Pictou

Pictou
Canadian Gaelic: Baile Phiogto[1]
Pictou
Pictou
Coat of arms of Pictou
Nickname: 
Birthplace of New Scotland
Motto: 
"As constant as the northern star"
Pictou is located in Nova Scotia
Pictou
Pictou
Location of Pictou
Coordinates: 45°40′53″N 62°42′43″W / 45.68139°N 62.71194°W / 45.68139; -62.71194
CountryCanada
ProvinceNova Scotia
MunicipalityPictou County
Founded1767[2]
IncorporatedApr 30, 1873
Government
 • MayorJim Ryan
 • Governing BodyPictou Town Council
 • MLAMarco MacLeod (PC)
 • MPSean Fraser (L)
Area
 (2016)[3]
 • Total
8.01 km2 (3.09 sq mi)
Highest elevation
54 m (177 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 • Total
3,186
 • Density397.6/km2 (1,030/sq mi)
DemonymPictonian
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
Postal code
B0K
Area code902
Telephone Exchange485
Median Earnings*$55,600
NTS Map11E10 New Glasgow
GNBC CodeCBDPK
Websitewww.townofpictou.ca
  • Median household income, 2020 ($) (all households)

Pictou (/ˈpɪkt/ PIK-toh; Canadian Gaelic: Baile Phiogto[4]) is a town in Pictou County, in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Located on the north shore of Pictou Harbour, the town is approximately 10 km (6 miles) north of the larger town of New Glasgow.

Once an active shipping port and the shire town of the county, today Pictou is primarily a local service centre for surrounding rural communities and the primary tourist destination in this region of Nova Scotia.

The name Pictou derives from the Mi'kmaq name Piktuk, meaning "explosive place", a reference to the river of pitch that was found in the area,[5] or perhaps from methane bubbling up from coal seams below the harbour.

  1. ^ "is thàinig iad gu tìr `s an àite `s a bheil Baile Phictou an diugh" Archived 2018-12-24 at the Wayback Machine, An Drochaid Eadarainn – The Bridge Between Us
  2. ^ Putnam, Donald F. (1976). "Pictou". In William D. Halsey (ed.). Collier's Encyclopedia. Vol. 19. New York: Macmillan Educational Corporation. p. 37.
  3. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Nova Scotia)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  4. ^ "Gaelic Placenames in Nova Scotia | Open Data | Nova Scotia". Socrata. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  5. ^ Rand, Silas Tertius (1875-01-01). A First Reading Book in the Micmac Language: Comprising the Micmac Numerals, and the Names of the Different Kinds of Beasts, Birds, Fishes, Trees, &c. of the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Also, Some of the Indian Names of Places, and Many Familiar Words and Phrases, Translated Literally Into English. Nova Scotia Printing Company.