Guysborough County, Nova Scotia

Guysborough County
Location of Guysborough County, Nova Scotia
Coordinates: 45°18′N 61°48′W / 45.3°N 61.8°W / 45.3; -61.8
CountryCanada
ProvinceNova Scotia
District
municipalities
Guysborough / St. Mary's
TownsMulgrave
Established1836
Divided into District MunicipalitiesApril 17, 1879
Named afterSir Guy Carleton
Electoral Districts      
Federal

Central Nova / Cape Breton—Canso
ProvincialGuysborough–Eastern Shore–Tracadie
Area
  Land4,037.16 km2 (1,558.76 sq mi)
Population
  Total
7,373
  Density1.8/km2 (5/sq mi)
  Change 2016–21
3.3%
  Census rankings
 District municipalities
 Guysborough
 St. Mary's
 Town
 Mulgrave
 
 
 
4,681 (721 of 5,008)
2,587 (1,110 of 5,008)

879 (2,234 of 5,008)
 2021
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
  Summer (DST)UTC-3 (ADT)
Area code902
Dwellings5,377
Median income*$34,894
  • Median household income, 2005 (all households)

Guysborough County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The area was first inhabited by the indigenous Mi'kmaq, and was colonized by France in the 17th century. Following the defeat of France in North America, the area was settled by loyalists after the American Revolutionary War. The county was created when it was split from Sydney County in 1836. Guysborough County was divided into two administrative districts with separate councils and courts in 1879: Guysborough and St. Mary's. The town of Canso was incorporated in 1901, followed by Mulgrave in 1923. Canso was dissolved as a town in 2012.

While there has been no county administration since 1879, Guysborough County exists as a census subdivision. As of 2021, Guysborough County had a population of 7,373, down from a peak population of 18,320 in 1901. The largest communities are Canso, Mulgrave, Sherbrooke, and Guysborough.