African Nova Scotian Communities Map
Photograph
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
What do you notice about the locations of these communities?
Do any clusters of communities stand out for you? If so, why?
THINK
What do the locations of these communities tell you about potential jobs for African Nova Scotians?
Why do you think there are several Black communities around Halifax?
DO
Choose a community you would like to research. Try to find landmarks, historical sites, community centres, and other cultural places. As an additional challenge, find and share a story from your chosen community. (Hint: Look up information on websites for the Halifax and Nova Scotia archives.)
Details
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This map shows historical and present-day African Nova Scotian communities.
- Many Black people came from other colonies, including 3,000 Black Loyalists from the U.S., who settled in Nova Scotia after the American Revolution.
- In 1848, individual Black citizens purchased land to establish Africville.
- African Nova Scotians are the province’s largest visible minority. They have deep roots: 77.2 percent are Canadians of three or more generations.
This map shows traditional and present-day African Nova Scotian communities.
The region’s first Black community was at Île-Royale. The 381 enslaved and free Black men and women who lived there from 1713 to 1758 came from other French colonies or had been kidnapped from Africa.
During the American Revolution, the British promised freedom and land to African Americans who fought for them. In 1783–1784, around 3,000 Black Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia — many in Birchtown. Between 1813 and 1834, British ships brought 2,000 Black refugees to Nova Scotia.
In 1848, individual Black citizens purchased land to establish Africville. The Halifax neighbourhood was mostly destroyed by 1969 for “urban development.”
African Nova Scotians are the province’s largest visible minority. They have deep roots: 77.2 percent are Canadians of three or more generations.
This map indicates many of the traditional and present-day African Nova Scotian communities, including the site of Africville, which had mostly been destroyed by 1969 for “urban development.”
From 1713 to 1758, the Fortress of Louisbourg on Île-Royale (now Cape Breton) was home to the first Black community, consisting of 381 people, including enslaved individuals and those who had purchased their freedom. Many had been brought to Île-Royale from French-speaking colonies in the Caribbean, or from Africa.
More enduring Black communities in Nova Scotia were first established in 1783–1784, as a result of Black Loyalist migration to the colony. During the War of American Independence, the British promised freedom and land to enslaved and free African Americans who fought on their side. Around 3,000 Black Loyalists arrived with hopes of starting new lives. The largest Black Loyalist settlement was Birchtown, in Shelburne County. Other communities formed in Halifax, Annapolis Royal, Preston, and Little Tracadie.
Between 1813 and 1834, some 2,000 Black refugees settled in Nova Scotia in existing Black Loyalist communities, while also establishing several new communities. The largest Black refugee communities were at Pockwok (now Upper Hammonds Plains), New Road (now North Preston), Beechville, and Windsor (now Five Miles Plains). Historically, many of these communities centred around a church, which served as the focal point of religious and cultural life for community members.
Africville is another well-known African Nova Scotian community. Unlike most other African Nova Scotian communities, however, Africville developed on land purchased by individual Black citizens. Africville’s founding traditionally dates from 1848, when the land was purchased by William Brown and William Arnold.
Today, African Nova Scotians make up the largest visible minority group in the province. Of the African Nova Scotian population, 77.2 percent are Canadians of three or more generations, demonstrating the historical roots of African Nova Scotians in the province.
- This map shows historical and present-day African Nova Scotian communities.
- Many Black people came from other colonies, including 3,000 Black Loyalists from the U.S., who settled in Nova Scotia after the American Revolution.
- In 1848, individual Black citizens purchased land to establish Africville.
- African Nova Scotians are the province’s largest visible minority. They have deep roots: 77.2 percent are Canadians of three or more generations.
This map shows traditional and present-day African Nova Scotian communities.
The region’s first Black community was at Île-Royale. The 381 enslaved and free Black men and women who lived there from 1713 to 1758 came from other French colonies or had been kidnapped from Africa.
During the American Revolution, the British promised freedom and land to African Americans who fought for them. In 1783–1784, around 3,000 Black Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia — many in Birchtown. Between 1813 and 1834, British ships brought 2,000 Black refugees to Nova Scotia.
In 1848, individual Black citizens purchased land to establish Africville. The Halifax neighbourhood was mostly destroyed by 1969 for “urban development.”
African Nova Scotians are the province’s largest visible minority. They have deep roots: 77.2 percent are Canadians of three or more generations.
