View source for Amherst, Nova Scotia

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Moresources|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Amherst, Nova Scotia
| native_name        = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of towns in Nova Scotia|Town]]
| image_skyline      = Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada.jpg
| image_caption      = Downtown Amherst in the evening
| image_flag         = Flag-of-Amherst-NS.jpg
| flag_size          = 165px
| image_seal         = 
| image_shield       = Amherst.JPG
| nickname           = 
| named_for          = [[Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst]]
| motto              = 
| image_map          = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = Nova Scotia#Canada
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_mapsize    = 275
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Amherst, Nova Scotia
| coordinates        = {{coord|45|50|00|N|64|12|47|W|scale:100000_type:city_region:CA-NS|notes=<ref>{{Cite cgndb|CAAOO|Amherst|date=23 May 2024}}</ref>|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Canada
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties of Nova Scotia|County]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name1  = [[Nova Scotia]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Cumberland County, Nova Scotia|Cumberland]]
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1764
| established_title2 = Incorporated
| established_date2  = December 18, 1889
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Rob Small
| leader_title1      = Deputy Mayor
| leader_name1       = TBD
| unit_pref          = 
| area_footnotes     = &nbsp;(2021)<ref name="2021townpopcen">{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census Amherst Town [Census subdivision], Nova Scotia; Amherst [Population centre], Nova Scotia |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=amherst&DGUIDlist=2021A00051211011,2021S05100012&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=May 7, 2025}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_land_km2      = 12.07
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_urban_km2     = 12.38
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 22.11
| population_total   = 9404
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2021townpopcen"/>
| population_density_km2 = 779.4
| population_urban   = 9548
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_blank1_title = Change&nbsp;<small>2016-21</small>
| population_blank1  = {{loss}}-0.1%
| population_blank2_title = [[Census]]&nbsp;Ranking
| population_blank2  = 452 of 5,162
| population_demonym = Amherstonian
| population_note    = 
| postal_code_type   = [[Canadian postal code|Postal code(s)]]
| postal_code        = [[List of B postal codes of Canada|B4H]]
| area_codes         = {{Collapsible list
  |framestyle=border:none; padding:0; 
  |title=[[Area code 902|902]]
  |1=[[Telephone Exchange]]s |2=297, 660-1, 664, 667, 669 |3=694, 699
 }}
| website            = [http://www.amherst.ca/ www.amherst.ca]
| footnotes          = *Median household income, 2020 (all households)
| leader_title2      = Councillors
| leader_name2       = {{Collapsible list
  |framestyle=border:none; padding:0; 
  |title=List of Members
  |1=Hal Davidson |2=Nic Furlong|3=Dwayne Ripley|4=Kathy Wells |5=Terry McManaman |6=Charlie Chambers
 }}
| leader_title3      = MLA
| leader_name3       = [[Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin]] Independent
| leader_title4      = MP
| leader_name4       = Alana Hirtle [[Liberal Party of Canada]]
| timezone           = [[Atlantic Time Zone|AST]]
| utc_offset         = −04:00
| timezone_DST       = ADT
| utc_offset_DST     = −03:00
| blank_name         = Access&nbsp;Routes <br> {{jct|state=NS|TCH|104}}
| blank_info         = <br> {{jct|state=NS|Trunk|2}} <br> {{jct|state=NS|Trunk|6}} <br> {{jct|state=NS|Route|204}}
| blank1_name        = Dwellings
| blank1_info        = 4,799
| blank2_name        = Median&nbsp;Income*
| blank2_info        = $55,600 [[Canadian dollar|CAD]]
| blank3_name        = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] Map
| blank3_info        = {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|21|H|16}}
| blank4_name        = [[Geographical Names Board of Canada|GNBC]] Code
| blank4_info        = CAAOO<ref>{{Cite cgndb |id = CAAOO |name = Amherst}}</ref>
}}
 
