Hilden, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Hilden is a Canadian
rural community located in Colchester County
, Nova Scotia
.
.
The first school in what became Hilden was a single-room building opened in 1870. This burnt in 1914, and a new building was erected on the same site the following year.
After education reforms in Nova Scotia in the 1940s, students from Hilden attended a new elementary school until their 5th year, and thence were transported to Brookfield
for instruction.
A modern Hilden Elementary School was constructed in 1988 and currently serves students from Primary to Grade 6. Students then attend South Colchester Academy
in Brookfield.
or Brookfield
for most recreational activities. However, the United Church in the community allows non-religious groups to use the church hall
for numerous activities, such as weekly yoga
classes, kick boxing, belly dancing classes, and fundraising activities. The Hilden Volunteer Fire Brigade's building also serves as a community center for receptions and sports banquets.
The Scotia Pine Campground is in the southern part of the community, and is a popular destination for weekend vacationers from around Nova Scotia.
The Hilden Garden Club meets regularly to discuss their floral interests.
Shops and services include a medical clinic and ophthalmologist's office, a large gardening store and nursery, a small restaurant, and an engraver, a gun repair shop, mechanic garage and Bentley Bikes.
Sulpher mining was carried out on a small scale until the 1970s, and timber harvesting continues today.
Provincially, Hilden is in the riding of Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley
and is represented by the Member of the Legislative Assembly
Gary Burrill of the New Democratic Party.
The community falls in the federal riding of Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley and is represented by Member of Parliament Scott Armstrong of the Conservative Party of Canada
.
in the 1780s.
At the time that the Intercolonial Railway began operation in December, 1858 the settlement was called "Halifax Road." A railway station was built, and about that time a meeting was called to name the settlement. "Clarksville" was suggested in honour of an old family in the area. The majority, however, decided on "Johnsons Crossing" in honour of a man who had his farm on the base line road which crossed the Halifax road at the railway.
By 1870, "Clarkesville" was used to refer to the western hill's settlement, and "Johnsons Crossing" to the eastern hill. By an act of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
in 1895, the name of the communities, along with "Slabtown" further south, was changed to Hilden.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rural community located in Colchester County
Colchester County, Nova Scotia
Colchester County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The appellation Colchester was applied in 1780 to the district previously called "Cobequid," and was derived from the town of Colchester in Essex...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
Demographics
The population of Hilden is approximately 1,200 and the community is located in Colchester Census Division C. The majority of the population live in three middle class residential subdivisions and the community functions as a suburb of the town of TruroTruro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
.
Education
After education reforms in Nova Scotia in the 1940s, students from Hilden attended a new elementary school until their 5th year, and thence were transported to Brookfield
Brookfield, Nova Scotia
Brookfield is a Canadian rural community located in southern Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Brookfield is a growing community in the heart of Nova Scotia, just forty minutes from the provincial capital of Halifax, thirty minutes from the Stanfield International Airport and ten minutes...
for instruction.
A modern Hilden Elementary School was constructed in 1988 and currently serves students from Primary to Grade 6. Students then attend South Colchester Academy
South Colchester Academy
South Colchester Academy is a Canadian secondary school located in Brookfield, Nova Scotia & serves approximately 700+ students in grades 7 - 12. SCA opened in 2003, and has a number of innovative features such as a 'cafetorium' that functions both as a cafeteria and an auditorium...
in Brookfield.
Recreation
Hilden residents usually travel to TruroTruro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
or Brookfield
Brookfield, Nova Scotia
Brookfield is a Canadian rural community located in southern Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Brookfield is a growing community in the heart of Nova Scotia, just forty minutes from the provincial capital of Halifax, thirty minutes from the Stanfield International Airport and ten minutes...
for most recreational activities. However, the United Church in the community allows non-religious groups to use the church hall
Church hall
A church hall is a room or building associated with a church, general for community and charitable use . It is normally located near the church, typically in smaller and village communities. Activities in the hall are not necessarily religious, but are typically an important part of local community...
for numerous activities, such as weekly yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
classes, kick boxing, belly dancing classes, and fundraising activities. The Hilden Volunteer Fire Brigade's building also serves as a community center for receptions and sports banquets.
The Scotia Pine Campground is in the southern part of the community, and is a popular destination for weekend vacationers from around Nova Scotia.
The Hilden Garden Club meets regularly to discuss their floral interests.
Economy
Hilden is a mix of rural and suburban settlements. Most of the population commute to Truro or Halifax daily, though there are still a few farms outside of the subdivisions.Shops and services include a medical clinic and ophthalmologist's office, a large gardening store and nursery, a small restaurant, and an engraver, a gun repair shop, mechanic garage and Bentley Bikes.
Sulpher mining was carried out on a small scale until the 1970s, and timber harvesting continues today.
Politics
Hilden is located in District 3 of the Colchester Municipality, and is represented by first term(2008) Councillor Gerry Buott .Provincially, Hilden is in the riding of Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley
Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley
Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The riding was created in 1993 from Colchester South and Bedford-Musquodoboit Valley...
and is represented by the Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
Gary Burrill of the New Democratic Party.
The community falls in the federal riding of Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley and is represented by Member of Parliament Scott Armstrong of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
History
The land which is now the unincorporated community was originally part of the Truro Township, settled by New England PlantersNew England Planters
The New England Planters were settlers from the New England colonies who responded to invitations by the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, to settle lands left vacant by the Bay of Fundy Campaign of the Acadian Expulsion...
in the 1780s.
At the time that the Intercolonial Railway began operation in December, 1858 the settlement was called "Halifax Road." A railway station was built, and about that time a meeting was called to name the settlement. "Clarksville" was suggested in honour of an old family in the area. The majority, however, decided on "Johnsons Crossing" in honour of a man who had his farm on the base line road which crossed the Halifax road at the railway.
By 1870, "Clarkesville" was used to refer to the western hill's settlement, and "Johnsons Crossing" to the eastern hill. By an act of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
in 1895, the name of the communities, along with "Slabtown" further south, was changed to Hilden.