This map indicates many of the traditional and present-day African Nova Scotian communities, including the site of Africville, which had mostly been destroyed by 1969 for “urban development.”
From 1713 to 1758, the Fortress of Louisbourg on Île-Royale (now Cape Breton) was home to the first Black community, consisting of 381 people, including enslaved individuals and those who had purchased their freedom. Many had been brought to Île-Royale from French-speaking colonies in the Caribbean, or from Africa.
More enduring Black communities in Nova Scotia were first established in 1783–1784, as a result of Black Loyalist migration to the colony. During the War of American Independence, the British promised freedom and land to enslaved and free African Americans who fought on their side. Around 3,000 Black Loyalists arrived with hopes of starting new lives. The largest Black Loyalist settlement was Birchtown, in Shelburne County. Other communities formed in Halifax, Annapolis Royal, Preston, and Little Tracadie.
Between 1813 and 1834, some 2,000 Black refugees settled in Nova Scotia in existing Black Loyalist communities, while also establishing several new communities. The largest Black refugee communities were at Pockwok (now Upper Hammonds Plains), New Road (now North Preston), Beechville, and Windsor (now Five Miles Plains). Historically, many of these communities centred around a church, which served as the focal point of religious and cultural life for community members.
Africville is another well-known African Nova Scotian community. Unlike most other African Nova Scotian communities, however, Africville developed on land purchased by individual Black citizens. Africville’s founding traditionally dates from 1848, when the land was purchased by William Brown and William Arnold.
Today, African Nova Scotians make up the largest visible minority group in the province. Of the African Nova Scotian population, 77.2 percent are Canadians of three or more generations, demonstrating the historical roots of African Nova Scotians in the province.
Summary
- This map shows historical and present-day African Nova Scotian communities.
- Many Black people came from other colonies, including 3,000 Black Loyalists from the U.S., who settled in Nova Scotia after the American Revolution.
- In 1848, individual Black citizens purchased land to establish Africville.
- African Nova Scotians are the province’s largest visible minority. They have deep roots: 77.2 percent are Canadians of three or more generations.
Essential
This map shows traditional and present-day African Nova Scotian communities.
The region’s first Black community was at Île-Royale. The 381 enslaved and free Black men and women who lived there from 1713 to 1758 came from other French colonies or had been kidnapped from Africa.
During the American Revolution, the British promised freedom and land to African Americans who fought for them. In 1783–1784, around 3,000 Black Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia — many in Birchtown. Between 1813 and 1834, British ships brought 2,000 Black refugees to Nova Scotia.
In 1848, individual Black citizens purchased land to establish Africville. The Halifax neighbourhood was mostly destroyed by 1969 for “urban development.”
African Nova Scotians are the province’s largest visible minority. They have deep roots: 77.2 percent are Canadians of three or more generations.
In-Depth
This map indicates many of the traditional and present-day African Nova Scotian communities, including the site of Africville, which had mostly been destroyed by 1969 for “urban development.”
From 1713 to 1758, the Fortress of Louisbourg on Île-Royale (now Cape Breton) was home to the first Black community, consisting of 381 people, including enslaved individuals and those who had purchased their freedom. Many had been brought to Île-Royale from French-speaking colonies in the Caribbean, or from Africa.
More enduring Black communities in Nova Scotia were first established in 1783–1784, as a result of Black Loyalist migration to the colony. During the War of American Independence, the British promised freedom and land to enslaved and free African Americans who fought on their side. Around 3,000 Black Loyalists arrived with hopes of starting new lives. The largest Black Loyalist settlement was Birchtown, in Shelburne County. Other communities formed in Halifax, Annapolis Royal, Preston, and Little Tracadie.
Between 1813 and 1834, some 2,000 Black refugees settled in Nova Scotia in existing Black Loyalist communities, while also establishing several new communities. The largest Black refugee communities were at Pockwok (now Upper Hammonds Plains), New Road (now North Preston), Beechville, and Windsor (now Five Miles Plains). Historically, many of these communities centred around a church, which served as the focal point of religious and cultural life for community members.
Africville is another well-known African Nova Scotian community. Unlike most other African Nova Scotian communities, however, Africville developed on land purchased by individual Black citizens. Africville’s founding traditionally dates from 1848, when the land was purchased by William Brown and William Arnold.
Today, African Nova Scotians make up the largest visible minority group in the province. Of the African Nova Scotian population, 77.2 percent are Canadians of three or more generations, demonstrating the historical roots of African Nova Scotians in the province.