'''Amherst''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|m|ɜːr|s|t}} {{respell|AM|urst}})<ref>{{Citation| author = The Canadian Press| author-link = The Canadian Press| title = The Canadian Press Stylebook| place = Toronto| publisher = [[The Canadian Press]]| edition = 18th| year = 2017}}</ref> is a town in northwestern [[Nova Scotia]], Canada, located at the northeast end of the [[Cumberland Basin (Canada)|Cumberland Basin]], an arm of the [[Bay of Fundy]], and {{convert|22|km|abbr=on}} south of the [[Northumberland Strait]]. The town sits on a height of land at the eastern boundary of the [[Isthmus of Chignecto]] and [[Tantramar Marshes]], {{convert|3|km|abbr=on}} east of the interprovincial border with [[New Brunswick]] and {{convert|65|km|abbr=on}} southeast of the city of [[Moncton]].  It is {{convert|60|km|abbr=on}} southwest of the New Brunswick abutment of the [[Confederation Bridge]] to [[Prince Edward Island]] at [[Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick|Cape Jourimain]].

==History==
{{Moresources|section|date=May 2023}}
[[File:First Baptist - Amherst, Nova Scotia.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The First Baptist Church is one of many stone structures on Amherst's main street.]]

According to Dr. Graham P. Hennessey, "The [[Mi'kmaq people|Micmac]] name was ''Nemcheboogwek'' meaning 'going up rising ground', in reference to the higher land to the east of the Tantramar Marshes. The [[Acadian]]s who settled here as early as 1672 called the village ''Les Planches''. The village was later renamed Amherst by Colonel Joseph Morse in honour of [[Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst|Lord Amherst]], the commander-in-chief of the [[British Army]] in North America during the [[Seven Years' War]]."

The town was first settled in 1764 by immigrants from [[Yorkshire]] following the [[expulsion of the Acadians]], with the original settlement being located {{convert|3|km|mi}} southwest of the present town on the shore of the [[Bay of Fundy]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}}  These settlers were joined by [[United Empire Loyalists]] ([[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]] who fled the [[Thirteen Colonies|American colonies]] during the [[American Revolution]]). A mill was built on the current townsite, and the residents moved there to be closer to work.

During the 19th century, Amherst became an important regional centre for shipbuilding and other services to outlying communities.  An indication of the town's importance in Canadian history is seen with its four [[Fathers of Confederation]]:  [[Edward B. Chandler]], [[Robert B. Dickey]], [[Jonathan McCully]], and [[Sir Charles Tupper]].

During the late 19th century, local industrialists and entrepreneurs constructed many fine Victorian and Edwardian homes along Victoria Street East, leading toward the farming hamlet of [[East Amherst, Nova Scotia|East Amherst]]. Many notable residents have lived in this district, including Sir Charles Tupper and Senator [[Thomas R. Black]].  

Amherst gained brief notoriety in the late 19th century as the location of alleged [[poltergeist]] phenomena afflicting Amherst resident Esther Cox in 1878 and 1879, which became known as the [[Great Amherst Mystery]] after the publication of a popular book on the affair.<ref name="Hubbell">{{cite book|last=Hubbell|first=Walter|title=The Haunted House: A True Ghost Story|publisher=Brentano|location=New York|year=1882|url=http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/gaslight/amherst.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714035558/http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/gaslight/amherst.htm|archive-date=2009-07-14}}</ref>

[[File:AmherstNSStation2007.jpg|thumb|left|[[Amherst station (Nova Scotia)|Amherst railway station]]]]
Amherst experienced unprecedented industrialization in the late 1870s after the [[Intercolonial Railway of Canada]] constructed its main line from [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]] to [[Quebec]] through the town in 1872.  The location of the railway line away from the Bay of Fundy coast further consolidated the town at its present location as industry and commercial activity centred around this important transportation link.  The economic boom created by the arrival of the Intercolonial Railway lasted through [[World War I]] and numerous foundries, factories and mills opened, giving rise to the nickname "Busy Amherst".

