Preston, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Preston is an area in central Nova Scotia
, Canada
in the Halifax Regional Municipality
, located on Trunk 7. The population in 2006 was 2,360 including East Preston
and North Preston
.
Preston's previous community boundaries stretched westward into parts of Cherry Brook
to Highway 111
, and eastward through what is now Lake Echo
and Porter's Lake
to Myra Road. (including through East Preston
), North to North Preston
, and South through parts to the boundaries of Lawrencetown
. Currently, there is no actual community strictly known as "Preston". Rather, Preston is generally used to refer to the area encompassed by the communities of East Preston
, North Preston
, and Cherry Brook
, or in reference to the Preston Electoral District
.
The area is believed to have been named after Preston, Lancashire, England or Thomas Preston, a British army officer involved in the Boston Massacre
the American Revolution
. Preston inspired the named of the famous African Nova Scotian
leader and clergyman Richard Preston
who after escaping slavery took the name of the community where he was reunited with his mother.
Preston has the largest percentage of Black people of any area in Canada; 69.4% of its population is Black.
Preston is home to the first Black MLA and Cabinet Minister in Nova Scotia, from East Preston.Dr. Wayne Adams North Preston is home of World Heavyweight contender in boxing Kirk Johnson.
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...
, Canada
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...
in the Halifax Regional Municipality
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
, located on Trunk 7. The population in 2006 was 2,360 including East Preston
East Preston, Nova Scotia
East Preston is an expansive rural area located in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, in Atlantic Canada.East Preston was founded in the 19th century. It is believed to have been named after Preston, Lancashire, England or Thomas Preston, a British army officer involved in the...
and North Preston
North Preston, Nova Scotia
North Preston is a rural community in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, in Canada. North Preston has a population of about 3,700 people. The community is populated mainly by African Canadians. The community borders its sister community East Preston. The community traces its...
.
Preston's previous community boundaries stretched westward into parts of Cherry Brook
Cherrybrook, Nova Scotia
Cherrybrook is predominantly a Black community located to the north of Trunk 7 between Lake Loon and Lake Major, and just a few miles east of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia....
to Highway 111
Nova Scotia Highway 111
Highway 111 is a 13-kilometre controlled access freeway in Nova Scotia, Canada.Highway 111 varies from 4-12 lanes and is known informally as the Dartmouth "Circumferential Highway", or, more recently, "The Circ", since it is a partial orbital road. The highway runs from Pleasant Street in the...
, and eastward through what is now Lake Echo
Lake Echo, Nova Scotia
Lake Echo is a community that is part of the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada; approximately 15 kilometres east of Dartmouth...
and Porter's Lake
Porters Lake, Nova Scotia
Porters Lake is a residential community in the eastern shore region of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada, between Trunk 7 and Route 207, 27.8 km from Halifax. The residents mainly commute to jobs in Dartmouth, Burnside Industrial Park or in Downtown Halifax...
to Myra Road. (including through East Preston
East Preston, Nova Scotia
East Preston is an expansive rural area located in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, in Atlantic Canada.East Preston was founded in the 19th century. It is believed to have been named after Preston, Lancashire, England or Thomas Preston, a British army officer involved in the...
), North to North Preston
North Preston, Nova Scotia
North Preston is a rural community in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, in Canada. North Preston has a population of about 3,700 people. The community is populated mainly by African Canadians. The community borders its sister community East Preston. The community traces its...
, and South through parts to the boundaries of Lawrencetown
Lawrencetown, Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Lawrencetown is a Canadian rural community in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality on Route 207. The settlement was established during Father Le Loutre's War.- History :...
. Currently, there is no actual community strictly known as "Preston". Rather, Preston is generally used to refer to the area encompassed by the communities of East Preston
East Preston, Nova Scotia
East Preston is an expansive rural area located in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, in Atlantic Canada.East Preston was founded in the 19th century. It is believed to have been named after Preston, Lancashire, England or Thomas Preston, a British army officer involved in the...
, North Preston
North Preston, Nova Scotia
North Preston is a rural community in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, in Canada. North Preston has a population of about 3,700 people. The community is populated mainly by African Canadians. The community borders its sister community East Preston. The community traces its...
, and Cherry Brook
Cherrybrook, Nova Scotia
Cherrybrook is predominantly a Black community located to the north of Trunk 7 between Lake Loon and Lake Major, and just a few miles east of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia....
, or in reference to the Preston Electoral District
Preston (electoral district)
Preston is a provincial electoral district in Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The riding was created in 1993 to provide representation to the area's rural black community...
.
The area is believed to have been named after Preston, Lancashire, England or Thomas Preston, a British army officer involved in the Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, called the Boston Riot by the British, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers killed five civilian men. British troops had been stationed in Boston, capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, since 1768 in order to protect and support...
the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Preston inspired the named of the famous African Nova Scotian
Black Nova Scotians
Black Nova Scotians are people of Black African descent whose ancestors fled Colonial America as slaves or freemen to settle in Nova Scotia, Canada during the 18th and 19th centuries. According to the 2006 Census of Canada, there are 19,230 black people currently living in Nova Scotia, most of whom...
leader and clergyman Richard Preston
Richard Preston (clergyman)
Richard Preston, , was religious leader and abolitionist who escaped slavery in Virginia to become an important leader for the African Nova Scotian community and in the international struggle against slavery.-Personal life:...
who after escaping slavery took the name of the community where he was reunited with his mother.
Preston has the largest percentage of Black people of any area in Canada; 69.4% of its population is Black.
Preston is home to the first Black MLA and Cabinet Minister in Nova Scotia, from East Preston.Dr. Wayne Adams North Preston is home of World Heavyweight contender in boxing Kirk Johnson.