Annapolis Royal is a town in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada, and serves as the county seat. Originally established by the French as Port Royal in 1605, the community holds a significant place in North American history as one of the earliest European settlements on the continent.
A Settlement Older Than Many Famous Founding Moments
The founding of Annapolis Royal predates several well-known moments in early North American colonial history. The French establishment at Port Royal in 1605 came two years before the English settlement at Jamestown in 1607, three years before the French settlement at Quebec City in 1608, and fifteen years before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth in 1620. This sequence places Annapolis Royal among the earliest enduring European footholds in the region.
County Seat of Annapolis County
As the county seat of Annapolis County, Annapolis Royal functions as an administrative centre for the surrounding region. The town is located in Nova Scotia, Canada, and carries the weight of its long colonial and post-colonial history as part of its identity within the province.
French Origins at Port Royal
The community traces its origins directly to the French settlement of Port Royal, founded in 1605. That original establishment marked the beginning of a continuous European presence in the area, eventually evolving into the present-day town of Annapolis Royal. The site’s history reflects the broader story of early French colonisation in what is now Atlantic Canada.