Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, a town nestled in Lunenburg County, Canada, is a charming destination that offers a rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural landscapes. Known as "The Main Street of the South Shore," Bridgewater is the largest town in the South Shore region, boasting a population of 8,790 as of 2021. The town serves as the primary commercial and professional service centre in the southern half of the province, offering a diverse local economy and a host of national and international employers.
The history of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, dates back thousands of years, with the Mi'kmaq people being the original inhabitants of the area. The town's location on the edge of the LaHave River made it an ideal inland encampment for the Mi'kmaq. The area was visited by French explorer Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons in 1604, and a small French settlement was established downriver at LaHave in the mid-1600s.
The town saw significant development in the 1800s, with the first bridge built around 1825 and the population reaching 300 by 1850. Industries powered by the river, such as lumber manufacture, a carding mill, a foundry, a gristmill, and a tannery, began to emerge. The town was connected by rail to Middleton in 1889, and eventually to the rest of the province and Canada via mergers with the Halifax and Southwestern Railway.
Despite a fire that devastated the downtown core in 1899, the town was incorporated a month later. The 1900s saw the rise of major employers like the Acadia Gas Engines company and the Michelin tire factory. Today, Bridgewater continues to thrive, with the eastern bank of the LaHave River seeing significant population and economic growth since the 1970s.
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, spans the width of the LaHave River Valley and is characterized by hills that lead down to the river. The surrounding area is marked by rolling drumlins formed during the last glacial period. The LaHave River is traversed by two bridges in the centre of the town, as well as a 103 highway overpass and foot bridge towards the northern limits.
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, experiences a humid continental climate, with the South Shore's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean serving to moderate the climate. Winters are generally cold, damp, and snowy, while summers are warm to hot and sometimes humid. The town's inland location makes it warmer than coastal Nova Scotia during the summer, with fewer foggy days.
As of the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, had a population of 8,790 living in 4,260 of its 4,493 total private dwellings. The average age was 46.8 years, and 54% of the population was female. The majority of residents declared English as their mother tongue, with 1.4% reporting French, and 2.7% other.
While Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, is known as a centre of commerce and industry, it also offers a number of cultural events. These include the annual Bridgewater Garden Party, Christmas on the LaHave, the Growing Green Sustainability Festival, and the Afterglow Art Festival. The South Shore Exhibition, the town's largest event, attracts some 50,000 people each July.
Community music has been a fixture in the town for many years, with the Bridgewater Fire Department Band active since 1868. Art Happening, established in 2014, is a not-for-profit organization that strives to create a thriving community art space in Bridgewater.
Residents of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, enjoy a relatively extensive parks system, which includes the 25-acre Woodland Gardens, Shipyards Landing, Pinecrest and Glen Allen playgrounds, Riverview Park, King Street Court and Pijinuiskaq Park. The town also boasts the HB Studios Sports Centre, the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre, the Bridgewater Marina, the South Shore Vet Dog Zone, and the Bridgewater Skate Park.
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, supports Active Transportation, promoting human-powered means of transport as a safe part of everyday life. The town is linked to Halifax and Yarmouth via Provincial Highway 103, and other provincial routes include 325 and 331. A public transit pilot operation began in 2017 and was made permanent in 2019. The LaHave River, once a primary transportation route, is now mainly used for recreational boating.
