 | 17.3 | 25.7 | 27.0 | 34.0 | 40.0 | 42.0 | 42.0 | 38.0 | 32.0 | 26.0 | 18.5 | 42.0 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.1 (64.6) |
17.3 (63.1) |
25.7 (78.3) |
30.1 (86.2) |
32.5 (90.5) |
35.0 (95.0) |
36.1 (97.0) |
37.8 (100.0) |
33.8 (92.8) |
28.3 (82.9) |
23.7 (74.7) |
18.5 (65.3) |
37.8 (100.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.2 (29.8) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
3.5 (38.3) |
9.7 (49.5) |
16.5 (61.7) |
21.8 (71.2) |
25.2 (77.4) |
24.7 (76.5) |
20.2 (68.4) |
13.7 (56.7) |
7.9 (46.2) |
2.1 (35.8) |
12.0 (53.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −5.3 (22.5) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
5.2 (41.4) |
11.1 (52.0) |
16.3 (61.3) |
19.8 (67.6) |
19.3 (66.7) |
15.2 (59.4) |
9.4 (48.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
7.4 (45.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −9.4 (15.1) |
−8.9 (16.0) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
0.6 (33.1) |
5.7 (42.3) |
10.7 (51.3) |
14.2 (57.6) |
13.9 (57.0) |
10.2 (50.4) |
4.9 (40.8) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
2.7 (36.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −30.6 (−23.1) |
−31.1 (−24.0) |
−27.8 (−18.0) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
2.8 (37.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−16.1 (3.0) |
−25.6 (−14.1) |
−31.1 (−24.0) |
| Record low wind chill | −35 | −35 | −28 | −17 | −6 | −3 | 2.8 | 2.2 | −2 | −6 | −20 | −30 | −35 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 116.1 (4.57) |
101.3 (3.99) |
109.8 (4.32) |
92.7 (3.65) |
102.1 (4.02) |
81.6 (3.21) |
84.0 (3.31) |
76.7 (3.02) |
84.4 (3.32) |
89.0 (3.50) |
121.5 (4.78) |
122.0 (4.80) |
1,181.2 (46.50) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 50.8 (2.00) |
46.3 (1.82) |
67.1 (2.64) |
73.8 (2.91) |
97.3 (3.83) |
81.6 (3.21) |
84.0 (3.31) |
76.7 (3.02) |
84.4 (3.32) |
89.0 (3.50) |
108.9 (4.29) |
70.9 (2.79) |
930.8 (36.65) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 71.4 (28.1) |
59.2 (23.3) |
45.2 (17.8) |
17.2 (6.8) |
4.0 (1.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
12.9 (5.1) |
53.1 (20.9) |
263.0 (103.5) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 17.5 | 14.8 | 13.6 | 13.9 | 14.1 | 12.6 | 11.7 | 10.9 | 11.0 | 13.6 | 15.7 | 17.2 | 166.6 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 6.9 | 5.5 | 7.8 | 12.1 | 14.0 | 12.6 | 11.7 | 10.9 | 11.0 | 13.6 | 13.9 | 9.0 | 129.0 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 13.1 | 11.6 | 8.3 | 3.6 | 0.31 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 10.7 | 50.5 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | −5.6 (21.9) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
3.6 (38.5) |
10.9 (51.6) |
15.5 (59.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
10.2 (50.4) |
5.7 (42.3) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.4 (38.1) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 77.8 | 101.6 | 133.0 | 156.5 | 198.9 | 214.0 | 234.8 | 225.9 | 178.4 | 141.3 | 78.6 | 65.0 | 1,805.7 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 27.3 | 34.6 | 36.0 | 38.7 | 43.2 | 45.9 | 49.7 | 51.8 | 47.3 | 41.5 | 27.3 | 23.7 | 38.9 |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Who Are Kentville's Famous Residents?
Many notable people have come from Kentville or nearby areas. Here are a few:
- Composer Robert Aitken
- Former NHL player Jerry Byers
- Actor Peter Donat
- Inventor of kerosene Abraham Gesner
- Comedian Jay Malone
- Linguist Silas Tertius Rand
- Zoologist Austin L. Rand
- Boxer Bryan Gibson
- CFL All-Canadian Bruce Beaton
- Blue Man Group member Scott Bishop
- Blues Guitarist Dutch Mason
- Filmmaker Dylan Mohan Gray
- Author Maria Mutch
- Federal Cabinet Minister Anita Anand (professor)
- MLS Forward and Canada international footballer Jacob Shaffelburg
- Author and musician Thibault Jacquot-Paratte
Learning and Education in Kentville
Kentville has schools for different age groups. Kings County Academy in Kentville teaches students from primary grades up to grade eight. For high school, students attend Northeast Kings Education Centre. This school is about 15–20 minutes away in Canning.
There are also places for higher education. The Kingstec campus of the Nova Scotia Community College is on the edge of town. Acadia University[1] is in nearby Wolfville. Kentville also has a public library and a C@P site (a place with public internet access). The Kings County Museum is also in Kentville, located in the town's old courthouse. Other nearby elementary schools include Aldershot Elementary School and Glooscap Elementary School.
Recreation and Fun Activities
Kentville offers many great places for sports and fun. The Kentville Arena (now called the Kentville Centennial Arena) is believed to have hosted the very first summer ice hockey school. The town also has a large indoor soccer arena. You can find many outdoor baseball and soccer fields, plus playgrounds for kids.
Kentville Memorial Park is considered one of the best baseball parks in Eastern Canada. It is home to the Kentville Wildcats, a senior baseball team. They have won several championships in their league and even one Canadian championship! The Kentville swimming pool is where the Kentville Marlins Swim Team practices.
Sister Cities of Kentville
Kentville has special connections with two other cities:
See also
In Spanish: Kentville (Nueva Escocia) para niños
