Annapolis Royal
Annapolis Royal
Port-Royal (French) | |
|---|---|
Town and county seat | |
Waterfront of Annapolis Royal View from Fort Anne looking south over Annapolis Basin View of Granville Ferry from Annapolis Royal | |
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Flag | |
| Nickname: Cradle of the Nation | |
Annapolis Royal Location of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia | |
| Coordinates: 44°44′30″N 65°30′55″W / 44.74167°N 65.51528°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Nova Scotia |
| Municipality | Annapolis County |
| Founded | 1605 as Port Royal |
| Incorporated | 1892 |
| Named after | Anne, Queen of Great Britain |
| Electoral Districts Federal | West Nova |
| Provincial | Annapolis |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Amery Boyer |
| • Governing Body | Annapolis Royal Town Council |
| • MLA | David Bowlby (C) |
| • MP | Chris d'Entremont (L) |
| Area (2021) | |
• Total | 1.98 km2 (0.76 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 530 |
| • Density | 268.3/km2 (695/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Annapolitan |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (Atlantic Daylight Saving Time) |
| Postal code | B0S1A0 |
| Area code | 902 |
| Telephone Exchange | 526, 532 |
| Official name | Annapolis Royal Historic District National Historic Site of Canada |
| Designated | 1994 |
| Website | annapolisroyal |
Annapolis Royal is a town in and the county seat of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Originally established by the French as Port Royal in 1605, the community is historically significant as one of the oldest European settlements in North America. Its founding predates the English settlement at Jamestown (1607), the French settlement at Quebec City (1608), and the Pilgrims' arrival at Plymouth (1620).
Renamed as Annapolis Royal in honour of Queen Anne following the Siege of Port Royal in 1710, the town served as capital of Acadia and subsequently Nova Scotia, until the capital was transferred to Halifax in 1749.
While the original 1605 French settlement was centred at the nearby Habitation, the modern town developed around the site of Charles Fort, established by Scottish settlers in 1629. Situated on the boundary between rival French and British colonial empires, the strategic settlement changed hands seven times and withstood thirteen military sieges—more than any other location in North America.
In 1994, the town's core was designated the Annapolis Royal Historic District National Historic Site of Canada. This district anchors a significant heritage landscape that includes Canada's oldest National Historic Site, Fort Anne, six provincially recognized heritage properties, and over 135 municipal heritage properties. The town is also situated within the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated region.
Historically driven by military command and shipping, the town’s economy has since transitioned to a focus on tourism, heritage preservation, and the service sector.