Pictou, town, seat of Pictou county, northern Nova Scotia, Canada. It lies just northwest of New Glasgow, on Pictou Harbour, facing Northumberland Strait. The site, a former Mi’kmaq village, was settled in 1767 by a group of families from Maryland and Pennsylvania. They were joined in 1773 by settlers from Scotland. The community probably derived its name from an Indian word piktook (“bubbling water,” or “explosion”). In the 19th century, lumbering and coal mining were well established; other industries included foundries, canneries, tire factories, and the production of biscuits. During World War II, steel merchant ships were built in the shipyard. Pictou has developed one of Nova Scotia’s largest lobster fisheries. Pictou Academy was founded in 1816. There are ferry services from nearby Caribou to Pictou Island (5 miles [8 km] long by 2 miles [3 km] wide) offshore, and to Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, 14 miles (23 km) across the strait. Tourism is based on Pictou’s rich Scottish heritage. Inc. 1874. Pop. (2006) 3,813; (2011) 3,437.