North Preston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
North Preston
Up Home, New Road Settlement
|
|
|---|---|
Entrance to North Preston
|
|
 North Preston
Location in Canada
North Preston
Location in Nova Scotia
|
|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Nova Scotia |
| Municipality | Halifax Regional Municipality |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (ADT) |
| GNBC Code | CBRDX |
North Preston is a special community in Nova Scotia, Canada. It's part of the Halifax Regional Municipality. This community is mostly home to Black Nova Scotians. In fact, North Preston is the largest Black community in Nova Scotia. It also has the highest number of African Canadians living together in any community across Canada.
Contents
North Preston: A Look at Its Past
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 572 | — |
| 1931 | 741 | +29.5% |
| 1956 | 885 | +19.4% |
| 1981 | 1,240 | +40.1% |
| 1986 | 1,230 | −0.8% |
| 1996 | 1,135 | −7.7% |
| 2001 | 950 | −16.3% |
| 2006 | 847 | −10.8% |
| 2011 | 868 | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 903 | +4.0% |
| Source: Statistics Canada | ||
North Preston's story began with several groups of people moving there. This happened during the 1700s and 1800s.
Early Settlers and New Beginnings
The American Revolution brought the first group, called Black Loyalists, to the Preston area. These were Black people who supported the British during the war.
In the 1790s, another group arrived. These were the Jamaican Maroons, who came from Jamaica. Many Maroons later moved to Sierra Leone, but some stayed in Preston.
A third big group came starting in 1813. These were Black Refugees from the War of 1812. They mostly came from the southern United States. They brought with them a strong Baptist church tradition.
Sometimes, runaway slaves also joined these groups. More recently, people from Ontario, the Caribbean, Africa, and the United States have moved to North Preston. Many of them have married into local families.
Churches and Community Growth
In 1842, the First Preston Church was started. This was an important place for the community.
In 1854, the African Baptist Association was formed. Richard Preston and Septimus Clarke helped create it. This group connected Baptist churches across Nova Scotia. Most of their members were Black.
A second church was built in North Preston in 1856. It was first called the "South Church." In 1879, a new building was put up. The church was then renamed St. Thomas Church. This was to honor their first pastor, John R. Thomas.
Some people from Preston later moved to a new area. In 1846, William Brown Sr. and William Arnold bought land. This land was near the Bedford Basin in Halifax. People from Preston and Hammonds Plains started settling there. This area became known as Africville.
Modern Community Facilities
In 2014, a new community center opened on Simmonds Road. It was built to serve about 5,000 people. An RCMP (police) station was also built next to it. This station helps North Preston and nearby areas.
In 2019, a large basketball court was built. It was an Olympic-sized court. Shaquille Smith, a North Preston resident, helped raise money for it.
North Preston Today: Life in the Community
North Preston has many people who own their homes. The number of people living there has stayed steady. This community has avoided big changes that have happened in other Black Nova Scotian settlements. These changes, called gentrification, happen when new buildings and people change an area.
People in North Preston earn a good income. Their average income is $33,233. This is higher than the average for all of Nova Scotia, which is $31,795. The community is still somewhat separate from the rest of Halifax. It keeps its rural, quiet feel.
Community Events and Services
North Preston Day is a yearly festival and parade. It happens every July 4. Many community members attend this free event. Guests from outside the community are also welcome.
Nelson Whynder Elementary School serves the children of North Preston. The community also has many important buildings. These include a day care, a medical center, and a volunteer fire department. There are also several local businesses. Saint Thomas United Baptist Church is a very important spiritual center for the community.
There are different ideas about how many people live in North Preston. Some estimates say around 805 residents. Others suggest as many as 4,100 people.
Notable People from North Preston
North Preston is home to many talented individuals. Here are a few:
- Kirk Johnson, a famous boxer.
- Custio Clayton, a boxer who won the Canadian amateur championship six times.
- Dwayne Provo, an athlete and politician.
- Lindell Wigginton, a basketball player.
- Keonte Beals, a singer and author.
- Evangeline Cain-Grant, North Preston's first lawyer. In 1994, she was the first Canadian-born Black woman to open her own law office in Canada. She was also the first Canadian-born Black woman to work as a lawyer on her own.
