West Branch, Nova Scotia
West Branch Geography
- Official Name: West Branch
- Geographic Feature Type Category: Populated Place
- Geographic Feature Type: Community
- Latitude / Longitude: 45.640339, -63.03886
West Branch Maps
- 1:50k Topographic NTS Map: 011E11
- 1879 Pictou County Atlas Map: Section 5
- Nova Scotia Land Grant Map: NS Land Grant map 086
- Nova Scotia 1:10k Topographic Maps: 1045600063000 (West Branch)
- Other Maps:
West Branch is a rural community located along the Scotsburn Road on the West Branch of River John.
Roderick and Murdoch McKenzie and Donald Murray came to Pictou from Scotland in 1802. In 1805, they settled along the shore between Pictou and Caribou Harbours on land granted to Governor Walter Patterson of P.E.I. and in 1808 claimed by William Cochran who began to charge rent. They probably moved to West Branch River John soon afterwards. Roderick and Murdoch McKenzie received grants here in 1815 and Donald Murray obtained a grant in 1817.
Other tracts of land in the area were granted to John Marshall, Adam McKay and Malcolm McDonald in 1814.
A school was built in 1825, and later replaced in 1869. In 1872 another new school was opened to replace a building which had become unfit for use.
A postal way office was established in 1851.
Population in 1956 was 148.
[Source: Nova Scotia Place Names – T. Brown / Places of Nova Scotia – C. Bruce Fergusson ]
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