Middleton, Nova Scotia, is a charming town nestled in Annapolis County, Canada. Situated on the north bank of the Annapolis River, Middleton is fondly referred to as "The Heart of the Valley" due to its central location in the Annapolis Valley.
The history of Middleton, Nova Scotia, dates back to the time when the Annapolis River and the Nictaux River were popular shad fishing spots for Mi'kmaq families. The arrival of European settlers saw the region being settled by French Acadians who used these waterways for farming and reaching the capital of Port-Royal.
In the late 1750s, the region was settled by New England Planters and Loyalists, replacing the ousted French Acadians. The first four families to be granted land in the area would later form the town of Middleton. These families included the Gates, Marshall, and Richardson families.
The town was officially named Middleton on December 18, 1854, at a public meeting. The name was chosen due to its location midway between Halifax and Yarmouth. Middleton was incorporated as a town in 1909.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Middleton, Nova Scotia, had a population of 1,873 living in 922 of its 977 total private dwellings. This represented a 2.2% increase from its 2016 population of 1,832. With a land area of 5.55 km2 (2.14 sq mi), the town had a population density of 337.5/km2 (874.1/sq mi) in 2021.
The Board of Trade in Middleton, Nova Scotia, was formed to address issues affecting business and industry, such as railway schedules and rates, street lighting, and matters involving the municipal government. The early records of the Board were lost in the Great Fire of 1911, but it was reportedly formed by two merchants, Harry Reed and Gorden Gross, with newspaper publisher Fred Cox serving as their secretary-treasurer.
Middleton, Nova Scotia, is conveniently located at the halfway point between Halifax and Yarmouth on Highway 101 and Trunk 1. The town is also the northern terminus of Trunk 10, connecting it with Bridgewater and Lunenburg on the South Shore.
Middleton, Nova Scotia, is home to several parks, including Centennial Park, Cottage Cove Provincial Park, Riverside Park, and Rotary Park.
Middleton, Nova Scotia, houses two public schools: Annapolis East Elementary School and Middleton Regional High School. The town also hosts a Nova Scotia Community College campus.
The Soldiers Memorial Hospital, located in the town, provides tertiary care services for the eastern part of Annapolis County. The provincial government funded the construction of the 50-bed Heart of the Valley Long Term Care Centre, which opened in late 2009.
The Annapolis Valley MacDonald Museum, located in Middleton, Nova Scotia, is housed in the original Macdonald Consolidated School, the first consolidated school in Canada. The museum features many travelling exhibits and is home to the Nova Scotia Museum Clock collection.
Middleton, Nova Scotia, hosts an annual three-day festival called "Heart of the Valley Days" every summer. The Middleton Farmers' Market, founded in 2008, is held every Friday during the summer and fall.
The town also has an official town crier who has performed his functions for the town since 1984. He has attended all Heart of The Valley parades and town crier competitions in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, England, and Belgium on behalf of the town.
