The community of Lyons Brook is located on the west side of the mouth of the West River of Pictou. It was named after Reverend James Lyon, a Philadelphia emigrant who arrived in 1767. In 1903, by act of the Provincial Legislature, this name was officially given to an area previously known as “Logans Tannery”, “Scotch Hill West River Road” and “Lyons Brook.”
Bigney is a small rural community located south east of River John in Pictou County.
Salt Springs is rural a area is located on the upper West River near the foot of Mount Thom. Saline springs bubbling up from the foot of Mount Thom inspired the name. Between 1813 and 1823, attempts were made to recover some of this salt.
Scotsburn is a rural community located west of Durham and south of Heathbell. It was once known as known as Rogers Hill but was renamed by an Act of Parliament in 1867. It was called Rogers Hill after John Rogers (one of the settlers to arrive from Philadelphia) whose farm lot was here in the late 1700’s. The name was proposed by Hugh Ross whose birth place in Scotland, was named Scotsburn, meaning “Brook of the Scots.”
East River St. Marys is a picturesque area located located in the south-east corner of Pictou County on the East River St. Mary’s in north central Nova Scotia. This region is characterized by its beautiful forested floodplain habitat.
Black River is a small rural community in Pictou County located north of Plainfield. The name Black River in Pictou County also refers to the hydrographic feature: River, a natural flowing freshwater watercourse. Two different Black Rivers in Pictou County exist, both in the west part of the county.
Pictou is a small a historic Town in Pictou County located along the west side of Pictou Harbour. The name is believed to be derived from the Mi’kmaq word “Piktook” meaning a large explosion, and references the noise made by large waves. It is also believed that it could be a corruption of Poictou, an old province in France. The town was laid out in 1788 and the first house was built about 1790.
Merigomish is a rural community located on the south side of Merigomish Harbour between Egerton and Lower Barneys River along the Sunrise Trail. Early one it was known as Malegonish, originating from the Mi’kmaq word “Mallegomichk” (meaning the merrymaking place). This was one of the popular Mi’kmaq gathering areas.