River John, Nova Scotia
River John Geography
- Official Name: River John
- Gaelic Name:Abhainn Eòin
- Geographic Feature Type Category: Populated Place
- Geographic Feature Type: Community
- Latitude / Longitude: 45.751519, -63.059043
- Official Name: River John
- Geographic Feature Type Category: Hydrographic Feature
- Geographic Feature Type: River
- Latitude / Longitude:45.757768, -63.073846
River John Maps
- 1:50k Topographic NTS Map: 011E14
- 1879 Pictou County Atlas Map: Section 4
- Nova Scotia Land Grant Map: NS Land Grant map 085
- Nova Scotia 1:10k Topographic Maps: 1045750063000 (River John), 1045700063000 (Fitzpatrick)
- Other: 2024 Cape John Map
River John is a community located along the Northumberland Strait at the mouth of River John where it empties into John Bay. It was named after an early settler, John Patuguin.
The Mi’kmaq name for the community is “Kajeboogwek” meaning flowing through desert or solitary place. Other early names for the area were Deception River, and John’s River.
The name River John was probably derived from Riviere Jaune. Frederick
DesBarres who explored the area in the 1760’s and published maps in the 1770’s, used the names ” River John” and “Cape John.”
The place may have been settled by George and John Patriquin as early as 1785. George Langile settled here about 1791 and about 1800 George Jeanperin moved here from St. Margarets Bay and bought a farm.
In 1806 there were at least twelve settlers here and in 1809 fourteen settlers petitioned for clear title to their land when the old Philadelohia Grant was escheated.
The Community
A school-house was built by 1818, then replaced by a new school in 1866. A more modern four-room school was built 1906.
The shipbuilding industry began in 1825 and was a major endeavor for seventy years. In 1842, however, an economic decline was being felt, and fishing become the main industry.
A postal way office was established in 1838 and a post office was set up in 1853.
Newspapers published here were The Pioneer in 1878, and The Temperance Herald in 1864.
In July, 1849, a forest fire did considerable damage to the community and surrounding area.
A short railway line was constructed through the area south of the village in 1888.
Population in 1956 was 526.
The Rivers
River John is one of the main fresh water ways found in Pictou County. Two major branches of the River include the West Branch River John, and the East Branch River John.
[Source: Nova Scotia Place Names – T. Brown / Places of Nova Scotia – C. Bruce Fergusson ]
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