The Glory Days of Richmond County

Place Names St. Peter's Richmond County Cape Breton Island Arichat Isle Madame Strait of Canso Gulf of St. Lawrence Caribbean Europe Scotland Inverness County Glace Bay Bras d'Or Lakes

In the early 1800s, about 2,000 people lived in the St. Peter’s area of Richmond County. There were more people in the St. Peter’s area than in all the rest of Cape Breton Island.

There were also many people living in Arichat on Isle Madame. Arichat’s location made it an important port. Ships could stop there before going through the Strait of Canso to ports along the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Arichat was also in a good place to trade fish for rum and molasses with the Caribbean and to trade fish for manufactured goods with Europe.

These were the glory days of Arichat. There were 24 large wharves, two Protestant churches, a Catholic cathedral, doctors, lawyers, high schools, hotels and four bars in Arichat in the 1860s! Because it was so important, Arichat, was chosen as the county seat of Richmond County. The county seat is where the municipal government offices are.