For the benefit of those researchers unfamilier with the geography of Nova Scotia, here is a map showing the boundaries of the various counties:

Principal Towns/Townships/Communities in each county:

* County Seat

County Formed Part of/Comments
Annapolis 1759 Formerly part of Halifax Co.
Antigonish 1784 Formerly part of Halifax Co. **
Cape Breton 1784 A seperate colony from 1784 to 1820; A county since 1820.
Colchester 1835 Formerly a district of Halifax Co.
Cumberland 1759 Formerly part of Halifax Co. **
Digby 1837 Formerly part of Annapolis Co.
Guysborough 1836 Formerly part of Halifax Co. **
Hants 1781 Formerly part of Kings Co.
Inverness 1835 Formerly part of Cape Breton Co.
Kings 1759 Formerly part of Halifax Co.
Lunenburg 1759 Formerly part of Halifax Co.
Pictou 1835 Formerly a district of Halifax Co.
Queens 1762 Formerly a part of Lunenburg Co.
Richmond 1835 Formerly a part of Cape Breton Co.
Shelburne 1784 Formerly a part of Queens Co.
Victoria 1851 Formerly a part of Cape Breton Co.
Yarmouth 1836 Formerly part of Shelburne Co.

Notes: ** From 1784 to 1836, Antigonish and Guysborough counties together formed Sydney Co.
Until its creation as a separate colony in 1784, Cumberland county included parts of what is now New Brunswick.

Last Modified: October 5, 1997