Where/ What is Digby??

Digby, Nova Scotia
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Nickname(s): "The Scallop Capital of The World"

DigbyLocation of Digby, Nova Scotia
Coordinates: 44°37′20″N 65°45′38″W / 44.62222°N 65.76056°W / 44.62222; -65.76056
Country Canada
Province Nova Scotia
County Digby County
Founded 1783
Incorporated February 28, 1890
Electoral Districts
Federal
West Nova
Provincial Digby-Annapolis
Government
- Type Town Council
- Mayor Ben Cleveland
- Governing Body Digby Town Council
Area
- Total 3.15 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Elevation 0 - 152 m (-499 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
- Total 2,092
- Density 667.0/km2 (1,727.5/sq mi)
- Change (2001-06) ▼0.9%
- Dwellings 1,070
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
- Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-3)
Canadian Postal code B0V 1A0
Area code(s) 902
Telephone Exchange 245
Median Earnings* 28,551
NTS Map
GNBC Code
Website http://www.townofdigby.ns.ca
*Median household income, 2005 (all households)
Digby is a town in western Nova Scotia which lies on the Annapolis Basin of the Bay of Fundy. Digby is the shire town and commercial hub of Digby County. The town is famous for its scallop fishing fleet.

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Economy
3 Tourism
4 Fishing
5 Transportation
6 Shopping and services
7 Demographics
8 Notable residents
9 Public library
10 References
11 External links


[edit] History

Digby, Nova Scotia in 1906.The area was settled in 1783 by the United Empire Loyalists under the leadership of Sir Robert Digby.

The town developed a sizable shipping fleet in the 19th century. One famous Digby vessel was the brigantine Dei Gratia, which discovered the famous mystery ship Mary Celeste in 1872. The town became an important regional transportation centre in the 1890s with the arrival of the Dominion Atlantic Railway. Trains connected with a series of steamships such as the City of Monticello and later the SS Princess Helene.

[edit] Economy
Digby’s economy is still based largely on the fishing and tourism industries. The annual Scallop Days Festival, held the first week of August annually, brings the two industries together to showcase the town’s history and heritage to the tourists. The festival offers a variety of themed activities for all ages, including scallop shucking contests, a parade, and an exhibition of local artists.[2]

Since 2004, Digby has become the destination for a major regional motorcycle rally, the annual Wharf Rat Rally. It attracts many times the town's population, up to 17,000 motorcyclists, so many that schools and some roads have to close for the day due to crowds and motorcycle traffic.[3] The Wharf Rat Rally event is generally held the week of Labour Day in September each year.

The area is also widely known for the enormous Bay of Fundy tides that sweep the coastline boasting some of the highest tides in the world. The town's history is preserved and interpeted by the Admiral Digby Museum, located in a historic home facing the harbour.

[edit] Tourism
Tourism has played an important role in Digby during the 20th century following the construction of a large resort on the town's outskirts named The Digby Pines. Built in 1905 and then purchased in 1917 by the Dominion Atlantic Railway, the resort provided a focal point to the local tourism industry. Continuously expanded, it was bought by the Government of Nova Scotia after the Dominion Atlantic sold its hotels.

There are many places to stay if you visit Digby, including[4]:

Accommodation Name Open Year Round
Admiral Digby Inn No
Breaker's Bed & Breakfast Yes
Bayside Inn Yes
Boardwalk Cafe & Suites Yes
Coastal Inn Kingfisher Yes
Digby Campground Yes
Digby Backpacker's Inn Yes
Dockside Suites Yes
Gallery Loft Housekeeping Unit Yes
Harmony B&B/Suites Yes
Montague Row B&B No
Nova's B&B Yes
Ocean Hillside Bed & Breakfast Yes
Shoreline Restaurant, Gifts & Accommodations No
Siesta Motel Yes
Summers Country Inn Yes
The Pines Resort No
Thistle Down Country Inn Yes

[edit] Fishing
Fishing has been an essential economic activity since the town's settlement. Digby's schooner fishery reached its peak in the early 1900s, documented by the famous Canadian historian and photographer Frederick William Wallace. In later years, trawlers, especially those harvesting scallops became the mainstay.

[edit] Transportation
Access to Digby is primarily by Highway 101 and by the M/V Princess of Acadia ferry service to Saint John, New Brunswick (operated by Bay Ferries Limited).

The Kings Transit public transit system has stops in Digby at the Atlantic Superstore/Walmart, Sobeys/Canadian Tire, and the Digby General Hospital, although the bus can be hailed to stop at any location along Hwy 303 between Atlantic Superstore and the hospital.[5] Buses going east or west bound are only available every other hour. The fare covers if you are traveling from Weymouth, Nova Scotia or to Windsor, Nova Scotia.


Kings Transit Fares[6]

Adults / Seniors (Age 60+) Children (5-11) Children (under 5)
$3.50 $1.75 FREE

There are three taxi companies that operate in Digby. They are Admiral Taxi, Basin Taxi, and Digby Cab. All three companies provide the same rates to riders.

[edit] Shopping and services
There are two groceries stores located in Digby, both Atlantic Superstore and Sobeys. There is also a Wal-mart and a Canadian Tire.

Restaurants include franchises such as two Tim Horton's locations, Subway, Pizza Delight, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and McDonald's along with several other locally owned restaurants filling the downtown Water Street area. Most of the locally owned restuarants serve seafood dishes with a high concentration on scallops. Many restaurants close during the winter months due to the slow tourism during that time.

Downtown also has locally owned shops.

Circle K, Ultramar, Shell, and Esso have gas stations located in Digby.

There is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) station located on Victoria Street.[7]

The Digby General Hospital, located on Warwick Street, provides basic medical care to the residents, including primary care, inpatient, restorative care, ambulatory, day surgery.[8] Although they note on the website they provide emergency care, it is only available when a physician is available. Many patients are redirected to the hospital in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia or Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in the case of an emergency. [9]

[edit] Demographics
According to the Canada 2006 Census:[10]

Population: 2,092 (-0.9% from 2001)
Land area: 3.14 km2 (1.21 sq mi)
Population density: 667.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,728 /sq mi)
National population rank: Ranked 1,274th out of 5,008
Median age: 46.4 (males: 44.3, females: 48.9)
Total private dwellings: 1,070
Dwellings occupied by permanent residents: 966
Median household income: $28,551
Digby Main Street of Digby
Harbour of Digby
Balancing Rock near Digby
Tidal Boatworks, Digby. 2008.

Mist on Digby bay


[edit] Notable residents
Pop Smith, major league baseball player
[edit] Public library
Isaiah W. Wilson Memorial Library; Digby