The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Annapolis (Nova Scotia)

ANNAPOLIS. I. A W. county of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, bounded N. W. by the bay of Fundy; area, about 1,700 sq. m.; pop. in 1871, 18,121. The principal river is the Annapolis, which flows S. W. about 60 m., through an expansion called Annapolis basin, to the bay of Fundy. The surface is varied. The elevated ridge of the North mountains extends along the coast, with flanks of excellent soil; the uplands of the valley of Annapolis river are well adapted to fruit culture; and the region S. of the Annapolis valley is broken but generally fertile. There is a valuable bed of iron ore near the Moose and Nictaux rivers. The chief employment of the population is agriculture, and the exports of dairy produce are considerable. II. A town (formerly Port Royal), capital of the above-named county, situated on Annapolis basin, in lat. 44° 40' N., lon. 65° 37' W., 95 m. W. of Halifax, with which it is connected by railway; pop. 2,127. The basin is a capacious and sheltered harbor, but the entrance, through Annapolis strait, is narrow and difficult. The first European settlement on this part of the coast was made here by De Monts in 1604. Under the name of Port Royal it was the capital of the French colony of Acadia, after the conquest of which by the English in 1710 the name of the town was changed. The capital was removed to Halifax in 1750.