In 1908, the manufacturing output of Amherst's industries was not exceeded by any centre in the [[The Maritimes|Maritime Provinces]]. Many of the fine old buildings along Victoria Street are considered industrial artifacts because they were constructed during a period of tremendous industry growth. Local contractors employed local craftsmen, who used local materials. Notice the emphasis on sandstone and brick, both locally produced and delightful detail which reflects the skilled craftsmanship prevalent in the 19th century.

Amherst's prosperity would not last as the failed economic policies of the federal and provincial governments, coupled with World War I, saw the town's industrial economy begin a slow decline during the 1910s. The [[Amherst Internment Camp]] for [[prisoner-of-war|prisoners of war]] and [[Ukrainian Canadian internment|enemy aliens]] was set up at Malleable Iron Foundry in Amherst from April 1915 to September 1919,<ref>{{cite web|title=Internment Camps in Canada during the First and Second World Wars, Library and Archives Canada|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/the-public/005-1142.27-e.html}}</ref> and [[Bolsheviks|Russian revolutionary]] [[Leon Trotsky]] was incarcerated there for one month after he was arrested in [[Halifax (former city), Nova Scotia|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]] in April 1917.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ns1758.ca/quote/trotsky1917.html |last1=Trotsky |first1=Leon |title=My Life. Chapter 23 In a concentration camp (Archived copy) |quote=Leon Trotsky's description of his month in Nova Scotia April 1917 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508001344/http://ns1758.ca/quote/trotsky1917.html |archive-date=2015-05-08 |access-date=2020-03-05 }}</ref>

During the Amherst general strike in 1919, worker unrest over social and economic conditions led to mass protests in sympathy with the [[Winnipeg general strike]].

The eventual closure of companies such as [[Robb Engineering & Manufacturing]] (purchased by [[Canada Car and Foundry]] and then closed) and Amherst Pianos, among others led to a resignation of lost dreams as the town was overtaken by other newer manufacturing centres in central Canada during the 20th century.  Amherst had a modest-sized industrial park constructed during the 1960s when the [[Trans-Canada Highway]] was being developed.  Today the majority of the town's major employers are located there, including Emmerson Packaging and [[IMP Aerospace]].

During the [[World War II|Second World War]], the [[History of the Royal Canadian Navy#Second World War|Royal Canadian Navy]] named a {{sclass2|Flower|corvette}} {{HMCS|Amherst}}.

In 2002, the [[Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre]] opened on the outskirts of the town, replacing the older Highland View Regional Hospital on Pleasant Street.

The town is currently served by [[Via Rail]]'s Halifax-to-Montreal train ''[[Ocean (passenger train)|Ocean]]''.

[[File:Map Amherst Nova Scotia.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Amherst]]

==Sports==
[[Basketball]] was introduced to Nova Scotia at the [[YMCA]] in Amherest in 1894, by [[J. Howard Crocker]] who learned the game as a student of [[James Naismith]], the inventor of basketball.<ref>{{cite book|last=Daly|first=Brian I.|title=Canada's Other Game: Basketball from Naismith to Nash|publisher=[[Dundurn Press]]|date=2013|location=Toronto, Ontario|pages=32–33|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xeCu-0EUtmgC|isbn=9781459706347}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis|last=Keyes|first=Mary Eleanor|title=John Howard Crocker LL. D., 1870–1959|publisher=[[University of Western Ontario]]|date=October 1964|location=London, Ontario|oclc=61578234|pages=20, 29}}</ref>

Amherst is home of the [[Amherst Ramblers]],  a Junior A Hockey League team from the Maritime Hockey League. All home games are played out of the 2,500 seat Amherst Stadium. The season usually runs from mid-September to early March every year. The Ramblers draw some of the largest crowds in the Maritime Hockey League, and have placed third in average attendance over the past few years. They won the Atlantic Championship in 1989 advancing to the Centennial Cup tournament in BC. They also hosted the Centennial Cup in 1993 and the Fred Page Cup in 2019.

