Cape John, Pictou County

It was originally only the name of the point of land to the west which forms the extends out into the Northumberland Strait, and the community was referred to Back Shore because of it’s geographic location in relation to the village of River John and the point was called Point Jaune in the 1770’s. It sits on land granted to the trustees of Philip Marchinton in 1811, and to John Liddell a Halifax business man in 1820

The area was settled about 1808 by William McLeod and John Morrison. John McIver, Allen McLeod, Donald McFarlane Alexander McLeod, natives of the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, who emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1807. John Williamson may have been settled near Williamsons Brook by 1811.

A school was built  in 1871. A postal way office was established April 1, 1866, with H. McLeod as postmaster.

A protected harbour in the community backed by a man-made breakwater helps shelter and support both small fishing vessels and recreational crafts. A lobster focused fish processing plant also underpin the local economy.

Archibalds Point a scenic point or cape located between Reef Point and Salisbury Point, was previously known as Sandies Point until an official name change in 1976, and the water between the points named Hithon Bight.

The bedrock around this area is part of the Cape John Formation of the Pictou Group, dating to the Late Carboniferous (Stephanian) epoch, roughly 300 million years ago. It comprises floodplain mudstone, fluvial and arkosic sandstones, minor conglomerates and lacustrine limestones, reflecting ancient river and lake environments.

Several beautiful sandy beaches can be found throughout the community.