Port Hastings is a charming unincorporated settlement nestled on Cape Breton Island, within the Municipality of the County of Inverness, Canada. With a population of just 90 in 2021, this quaint community is located at the eastern end of the Canso Causeway on Cape Breton Island. The settlement is named after Charles Hastings Doyle, adding a touch of historical significance to its identity.
Previously known as Plaster Cove, Port Hastings has a rich history that is deeply intertwined with the development of the region. The Inverness and Richmond Railway was constructed from coal mines in Inverness to a loading dock at Point Tupper in 1901, marking a significant milestone in the community's development.
The construction of the Canso Causeway, which opened in 1955, transformed Port Hastings into a railway junction. The Truro-Sydney mainline of Canadian National Railways (CNR) was diverted from the railcar ferry terminals at Mulgrave and Point Tupper. Although the CNR line to Inverness was eventually abandoned in the 1980s, the Truro-Sydney mainline continues to operate under the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway.
The Canso Causeway also brought the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 104 and Highway 105) through the community, further enhancing its connectivity. The Port Hastings Rotary, a traffic circle, creates an important interchange between Highway 104, Highway 105, Trunk 19, and Trunk 4, several hundred meters east of the Canso Canal Bridge.
The growth of automobile-focused tourism following World War II saw the establishment of several motels, gas stations, and a tourist information center at the traffic circle. Today, the community is home to the Strait Area Museum, which documents local history, including that of the Canso Causeway.
Like most of Nova Scotia, Port Hastings experiences a humid continental climate with some maritime influences. This includes high snowfall in winter and relatively narrow temperature fluctuations by Canadian standards, offering a unique blend of weather conditions.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Port Hastings had a population of 90 living in 45 of its 50 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 1.1% from its 2016 population of 89. With a land area of 0.86 km2 (0.33 sq mi), it had a population density of 104.7/km2 (271.0/sq mi) in 2021. Despite its small size, Port Hastings, Nova Scotia, is a community rich in history and natural beauty, making it a must-visit destination for those exploring the region.
