Geography

The valley measures approximately 150 km in length from Digby and the Annapolis Basin in the west to Wolfville and the Minas Basin in the east, spanning the counties of Digby, Annapolis and Kings.

Some also include the western part of Hants County, including the towns of Hantsport and Windsor even further to the east, but geographically speaking they are part of the Avon River valley.

The steep face of basaltic North Mountain shelters the valley from the adjacent Bay of Fundy and rises to almost 1000 feet in elevation in some parts. The granitic South Mountain also rises to similar elevation and shelters the valley from the climate of the Atlantic Ocean approximately 100 kilometres further south on the province's South Shore.

The shelter provided by these two mountainous ridges has produced a "micro climate" which provides relatively mild temperatures for the region and, coupled with the fertile glacial sedimentary soils on the valley floor, the region is conducive to growing vegetable and fruit crops. Particularly famous for its apple crop, the valley hosts in excess of 1,000 farms of various types, the majority being relatively small family-owned operations.

Within the valley itself are two "major" rivers, the Annapolis River which flows west from the Caribou Bog in the central part of the valley into the Annapolis Basin, and the Cornwallis River which flows east from Caribou Bog into the Minas Basin. The North Mountain ridge forms the north side of the Annapolis Valley.

History

Long settled by the Mi'kmaq Nation, the valley experienced French settlement at the Habitation at Port-Royal, near modern day Annapolis Royal in the western part of the valley, beginning in 1605 and continuing through to the British-ordered expulsion of Acadians in 1755 and at Grand Pré in the eastern part of the valley. New England Planters moved in to occupy the abandoned Acadian farming areas and the region also saw subsequent settlement by Loyalist refugees of the American Revolutionary War, as well as foreign Protestants.

Economy

Today, the valley is still largely dominated by agriculture but also has a growing diversity in its economies, partly aided by the importance of post-secondary education centres provided by Acadia University in Wolfville, and the Nova Scotia Community College campuses located in Kentville, Middleton, Lawrencetown, and Digby.

Michelin has an important truck tire manufacturing plant in Waterville and the Department of National Defence has its largest air force base in Atlantic Canada located at CFB Greenwood.

Tourism is also an important industry and the Annapolis Valley is known for its scenic farmland.

The valley is home to the annual Apple Blossom Festival, held in late spring.

Kentville, located only 103kms from Halifax, is today the most populous and increasingly growing town in all of the Annapolis Valley.

The recorded history of the Town of Kentville is one that dates back to the time of the first European settlers, the horse drawn carriage and the CP railway. This area of Nova Scotia, along the famous Bay of Fundy, was initially settled by the Mi’Kmaq Indians who were the first settlers in Canada, centuries before the Europeans found the land and claimed it as their own. The Mi’Kmaq referred to this area as Penook which meant “fording place,” because of its location at the bend in the Cornwallis River, a natural crossing point between Horton and Cornwallis townships.

Kentville is located in the Annapolis Valley, which is considered one of North America’s richest agricultural districts. The terrain of this area is rugged and irregular, but more hilly than mountainous. The lowlands are suitable for farmers and are found around the shores of the Bay of Fundy and in the Annapolis Valley. Residents enjoy more sunny days per year than almost any other community in Nova Scotia. As the province is a peninsula and is nearly surrounded by the ocean, the climate is more temperate, cooler summers and winters less severe than in other part of Eastern Canada. The Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current offshore, adds to the warmer winters.

Springtime in Kentville is always a celebrated season, as it brings renewed life, the promise of a bountiful harvest, and a beautiful lushness to the surrounding countryside.

While the rest of the world fell victim to the Great Depression of the 1930s, the first Apple Blossom Festival was celebrated in Kentville, during the spring of 1932. Great local music, a beauty pageant, a Blossom Ball, and a parade were featured and tens of thousands of people attended. The town recently celebrated its 72nd annual Apple Blossom Festival, which saw the attendance rise to over 60,000 people.

Kentville not only celebrates the beginning of the harvest season, but also the end. The annual Harvest Festival is held the beginning of each October and welcomes not only the world famous “Pumpkin People” by thousands of visitors who make the town a destination point, during their autumn tour of the province. Activities involve hay wagon rides, crafts, community bands, buskers, competitions, and lots of great things to eat.

Every Christmas season the towns’ people gather for the annual Torchlight Parade and Christmas party. This involves the lighting of the huge Christmas tree in the center of town, a visit from Santa, a skating party of the local arena, entertainment and some delicious hot apple cider.

Kentville has much to be proud of. It has the highest per capita ratio of professionals than any other place in Canada; it plays host to national level sporting events in and on first class facilities; it has a delightful downtown core with renowned restaurants, pubs, cafés, a live theatre, museums and historic sites; and is the centre of commerce and medicine. Seen as a most desirable place to live and work, Kentville is poised on the brink of much commercial and residential development.

The history of industry in Kentville is rooted in agriculture. The town has played host to the traditional industries of the time such as coal, timber, dairies, bakeries, food processing and local fruit stands. Manufacturing industries began to bloom after the surge of the industrial revolution of the late 19th century.

The Town of Kentville is known for the production of the first automobile in Nova Scotia. In 1910, an automobile name the MacKay rolled out of the Carriage Factory on Cornwallis Street in Kentville. Four years later the factory had produced 200 cars.

The Annapolis Valley Regional Industrial Park, one of Kentville’s most active business centers, was opened in September of 1979 and covers approximately 200 acres. The park has over 40 businesses and industries and is considered the economical core for large business sectors.

Source - http://www.town.kentville.ns.ca