Where is New Waterford, Nova Scotia located?

New Waterford is located in Nova Scotia, Canada, at approximate coordinates 46.2484°, -60.0873°.

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New Waterford

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Coordinates46.25°, -60.09°

Demographic figures from Statistics Canada. Overview below cites Wikipedia and may reference a different year.

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City facts

Overview

New Waterford is an urban community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada.

History & geography

History

The first inhabitants of the area were the Mi'kmaq, whose lifestyle centred on hunting and fishing. The historical industry in New Waterford has been coal mining. On 25 July 1917, 65 people were killed in a coal mine explosion at New Waterford's No. 12 Colliery. In the 1920s, the British Empire Steel Company controlled most of Nova Scotia's coal mines. Due to declining global coal demand and financial pressures, BESCO sought to cut miners' wages and restrict union activities. The miners' unions clashed repeatedly with BESCO, and multiple strikes were suppressed by police and armed forces. In 1925, after contract negotiations failed, miners went on strike on 6 March, leaving a small workforce to maintain the mines and power plant. By June, the economic impact affected families heavily, but miners continued to protest. On 4 June, company police shut off water and power. On 9 June, miners initiated a full strike. On 11 June, miners marching on the plant were fired upon, killing 38-year-old William Davis, and injuring others, including Gilbert Watson and Jack MacQuarrie. Miners subsequently stormed the plant, detained company police, looted stores, and burned collieries. The Canadian Armed Forces were deployed to restore order, marking the largest domestic deployment since the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. On 25 June, the Conservative Party of Nova Scotia formed government and worked with BESCO and the strikers to reach a settlement. By 5 August, the strike ended and miners returned to work. On 11 June 2025, Miners Memorial Day will mark the 100th anniversary of the tragedy and the fight for workers' rights.

Geography

Formerly known as Barrachois Cove (from barachois, meaning a small port, lagoon, or pond), the community's present name is likely derived from the Irish seaport of Waterford, from which many early settlers originated. Coal mining in the area began as early as 1854 at Lingan and later at Low Point in 1865. New Waterford is situated northeast of Sydney, Nova Scotia. It lies near the Atlantic Ocean and is bordered on one side by cliffs. The community has a relatively flat terrain and is located near several freshwater lakes.

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Excerpted from the corresponding Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA).