Berwick is a busy little town in the Annapolis Valley found between Kentville and Aylesford. It is located on the Cornwallis River. In 2006 Berwick’s population had reached 2454.
Berwick was once used by Mi’kmaw people and later Acadians as a path and stopping point between the Cornwallis and the Annapolis Rivers. Acadians built a rough road between the two rivers which is now called Highway #1.
Berwick was settled in 1810 when Benjamin Congdon came to the area and was known as the “Congdon Settlement”. Residents decided in 1851 to name it Berwick after the English town Berwick-upon-Tweed. Berwick became a station on the Windsor to Annapolis Railway a few years later in 1869. This created away to export large quantities of apples. This in turn created spin-off industries in the area. Berwick continued having rail road service until March of 1990. Berwick was incorporated as a town in May of 1923.
Because of this, Berwick is known as the Apple Capital of Nova Scotia and fittingly has a number of apple orchards in and around the town to this day. The apple industry was once the most important industry in the town, and played a huge role in its growth. Following World War II, the apple industry collapsed and farmers began diversifying into different crops and livestock.
In late May the Annapolis Valley is home to the annual Apple Blossom Festival which of course brings many people to Berwick as the Apple Capital. Berwick also plays host to the Gala Days. A festival that runs the first weekend of September each year.