In 1761, the British settled the area with Presbyterians of predominantly Ulster Scottish origin who came from Ireland via New England.

The Intercolonial, which later became the Canadian National Railway built a large roundhouse and rail yard in Truro.

Further rail links to Cape Breton and to the Annapolis Valley through the Dominion Atlantic Railway in 1905 increased the town's importance as a transportation hub for Nova Scotia.

[7] The history of the town and surrounding county is preserved at the Colchester Historical Museum (c.1900-1901), which is designated under the provincial Heritage Property Act.

Black Loyalist descendants make up the vast majority of people in the third area, West Prince Street (“the Island”).

Zion United Baptist Church, first founded in 1896 on Prince Street, has long been the spiritual heart of the community.

To support herself while taking music lessons at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts she taught school in Africville and Lucasville.

She gave a Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of Confederation Centre in Charlottetown in 1964.

One of Canada's most well known civil rights leader, Burnley Allan "Rocky" Jones, was raised in "the Marsh" neighbourhood of Truro.

[10] Art Dorrington, the first black hockey player to sign an NHL contract was raised in "the Island".

Six large sections of the Berlin Wall are located along the Cobequid Trail, on the Agricultural Campus of Dalhousie University.

(Canadian) Football is also a popular sport in the town with all games being played on Friday night at the Truro Amateur Athletic Club (TAAC) grounds.