Every August, Amherst hosts an eight-team little league baseball tournament, featuring four teams from [[New England]].

== Climate ==

Amherst experiences a [[humid continental climate]] (Dfb). The highest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|34.4|C|0}} on 18 August 1935. The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-37.2|C|0}} on 18 February 1922.<ref name="1991–2020 Normals"/> In 2020, Amherst (Nappan) only recorded {{convert|800.4|mm|abbr=on|2}} of precipitation.<ref>[https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?StationID=42083&timeframe=2&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2021&Day=1&Year=2020&Month=12 Daily Data Report for December 2020]</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = [[Nappan]], 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1890−present{{efn|Climate data is recorded at [[Nappan]], located approximately {{convert|9|km|abbr=on}} southwest of Amherst.}}
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan record high C = 18.0
|Feb record high C = 16.2
|Mar record high C = 24.2
|Apr record high C = 26.1
|May record high C = 30.0
|Jun record high C = 31.7
|Jul record high C = 32.7
|Aug record high C = 34.4
|Sep record high C = 32.2
|Oct record high C = 27.0
|Nov record high C = 23.5
|Dec record high C = 18.5
|year record high C = 34.4
|Jan high C = -2.0
|Feb high C = -1.4
|Mar high C = 2.6
|Apr high C = 9.1
|May high C = 15.8
|Jun high C = 20.7
|Jul high C = 24.3
|Aug high C = 24.1
|Sep high C = 20.0
|Oct high C = 13.7
|Nov high C = 7.4
|Dec high C = 1.6
|year high C = 11.3
|Jan mean C = −6.9
|Feb mean C = −6.3
|Mar mean C = -2.0
|Apr mean C = 4.1
|May mean C = 10.1
|Jun mean C = 15.1
|Jul mean C = 18.8
|Aug mean C = 18.5
|Sep mean C = 14.6
|Oct mean C = 8.9
|Nov mean C = 3.3
|Dec mean C = −2.5
|year mean C = 6.3
|Jan low C = -11.7
|Feb low C = -11.2
|Mar low C = -6.7
|Apr low C = -0.8
|May low C = 4.4
|Jun low C = 9.4
|Jul low C = 13.3
|Aug low C = 12.9
|Sep low C = 9.1
|Oct low C = 3.9
|Nov low C = -0.8
|Dec low C = -6.6
|year low C = 1.3
|Jan record low C = -36.7
|Feb record low C = -37.2
|Mar record low C = -29.5
|Apr record low C = -21.1
|May record low C = -6.7
|Jun record low C = -3.3
|Jul record low C = -1.1
|Aug record low C = 0.0
|Sep record low C = -4.5
|Oct record low C = -12.2
|Nov record low C = -18.9
|Dec record low C = -34.0
|year record low C = -37.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 101.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 79.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 91.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 93.3
|May precipitation mm = 83.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 96.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 80.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 82.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 108.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 115.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 114.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 113.5
|year precipitation mm = 1161.2
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 47.9
|Feb rain mm = 36.1
|Mar rain mm = 49.1
|Apr rain mm = 62.7
|May rain mm = 91.7
|Jun rain mm = 79.6
|Jul rain mm = 89.0
|Aug rain mm = 74.4
|Sep rain mm = 98.4
|Oct rain mm = 97.2
|Nov rain mm = 95.9
|Dec rain mm = 64.2
|year rain mm = 886.0
|snow colour = green
|Jan snow cm = 62.4
|Feb snow cm = 51.2
|Mar snow cm = 49.9
|Apr snow cm = 23.9
|May snow cm = 5.2
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.2
|Nov snow cm = 15.6
|Dec snow cm = 45.8
|year snow cm = 254.2
|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 17.7
|Feb precipitation days = 15.4
|Mar precipitation days = 16.1
|Apr precipitation days = 15.4
|May precipitation days = 16.7
|Jun precipitation days = 16.7
|Jul precipitation days = 14.9
|Aug precipitation days = 13.5
|Sep precipitation days = 13.6
|Oct precipitation days = 16.5
|Nov precipitation days = 17.1
|Dec precipitation days = 16.9
|year precipitation days = 190.5
|unit rain days = 0.2 mm
|Jan rain days = 5.3
|Feb rain days = 4.9
|Mar rain days = 6.9
|Apr rain days = 10.0
|May rain days = 13.8
|Jun rain days = 13.6
|Jul rain days = 12.7
|Aug rain days = 12.1
|Sep rain days = 11.4
|Oct rain days = 12.8
|Nov rain days = 12.3
|Dec rain days = 6.9
|year rain days = 122.6
|unit snow days = 0.2 cm
|Jan snow days = 10.4
|Feb snow days = 8.4
|Mar snow days = 7.3
|Apr snow days = 3.6
|May snow days = 0.52
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.09
|Nov snow days = 2.8
|Dec snow days = 7.6
|year snow days = 40.7
|Jan sun = 93.9
|Feb sun = 108.6
|Mar sun = 137.9
|Apr sun = 146.5
|May sun = 186.0
|Jun sun = 208.5
|Jul sun = 229.7
|Aug sun = 218.0
|Sep sun = 161.1
|Oct sun = 130.7
|Nov sun = 76.2
|Dec sun = 79.3
|year sun = 1776.1
|Jan percentsun = 33.1
|Feb percentsun = 37.2
|Mar percentsun = 37.4
|Apr percentsun = 36.2
|May percentsun = 40.2
|Jun percentsun = 44.4
|Jul percentsun = 48.4
|Aug percentsun = 49.8
|Sep percentsun = 42.7
|Oct percentsun = 38.4
|Nov percentsun = 26.7
|Dec percentsun = 29.3
|year percentsun = 38.6
|source 1 = [[Environment Canada]] (rain, snow, sun 1981−2010)<ref name="climate">{{cite web
| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=6414&autofwd=1
| title = Nappan CDA, Nova Scotia
| work = 1981–2010 Canadian Climate Normals
| date = 25 September 2013
| publisher = Environment Canada
| access-date = March 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name="1991–2020 Normals">{{cite web
| url = https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnName_1991&txtStationName_1991=nappan&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=40000000&dispBack=1
| title = Nappan
| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020
| date = 30 January 2024
| publisher = Environment Canada
| access-date = 1 April 2024}}</ref>
|date=April 2024
}}

