Caribou, Nova Scotia
Caribou Geography
- Official Name: Caribou
- Geographic Feature Type Category: Populated Place
- Geographic Feature Type: Community
- Latitude / Longitude: 45.73473, -62.694538
Caribou Maps
- 1:50k Topographic NTS Map: 011E10
- 1879 Pictou County Atlas Map: Section 2
- Nova Scotia Land Grant Map: NS Land Grant map 085
- Nova Scotia 1:10k Topographic Map: 1045700062600 (Bay View)
- Other Maps:
The name Caribou was chosen because early settlers saw a herd of caribou out along the east point of Caribou Island which they then named Caribou Point. Four rural communities in this area now share similar names; Caribou, Caribou Island, Caribou River, and Central Caribou.
Acadians were the first Europeans to settle in the area. Caribou Harbour was explored and described by Nicholas Denys in the 1660’s. Early settlers found remains of French houses on the island and several on the mainland.
John and Donald McLeod, Kenneth, Alexander, Neil, and Roderick McKenzie settled around the harbour about 1804 on land claimed by, but never granted to Thomas Harris.
By August, 1809 there were about 175 people in the Caribou area.
Seven families emigrated from Great” Britain in 1815 and settled here.
Considerable damage was done to the area by a forest fire in July, 1849.
Northumberland Ferries Ltd., was organized in 1939, and the Eric Isle renamed to Prince Nova went into service in 1941. Service to Prince Edward Island continues to this day from Caribou Harbour.
[Source: Nova Scotia Place Names – T. Brown / Places of Nova Scotia – C. Bruce Fergusson ]
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