DEMOGRAPHICS
Pictou County is the geographical centre of Nova Scotia, thereby offering businesses and residents tremendous advantages. The reasons for this are varied: a strategic location, an experienced and educated workforce with a deeply rooted work ethic, a cost-effective operating environment and the cooperative support of our major industries and community leaders.
Pictou County is the commercial centre for Northern Nova Scotia. Pictou County supports extensive industrial operations, forestry, fishing and agriculture. Entrepreneurship and enterprise are a significant part of the heritage of the area. Large and small businesses alike flourish. Witness the operation of firms such as Michelin North America (Canada) Incorporated, Neenah Paper, Sobeys Incorporated and Scotsburn Dairy Group.
There is an abundance of available land, good accommodations, modern health care facilities, a variety of training facilities and reasonably priced housing. Quaint shops and modern shopping malls make Pictou County one of the major retail centres of Nova Scotia. Due to its location, the facilities, warm, beautiful beaches and natural surroundings, Pictou County is a key tourist destination and an excellent community to raise a family.
Pictou County offers the best of both worlds: the best features of rural and urban life can be found here. As you and your business explore these pages, you will see how Pictou County is the ideal place to live and conduct business.
Demographic & Economic Statistics
General Demographic Statistics
| Population |
46,965
|
| Female Population |
24,310
|
| Male Population |
22,650
|
| Population Density |
16.51 sq.km
|
| Land Area |
2,845 sq.km |
Source: 2001 Census
| Number of Households |
18,275 |
| Number of Families |
13,540 |
| Average Total Income |
$20,066 |
| Average Family Income |
$42,799 |
Source: 1996 Census
Location Breakdown of Population
| New Glasgow |
9,432
|
| Pictou |
3,875
|
| Stellarton |
4,809
|
| Trenton |
2,798
|
| Westville |
3,879
|
| Rural Areas |
22,172
|
Source: 2001 Census
Age Distribution (Percentage)
| Age |
Male |
Female
|
| 0-14 |
18.6% |
17.2%
|
| 15-24 |
14.0% |
13.2%
|
| 25-44 |
26.7% |
27.3%
|
| 45-64 |
27.3% |
26.6%
|
| 65+ |
13.3% |
18.8% |
Source: 2001 Census
Top Five Ethnic Origins
| Scottish |
53.5%
|
| Canadian |
34.7
|
| English |
31.4
|
| Irish |
19.9
|
| French |
17.0
|
Source: 1996 Census
|
Major Field of Study compared to Labour Force Activity, 2001
|
|
|
Pictou
County
|
|
Major Field of Study
|
Total Labour force activity
|
In the labour force
|
Employed
|
|
Total-Major Field of Study
|
29,600
|
17,280
|
14,665
|
|
Education, Recreation & Counselling
|
1,195
|
805
|
755
|
|
Fine & Applied Arts
|
490
|
325
|
310
|
|
Humanities & Related
|
380
|
260
|
225
|
|
Social Science & Related fields
|
785
|
620
|
535
|
|
Commerce, Mgt, Business Admin
|
2,980
|
2,005
|
1,720
|
|
Agric & Biological Sci/Tech
|
415
|
290
|
245
|
|
Engineering & Applied Science
|
265
|
210
|
200
|
|
Applied Sci Tech & Trades
|
4,020
|
3,285
|
2,695
|
|
Health Profession, Sci & Tech
|
1,580
|
1,150
|
1,110
|
|
Math & Physical Sciences
|
205
|
175
|
155
|
|
No Specialization
|
15
|
10
|
10
|
|
Source: 2001 Census of Canada- Statistics
Canada
|
Municipality Water Consumption Rates
Municipality
|
Quantity Consumed (Gallons)
|
$ Rate/1000 Gallons
|
|
|
|
|
|
New
Glasgow
|
All Quantities
|
2.60
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stellarton
|
Flat Rate
|
105.50/Semi-Annual
|
|
|
Minimum Charge
|
29.00
|
|
|
First 25,000
|
2.32
|
|
|
Next 75,000
|
1.89
|
|
|
Over 100,000
|
1.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pictou*
|
All Quantities
|
2.53
|
|
|
|
|
|
Westville
|
All Quantities
|
4.08
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trenton
|
First 375,000
|
2.36
|
|
|
Over 375,000
|
2.07
|
Pictou
County
School
Enrollment
2004-2005
|
School Level
|
Enrollment
|
|
Elementary
|
3,642
|
|
Junior High
|
1,896
|
|
Senior High
|
1,891
|
|
Total
|
7,429
|
Source:
Nova Scotia
Department of Education,
Celtic
Family
School
Facilities Report
Chignecto-Central Regional School Board 2003-2004
|
Teachers
|
1,504
|
|
Enrollment
|
25,423
|
|
Student/Teacher Ratio
|
16.9
|
|
Total Schools
|
89
|
|
Total Expenditure Per Student
|
$5,815
|
Source:
Nova Scotia
Statistical Review, 2005
Educational Attainment, 2001
|
|
Pictou
County