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
|title       = Historical populations
|type        = Canada
|align       = right
|width       = 
|state       = 
|shading     = 
|percentages = 
|footnote    = <ref>[https://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1942-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1942/194201570095_p.%2095.pdf], Censuses 1871-1941</ref><ref>[https://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1955-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1955/195501710145_p.%20145.pdf], Censuses 1941-1951</ref><ref>[https://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1932-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1932/193201420104_p. 104.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423170043/http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1932-eng.aspx?opt=%2Feng%2F1932%2F193201420104_p. |date=2016-04-23 }}, Canada Year Book 1932</ref><ref>[https://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1955-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1955/195501660140_p. 140.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114051402/http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1955-eng.aspx?opt=%2Feng%2F1955%2F195501660140_p. |date=2016-01-14 }}, Canada Year Book 1955</ref><ref>[https://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1957-58-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1957-58/195701580126_p. 126.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084024/http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1957-58-eng.aspx?opt=%2Feng%2F1957-58%2F195701580126_p. |date=2016-03-04 }}, Canada Year Book 1957–58</ref><ref>[https://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1967-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1967/196702210189_p.%20189.pdf], Canada Year Book 1967</ref><ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census96/data/profiles/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=1&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=35782&PRID=0&PTYPE=3&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=1996&THEME=34&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=], 1996 Census of Canada: Electronic Area Profiles</ref><ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=1211011&Geo2=PR&Code2=12&Data=Count&SearchText=Amherst&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051828/http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=1211011&Geo2=PR&Code2=12&Data=Count&SearchText=Amherst&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |date=2016-03-04 }}, Community Profiles from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada</ref><ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=1211011&Geo2=CD&Code2=1211&Data=Count&SearchText=Amherst&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819004202/http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=1211011&Geo2=CD&Code2=1211&Data=Count&SearchText=Amherst&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |date=2016-08-19 }}, Census Profile - Census Subdivision</ref>
|1871|1839
|1881|2274
|1891|3781
|1901|4964
|[[Canada 1911 Census|1911]]|8973
|1921|9998
|1931|7450
|1941|8620
|1951|9870
|1956|10301
|1961|10788
|1971|9966
|1981|9684
|1986|9671
|1991|9742
|[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]]|9669
|[[Canada 2001 Census|2001]]|9470
|[[Canada 2006 Census|2006]]|9505
|[[Canada 2011 Census|2011]]|9717
|[[Canada 2016 Census|2016]]|9413
|[[Canada 2021 Census|2021]]|9404
}}

