• Prior to Confederation in 1867, census records listed heads of households, number and sex of family members and occupation of the head of household. AHS holds typescript copies of the following censuses:
  Port-Royal (1671)
  Nova Scotia (1770-1787)
  Supplement to Nova Scotia Census, Assessment, Tax grantees, Tenants (1765-1789)
  Nova Scotia (1827)
  Nova Scotia (1838) (Annapolis and Digby Counties)
  Nova Scotia (1861) (Annapolis and Digby Counties)
• Following Confederation, the first Canadian federal census took place in 1871 and was held thereafter every ten years. AHS has microfilm copies of the four federal censuses between 1871 and 1901 for Annapolis and Digby Counties. These record details such as the names and ages of each individual in a dwelling and their occupation and relationship to each other. The 1901 Census also records a date of birth for each person. Census divisions for the four federal censuses for Annapolis County are as follows:

1871
Annapolis Royal (including present-day Lequille)
Belleisle (including present-day Young’s Cove)
Bridgetown
Broad Cove (present-day Karsdale, Port Wade and Victoria Beach)
Carleton Corner
Clarence
Clementsport
Dalhousie
Hessian Line (present-day Clementsvale)
Hillsburg (present-day Bear River)
Lawrencetown Lane
Maitland
Middleton Corner
Morse Road
New Caledonia (present-day Granville Ferry and Granville Beach and including Parker’s Cove,
Hillsburn and Litchfield)
Nictaux
Wilmot

1891
Annapolis Royal
Bear River
Belleisle
Bridgetown
Broad Cove
Carleton Corner
Clarence
Clementsport
Clementsvale
Clements West
Dalhousie
Granville Ferry
Hampton
Lawrencetown Lane
Lequille
Lower Granville (as per Broad Cove in 1871 and 1881)
Maitland
Margaretsville
Meadowvale
Melvern Square
Middleton
Milford/Graywood
New Albany
Nictaux
Parker’s Cove (including Hillsburn, Litchfield and Delap’s Cove)
Port George
Port Lorne
Round Hill/Moschelle
Springfield