Westville, Nova Scotia
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| Westville | |||
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  Westville
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  Nova Scotia |
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| Municipality | Pictou County | ||
| Founded | 1894 | ||
| Incorporated | August 20, 1894 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Sandy Cyr | ||
| - Governing Body | Westville Council | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 14.39 km² (5.6 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 70.1 m (230 ft) | ||
| Population (2001) | |||
| - Total | 3,879 | ||
| - Density | 269.6/km² (698.3/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) | ||
| Postal code span | B0K 2A0 | ||
| Area code(s) | 902 | ||
| Telephone Exchange | 396, 695 | ||
| Median Earnings* | $24,757 | ||
| NTS Map | 011E10 | ||
| GNBC Code | CBOLU | ||
*Median household income, 2000 ($) (all households)
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| Website: http://www.westville.ca/ | |||
Westville (2006 pop.: 3,805[citation needed]) is a town in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is immediately west of Stellarton and about four kilometres southwest of New Glasgow, the major town in the area.
Founded in 1894 by Kirk Watters, Westville has a long history of coal mining dating back to 1864 when coal was first discovered. The opening of the Acadia Mine followed in 1866. Westville, along with Stellarton, was once home to a thriving coal mining industry. However, the last underground mines closed in the 1970s. Open-pit mining was carried out in the community through the 1980s. Today there is a miners monument in Acadia Park honoring those touched by mining disasters.
While mainly a bedroom community, Westville's Main Street features banks, shops, restaurants and a recently renovated and renamed Foodland supermarket. Nova Scotia's first official[citation needed] highway rest stop was opened at the end of Cowan Street off exit 21 of the Trans Canada Highway. It includes Dairy Queen, Tim Hortons and Visitor Information Centre. A car dealership moved from New Glasgow to an expanded location at exit 21 a few years after the rest stop opened.
One of the three remaining[citation needed] drive-in theatres, and the only full-season operated one, in Nova Scotia is located on the northern edge of town on the Westville Highway. The other two are in Sydney and Cambridge Station (near Berwick).
George Canyon, the Canadian country singer whom placed second in the USA Network’s Nashville Star talent search in May 2004, grew up just outside Westville. It is the home town to Alvah Mayo, Nova Scotia chess Champion and Kris MacFarlane, the drummer of Great Big Sea.
One of the largest Canada Day celebrations in Atlantic Canada takes place in Westville. The five day event provides all the fun of a county fair plus a giant street parade with annual guest bands from around the world. 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of Westville's Canada day celebration.
Westville was named so, as it was the west-most point on the East River.[citation needed]
