title: Richmond County, Nova Scotia
text: # Richmond County, Nova Scotia
  
  Richmond County is an historical county and census division of Nova Scotia, Canada. Local government is provided by the Municipality of the County of Richmond.
  
  ## History
  
  Named in honour of Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, who was Governor General of British North America 1818-1819, Richmond County was created in 1835.
  
  Richmond County comprises that territory known as the Southern District which was established in 1824 at the time of the dividing of Cape Breton Island into three districts. The boundaries of the Southern District were defined at the time of its establishment. Those same boundaries were determined to be the boundaries of Richmond County by statute in 1847.
  
  The main centre is Arichat, located on Isle Madame.
  
  ## Communities
  
  ### Villages
  
  * St. Peter's
  
  ### Reserves
  
  * Chapel Island 5
  
  ### County municipality and county subdivisions
  
  * Municipality of the County of Richmond
     * Richmond, Subd. A
     * Richmond, Subd. B
     * Richmond, Subd. C
  
  ## Access routes
  
  Highways and numbered routes that run through the county, including external routes that start or finish at the county limits:
  
  ## Demographics
  
  As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Richmond County had a population of 8,914 living in 4,100 of its 5,230 total private dwellings, a change of -0.6% from its 2016 population of 8,964. With a land area of 1,246.08 $km^2$ (481.11 sq mi), it had a population density of $7.2/km^2$ (18.5/sq mi) in 2021.
  
  Forming the majority of the Richmond County census division, the Municipality of the County of Richmond, including its Subdivisions A, B, and C, had a population of 8,509 living in 3,961 of its 5,083 total private dwellings, a change of 0.6% from its 2016 population of 8,458. With a land area of 1,240.46 $km^2$ (478.94 sq mi), it had a population density of $6.9/km^2$ (17.8/sq mi) in 2021.
  
  Population trend :
  
  | Census | Population | Change (%) |
  | - | - | - |
  | 2021 | 8,914 | 0.6% |
  | 2016 | 8,964 | 3.5% |
  | 2011 | 9,293 | 4.6% |
  | 2006 | 9,740 | 4.7% |
  | 2001 | 10,225 | 7.2% |
  | 1996 | 11,022 | 2.1% |
  | 1991 | 11,260 | 5.2% |
  | 1986 | 11,841 | 8.3% |
  | 1981 | 12,824 | N/A |
  | 1941 | 10,853 | |
  | 1931 | 11,098 | |
  | 1921 | 12,464 | |
  | 1911 | 13,273 | |
  | 1901 | 13,515 | |
  | 1891 | 14,399 | |
  | 1881 | 15,121 | |
  | 1871 | 14,268 | N/A |
  
  Mother tongue language (2011) :
  
  | Language | Population | Pct (%) |
  | - | - | - |
  | English only | 6,620 | 72.19% |
  | French only | 2,085 | 22.74% |
  | Non-official languages | 285 | 3.11% |
  | Multiple responses | 180 | 1.96% |
  
  Ethnic Origins (2006) :
  
  | Ethnic Origin | Population | Pct (%) |
  | - | - | - |
  | French | 4,895 | 50.8% |
  | Canadian | 3,920 | 40.7% |
  | Scottish | 2,310 | 24.0% |
  | English | 2,060 | 21.4% |
  | Irish | 1,590 | 16.5% |
  | Acadian | 710 | 7.4% |
  | North American Indian | 685 | 7.1% |
  | German | 440 | 4.6% |
  