New Minas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Minas
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Village
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| Motto(s):
"A Good Place To Live" "Shopping Centre of the Valley"
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 New Minas
Location in Nova Scotia
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| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  Nova Scotia |
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| County | Kings County | |
| Incorporated | September 1, 1968 | |
| Electoral Districts Federal |
Kings-Hants |
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| Provincial | Kings South | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Village Commission | |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 5,135 | |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) | |
| Postal code(s) |
B4N
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| Website | newminas.com | |
New Minas is a village in Nova Scotia, Canada. It's found in the eastern part of Kings County. This area is part of Nova Scotia's beautiful Annapolis Valley. In 2011, about 5,135 people lived there.
Contents
Where is New Minas Located?
New Minas is right next to other towns. To its west is Kentville. To its east is Greenwich. Further east, you'll find the town of Wolfville.
The village is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Halifax. New Minas sits along the south bank of the Cornwallis River. It's also on the lower slopes of the South Mountain. Highway No. 1 runs through the village. This highway forms the main street of New Minas.
The Story of New Minas
Early Days and Acadian Settlers
New Minas was first settled in 1682. Acadians from the Grand Pré area founded it. They named their settlements "Les Mines" or "Minas." This name came from French copper mines explored nearby. As the Minas settlement grew, families moved west. They followed the Cornwallis River. Pierre Terriot led these families. They started a new settlement, which the English later called "New Minas."
The Acadians called their settlement St. Antoine. It was built near a tidal island. This island, later known as Oak Island, was in a bend of the river. The Acadians built dykes to connect to Oak Island. This helped them turn marshland into good farmland. The settlement grew to have a mill, a chapel, and a burial ground.
The Acadian Expulsion
Sadly, the Acadians were later forced to leave their homes. This event was called the Acadian Expulsion. In 1755, during the Bay of Fundy Campaign, the settlement was destroyed.
New Settlers and a Strange Sighting
In the 1760s, new settlers arrived. These were New England Planters. They rebuilt farms further from the river. Their farms were along the Old Post Road. This road later became Nova Scotia's Highway No. 1.
New Minas is also famous for an early UFO sighting. On October 12, 1796, a merchant named Simeon Perkins wrote in his diary. He reported stories of "ships flying in the air." A young woman and two men saw them at sunrise. They saw up to fifteen "ships in the air" at Mr. Ratchford's place. One "man forward with his hand stretched out" was also seen. Perkins noted that not everyone believed the story, but some did.
Growth and Development
For a long time, New Minas was mostly a farming community. It was located between Kentville and Wolfville. The Dominion Atlantic Railway had a gravel quarry at Oak Island. It also served food and feed plants in New Minas.
Development really picked up in the 1970s. This was when Highway 101 was built. New Minas had lower taxes. It was also perfectly located between Kentville and Wolfville. Soon, many shops and stores opened. New Minas became a major shopping center for the eastern Annapolis Valley. You can find many big box stores and fast food places there.
New Minas Today
A Shopping Hub
New Minas has been a big shopping spot since the early 1970s. In recent years, it has seen a lot of growth. Many large stores have opened. Older stores have also rebuilt into bigger places.
The village has many jobs in the service industry. These are often minimum-wage jobs. Other nearby communities offer different job opportunities. For example, Wolfville has jobs related to Acadia University. Kentville has an industrial park and a hospital. New Minas does not have its own hospital. Residents need to travel to Kentville for hospital visits.
Road Improvements and Filming
For a while, New Minas was known for its poor side roads. However, the Village of New Minas has been working hard. They are trying to get the Province of Nova Scotia to fix these roads.
New Minas also hosted the film crew for the TV show Call Me Fitz. They filmed at the old local Kia Motors building. The car dealership had moved, so the showroom was changed into "Fitzpatrick Motors" for the show.
Recently, a new traffic circle (rotary) was built. This helps with the increasing number of businesses. It also connects to a new off-ramp from Highway 101. The construction of this off-ramp finished in 2018.