|
Nova Scotia
|
|
|
Total
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
|
Total population Aged 20-64
|
24,785
|
100%
|
495,650
|
100%
|
|
No high school diploma
|
7,265
|
27.8%
|
131,090
|
25.3%
|
|
High school &/or some post-secondary
|
4,730
|
20.8%
|
90,010
|
20.7%
|
|
Trade certificate/diploma
|
5,170
|
19.9%
|
86,220
|
16.6%
|
|
College certificate/diploma
|
4,335
|
17.8%
|
88,295
|
17.5%
|
|
University certificate/diploma/degree
|
3,285
|
13.0%
|
100,045
|
20.0%
|
Source: 2001 Census of Canada-Statistics
Canada
General Economic Statistics, 2005
|
Labour Force
|
22,380
|
|
Employed
|
19,065
|
|
Unemployment Rate
|
14.80%
|
|
Participation Rate
|
58.90%
|
|
Number of Manufacturing Establishments
|
104
|
|
Number of Employer Business
|
2,359
|
|
Number of Building Permits Issued
|
638
|
|
Total Value of Building Permits
|
$35,768,000
|
|
Forest Production (m3 solid)
|
447,602
|
|
Sea Fish Landings (metric tonnes)
|
8,105
|
|
Number of Agri-Businesses (forestry, fishing, hunting)
|
215
|
Source:
Nova Scotia
Statistical Review, 2005 & Pictou County District Planning Commission
Top Employers in
Pictou
County
Source: Various Human Resources Departments, 2005
| Employer |
Business |
Number of Employees Locally |
| Michelin Tire |
Tire Manufacturing |
1,400 |
| Sobeys |
Grocery Retail |
942 |
| Chignecto Regional School Board |
School Board |
923 |
| Convergys Inc. |
In-Bound Call Centre |
920 |
| Pictou County Health Authority |
Hospital/Health Services |
800 |
| Neenah Paper |
Pulp Manufacturing |
340 |
| ICT Group |
Contact Centre |
240 |
| Advocate Printing & Publishing |
Print & Marketing Communications |
182 |
| Maritime Steel & Foundries |
Iron Steel Production |
148 |
| Nova Scotia Power Corp |
Electric Utility |
128 |
| Scotsburn Dairy Group |
Dairy Production |
105 |
| WearWell Garments |
Garment Manufacturing |
100 |
Source: Various Human Resources Departments, 2007
Pictou
County
Property Taxes per $100 Assessed 2005 Rates
|
Municipality
|
Commercial ($)
|
Residential ($)
|
|
New
Glasgow
|
3.54
|
1.82
|
|
Pictou
|
4.00
|
2.22
|
|
Stellarton
|
3.36
|
1.82
|
|
Westville
|
3.50
|
2.18
|
|
Trenton
|
5.63
|
2.13
|
|
County
|
1.39
|
0.79
|
Average Income by Sex & Location
| Sex |
Pictou County |
Nova Scotia |
Canada |
| Male |
$25,308 |
$27,009 |
$31,317
|
| Female |
$14,811 |
$16,100 |
$19,208 |
Source: 1996 Census
General Economic Statistics
| Labour Force (15 yrs& over) |
82.4% |
| Employed (1996) |
18,930 |
| Unemployment Rate |
11.3% |
| Number of Employer Businesses |
2,400 |
| Number of Manufacturing Establishments |
114 |
| Number of Building Permits Issued |
500 |
| Total Value of Building Permits |
$30,380,400 |
| Lumber Production (m3 solid) |
523,525 |
| Forest Round Product Production (m3 solid wood) |
849,894 |
| Sea Fish Landings (round kilograms) |
8,105,697 |
| Number of Agri-businesses |
274 |
2001 Unless Otherwise Indicated
Pictou
County
Establishments by NAICS
|
Industry Group
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
|
Primary Industries
|
364
|
358
|
345
|
351
|
|
Manufacturing
|
108
|
110
|
102
|
104
|
|
Construction
|
252
|
256
|
263
|
267
|
|
Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities
|
138
|
143
|
139
|
142
|
|
Wholesale & Retail Trade
|
392
|
392
|
388
|
373
|
|
Information & Cultural Industries
|
15
|
18
|
20
|
21
|
|
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, & Rental & Leasing
|
227
|
233
|
234
|
212
|
|
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
|
35
|
37
|
42
|
42
|
|
Services
|
857
|
872
|
871
|
847
|
|
Total
|
2,388
|
2,419
|
2,404
|
2,359
|
Source:
Nova Scotia
Department of Finance- Statistics Division
Tourism Receipts in
Nova Scotia
($ Millions)
|
Type
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
|
Restaurants
|
217
|
282
|
299
|
293
|
-
|
|
Accommodations
|
193
|
270
|
286
|
280
|
-
|
|
Shopping
|
193
|
123
|
130
|
127
|
-
|
|
Automobile & Fuel
|
157
|
74
|
78
|
76
|
-
|
|
Groceries & Liquor
|
72
|
49
|
52
|
51
|
-
|
|
Entertainment
|
60
|
49
|
52
|
51
|
-
|
|
Transportation
|
241
|
294
|
312
|
306
|
-
|
|
Taxi & Vehicle Rental
|
36
|
61
|
65
|
64
|
-
|
|
Campgrounds
|
12
|
12
|
13
|
13
|
-
|
|
Other
|
24
|
12
|
13
|
13
|
-
|
|
Total
|
$1,205
|
$1,226
|
$1,300
|
1,273
|
-
|
Source:
Nova Scotia
Statistical Review, 2005
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