In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Amherst had a population of {{nts|9404}} living in {{nts|4480}} of its {{nts|4799}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:9404-9413}}|9413|1}} from its 2016 population of {{nts|9413}}. With a land area of {{convert|12.07|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|9404|12.07|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021census>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000212 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Nova Scotia | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=March 12, 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3" | Canada 2006 Census<ref>[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=CSD&Code=1211011&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000], Ethnocultural Portrait from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada</ref>
|-
! col | Ethnic Origin !! Population !! % of Total Population
|-
| [[Canadians|Canadian]] || 4,215 || 45.4
|-
| [[English Canadians|English]] || 3,625 || 39.1
|-
| [[Scottish Canadians|Scottish]] || 2,745 || 29.6
|-
| [[Irish Canadians|Irish]] || 2,040 || 22.0
|-
| [[French Canadians|French]] || 1,840 || 19.8
|-
| [[German Canadians|German]] || 655 || 7.1
|-
| [[Dutch Canadians|Dutch (Netherlands)]] || 385 || 4.1
|}

In the period between 1996 and 2006, Amherst lost over half of its [[Black Nova Scotians|Black]] population.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Statistics Canada |title=1996 Census |journal=Census of Canada |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/info/census96.cfm |access-date=2 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Statistics Canada |title=2006 Census |journal=Census of Canada |date=13 March 2007 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/ |access-date=2 July 2021}}</ref> The African Nova Scotian community has lived in the area since 1783, largely settled around the south end of the town in an area called ''Sand Hill''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Affairs |first1=Darlene Strong with research support from African Nova Scotian |title=Sand Hill - An Early Black Settlement |url=https://historicnovascotia.ca/items/show/232 |website=Historic Nova Scotia |access-date=2 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==Notable citizens==
[[File:Chas Tupper - GG Bain.jpg|thumb|upright|Sir [[Charles Tupper]], the [[List of Prime Ministers of Canada|6th]] [[Prime Minister of Canada]], was born in Amherst]]

* [[Roger Stuart Bacon]], former Premier of Nova Scotia
* [[Willard Boyle]], co-inventor of the [[charge-coupled device]] (CCD)
* [[Bill Casey]], politician
* [[Edward Barron Chandler]], politician
* [[Robert C. Coates]], politician
* [[Alex Colville]], painter
* [[George Cove]], inventor
* [[George Barton Cutten]], university president
* [[Robert Barry Dickey]], politician
* [[Leslie Feist]], musician
* [[John Greer (sculptor)|John Greer]], sculptor
* [[Carly Jackson]], Professional ice hockey goaltender for the [[Toronto Sceptres]] in the [[Professional Women's Hockey League]] (PWHL).<ref>Kennedy, Ian (July 9, 2024). "Fan Favorite CJ Jackson Back With Toronto On A One-Year Deal". The Hockey News. Retrieved February 26, 2025.</ref>
* [[Rocky Johnson]], professional wrestler, WWE Hall of Fame inductee, father of [[Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]]
* [[Jonathan McCully]], politician
* [[Willard M. Mitchell]], artist and architect
* [[William Thomas Pipes]], former Premier of Nova Scotia
* [[Edgar Nelson Rhodes]], former Premier of Nova Scotia
* [[Bill Riley (ice hockey, born 1950)|Bill Riley]], third Black player to play in the NHL
* [[Alfred Paul Rogers]], American orthodontist
* [[Norman McLeod Rogers]], politician
* Sir [[Charles Tupper]], 6th Prime Minister of Canada

