Taking its name from the Township of Digby, which had been named in honour of Rear Admiral Robert Digby who dispatched the Atlanta to convey loyalists from New York in the spring of 1783 to Conway, which became known as Digby, Digby County was established in 1837. Previously, from August 17, 1759, when Nova Scotia was first divided into counties, this area had been part of Annapolis County. Twenty-four years later, in 1861, Digby County was divided into two districts - the District of Digby and the District of Clare.