Musquodoboit Harbour is a charming rural community nestled within the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. Located on the Eastern Shore at the mouth of the Musquodoboit River, this community is a mere 45 kilometres east of downtown Halifax. With a hospital, RCMP detachment, postal outlet, schools, recreational center, library, municipal office, and other services, Musquodoboit Harbour serves as a hub for many of the surrounding communities.
The name Musquodoboit is derived from the Mi’kmaq word Moosekudoboogwek or Muskoodeboogwek, which translates to "foaming to the sea," "flowing out square," "rolling out in foam," or "suddenly widening out after a narrow entrance at its mouth." The community's name is an anglicized version of this Mi’kmaq word.
Musquodoboit Harbour was settled in the 1780s, primarily by Loyalists. Throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many settlers from Scotland, England, and Germany immigrated to the area. Their descendants still reside in the area today, as evidenced by prominent family names such as Tibbo, Rowlings, Anderson, Gaetz, and Bayers.
In the early days, most travel was by water due to the rough roads. Starting in 1852, the stagecoach journeyed from Musquodoboit Harbour to Dartmouth for a cost of 5 shillings. The first automobile was owned by Dr. Kennedy in 1909. The Dartmouth Eastern Railway, which began in 1912, transported lumber and lime from Middle Musquodoboit to Dartmouth. A station was completed in 1918 and now houses the Musquodoboit Harbour Railway Museum, which also serves as the local tourism office in the summer. The museum grounds feature a passenger car, a snow plow from the Dominion Atlantic Railway, and a caboose from the Canadian National Railway. The museum is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.
At the end of East Petpeswick Rd, you'll find Martinique Beach, the longest sandy beach in Nova Scotia. This 5-kilometre long beach is a provincial park with picnic and swimming facilities. The excellent surf conditions at Martinique Beach attract surfers from all over. The beach is named after Prince Edward, who participated in the 1794 Capture of Martinique. Adjacent to Martinique Beach is a wildlife sanctuary where Canada Geese and Black Ducks can often be seen during migratory periods. There's also a protected nesting area for the Piping Plover, an endangered species. The site is recognized as an Important Bird Area.
Just 2 kilometers down the East Petpeswick Road is the Petpeswick Yacht Club (PYC). PYC is home to a learn-to-sail program, a small marina, and a kayaking program. The yacht club hosts an annual regatta—the Shearwater to Petpeswick Race, Canada Day festivities, and a number of dances and social events throughout the year. The clubhouse, renovated in 2011, is available for private hire.
The community is served by Trunk 7, Highway 107, Route 357, East Petpeswick Road, and West Petpeswick Road.
The total population of Musquodoboit Harbour is 977, with 1364 dwellings spread across a total land area of 207.042 km².
