Amherst is a town in northwestern Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Amherst is located at the northeast end of the Cumberland Basin, an arm of the Bay of Fundy.   According to Dr. Graham P. Hennessey, “The Micmac name was Nemcheboogwekmeaning ‘going up rising ground’, in reference to the higher land to the east of the Tantramar Marshes. The Acadians who settled here as early as 1672 called the village Les Planches. The village was later renamed Amherst by Colonel Joseph Morse in honour of Lord Amherst, the commander-in-chief of the British Army in North America during the Seven Years’ War.”

The town was first settled in 1764 by immigrants from Yorkshire following the expulsion of the Acadians, with the original settlement being located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of the present town on the shore of the Bay of Fundy. These settlers were joined by United Empire Loyalists (Loyalists who fled the American colonies during the American Revolution). A mill was built on the current townsite, and the residents moved there to be closer to work.

Amherst is the retail centre for Cumberland County and the southeastern part of Westmorland County (New Brunswick). There are also smaller independent retailers and restaurants in the downtown area, situated among various historic buildings.  Amherst is home of the Amherst Ramblers, a Junior A Hockey League team from the Maritime Hockey League. Amherst is home to a popular running club known as the ‘Amherst Striders’ that are recognized at almost every race in the Maritimes.  Every August, Amherst hosts an eight-team little league baseball tournament, featuring four teams from New England.