==Media==

===Television===
Amherst is served locally by [[EastLink TV]].  The station also serves the communities of [[Springhill, Nova Scotia|Springhill]], [[Oxford, Nova Scotia|Oxford]], and others in the county, as well as [[Sackville, New Brunswick]].

===Radio===
* 90.1 FM CFNS
* 99.1 FM [[CITA-FM|CITA]]
* 101.7 FM [[CKDH-FM|CKDH]]
* 107.9 FM [[CFTA-FM|CFTA]] (Tantramar FM)

===Newspapers===
* [[Amherst News]] (weekly)

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = Amherst Escutcheon.png
|escutcheon = Argent a saltire Azure surmounted by three tilting lances in asterisk Or interlaced by a laurel wreath Proper on a chief barry wavy Argent and Azure between a rose and a fleur-de-lis Or a pale Vert charged with a tower Or.
|crest = Two hands clasped couped holding a sprig of mayflower Proper and a maple leaf Vert.
|notes = Recorded at the College of Arms on 20 June 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/3456 |title=
The Town of Amherst |accessdate=28 May 2024 |publisher=Canadian Heraldic Authority}}</ref>}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Canada|Nova Scotia}}
* [[Amherst Armoury]]
* [[List of municipalities in Nova Scotia]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Notes===
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Amherst (Nova Scotia)}}
* [http://www.amherst.ca/ Town of Amherst]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Amherst, Nova Scotia
 | North = [[Tantramar Marsh]]
 | Northeast = [[Tyndal Road, Nova Scotia|Tyndal Road]] <br> on [[Nova Scotia Route 366|Route]] [[File:Nova Scotia Route 366.svg|20px]]
 | East =  [[Warren, Nova Scotia|Warren]] <br> on [[Nova Scotia Trunk 6|Trunk]] [[Image:Nova Scotia 6.svg|20px]]
 | Southeast = [[Brookdale, Nova Scotia|Brookdale]] <br> on [[Nova Scotia Route 204|Route]] [[Image:Nova Scotia Route 204.svg|20px]] <br> [[Springhill, Nova Scotia|Springhill]] <br> on [[Nova Scotia Trunk 2|Trunk]] [[Image:Nova Scotia 2.svg|20px]]
 | South = [[Upper Nappan, Nova Scotia|Upper Nappan]] <br> on [[Nova Scotia Trunk 2|Trunk]] [[Image:Nova Scotia 2.svg|20px]] <br> [[Parrsboro, Nova Scotia|Parrsboro]] <br> on [[Nova Scotia Trunk 2|Trunk]] [[Image:Nova Scotia 2.svg|20px]]
 | Southwest = [[Amherst Point, Nova Scotia|Amherst Point]] <br> [[Joggins, Nova Scotia|Joggins]] <br> on [[Nova Scotia Route 242|Route]] [[Image:Nova Scotia Route 242.svg|20px]]
 | West = [[Cobequid Bay]]
 | Northwest = [[Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia|Fort Lawrence]] <br> on [[Nova Scotia Highway 104|Highway]] [[Image:TCH 104.svg|20px]] <br> [[Sackville, New Brunswick]]
}}
{{Subdivisions of Nova Scotia}}
{{NSCumberland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Amherst, Nova Scotia| ]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Canada]]
[[Category:Towns in Nova Scotia]]