Harbour Grace is a historic town in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Its roots date back to the 16th century, making it one of the oldest towns in North America. 

 

Harbour Grace was an important port and fishing centre from the earliest days of European exploration of North America.  The town was a thriving seasonal fishing community by 1550, and by 1618 it had become a permanent settlement.  

 

Over the coming years, control of Harbour Grace became a point of contention between the English and the French, with the town being razed several times in the 17th and 18th centuries. 

 

Despite these attacks, Harbour Grace's population grew steadily, reaching around 5,800 by 1771. The town continued to prosper from the Labrador cod and seal fisheries, and by the 19th century, it was the location of one of Newfoundland's earliest denominational schools. 

 

In the early 20th century, Harbour Grace became known as a hub for pioneering transatlantic aviation. Due to its proximity to continental Europe, many famous aviators, including Amelia Earhart, made their Atlantic crossings from the nearby Harbour Grace airfield.  

 

These transatlantic flights through Harbour Grace are designated as a Canadian National Historic Event. 

 

Today, Harbour Grace continues to be a fishing and fish processing centre, and a small tourist industry has emerged due to the town's rich history and many historical buildings. 

 

The Harbour Grace Heritage District, established in 1992, is a collection of 19th—and early 20th-century homes, public buildings, and other structures that overlook the harbour. 

 

History of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Harbour Grace has a rich history dating back to the 16th century as one of the oldest towns in North America. Some key points about its history:

• Harbour Grace was an important port and fishing centre from the earliest days of European exploration. A thriving seasonal fishing community was established by 1550.
• The town became a permanent settlement around 1618, when Bristol's Society of Merchant Venturers received a charter from King James I to establish a settlement there.
• Over the 17th and 18th centuries, control of Harbour Grace was contested between the English and French, with the town being razed several times. Despite these attacks, the population grew steadily, reaching around 5,800 by 1771.
• Harbour Grace prospered from the Labrador cod and seal fisheries and, by the 19th century, was home to one of Newfoundland's earliest denominational schools.
• In the early 20th century, Harbour Grace became known as a hub for pioneering transatlantic aviation. Famous aviators like Amelia Earhart used the nearby airfield to make Atlantic crossings.
• Today, Harbour Grace continues to be a fishing and fish processing centre, with a small tourism industry focused on the town's rich history and heritage buildings.

 

Geography of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Harbour Grace is a town located in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It lies about 90 kilometres (56 miles) northwest of the provincial capital, St. John's.

 

The town has a land area of 33.71 square kilometres (13.02 square miles) and a population of 2,796 as of the 2021 census, down from a peak of 11,458 residents in 1921. The population density is 82.9 people per square kilometre (214.8 per square mile).

 

Harbour Grace has a long history as an important port and fishing centre, with roots dating back to the 16th century. By 1550, it was a thriving seasonal fishing community and became a permanent settlement around 1618. 

 

The town's strategic location on Conception Bay made it a point of contention between the English and French in the 17th and 18th centuries.

 

Today, Harbour Grace continues to be a fishing and fish processing centre, and a small tourism industry has emerged due to the town's rich history and many historical buildings. 

 

The Harbour Grace Heritage District, established in 1992, features 19th—and early 20th-century homes, public buildings, and other structures overlooking the harbour.

 

Demographics of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

The key demographics of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, are:

 

Population:

• The population of Harbour Grace was 2,796 in 2021, down 6.6% from 2,995 in 2016. 
• The population density in 2021 was 82.9 people per square kilometre. 

 

Age:

• The median age in Harbour Grace is 51.8 years, older than the provincial median of 46.3 years. 
• 840 residents (30.0%) are aged 65 and over, compared to 19.2% for the province. 

 

Households:

• There were 1,307 private dwellings occupied by usual residents in 2021. 
• 1,090 (83.5%) of occupied dwellings were owner-occupied, while 215 (16.5%) were rented. 
• The average value of dwellings was $186,800. 

 

Language:

• 2,795 residents (100%) know English, while 45 (1.6%) know French. 

 

Employment:

• The employment rate was 38.6%, and the unemployment rate was 19.6% in 2021. 

 

Harbour Grace has an aging population with a median age of over 5 years above the provincial average. The town is predominantly English-speaking, with a mix of homeowners and renters and an economy centred around fishing and fish processing.

 

Economy of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, and Labrador's economy is primarily focused on fishing and fish processing. As of 2021, the town had a population of around 2,900 people.

 

Some key points about Harbour Grace's economy:

• Harbour Grace has a long history as an important fishing and port centre, with roots dating back to the 16th century.
• Today, the town continues its tradition as a fishing and fish processing centre.
• Harbour Grace Ocean Enterprises Inc. recently made infrastructure improvements to support the fishing industry.
• The town faces challenges common to rural communities, such as public infrastructure needs, revenue generation, outmigration, and aging demographics.
• However, Harbour Grace has developed a 10-year strategic plan called "Let Yourself In 2032" to identify priorities and guide the community's future development.

 

While fishing and fish processing remain the backbone of Harbour Grace's economy, the town is also working to diversify and build on its rich history to support tourism. The strategic plan aims to open up new economic possibilities for the community.

 

Education in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Harbour Grace has a few schools serving the local community:

• Harbour Grace Elementary School (Grades K-8) is located on the main highway through the historic town. It was recently reconfigured from a previous configuration.
• St. Francis School is also located in Harbour Grace and serves students.
• The town is part of the Eastern School District, which oversees public schools in the region. The district office is located in Harbour Grace.
• Harbour Grace is home to the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association (NLSBA), representing school boards and authorities across the province. Their office is located on Kildare Road in Harbour Grace.

 

In summary, while Harbour Grace is a relatively small town, it has an elementary school and a Catholic school and serves as the base for the regional school district and the provincial school boards association. Education is an important part of the community's infrastructure and history.

 

Transport System in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

The key aspects of the transport system in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, are:

• Harbour Grace is served by local taxi and transportation services such as Birch Hills Taxi, Parsons & Sons Transportation, and Bradbury's Taxi and Courier Service. 
• The town is connected to the regional transportation network, with the Gateway Bus Service providing bus service between Port aux Basques and Corner Brook. 
• Harbour Grace has a small airport, the Harbour Grace Airport (CHG2), which was reinstated to official international airdrome status in 1999 after years of being considered abandoned. In the early 20th century, it was used by pioneering transatlantic aviators like Amelia Earhart. 
• The town also has a ferry connection, with the Bell Island Ferry operating between Harbour Grace and Bell Island. 
• While Harbour Grace has these transportation options, the search results do not indicate the presence of a major public transit system within the town itself. The transport system focuses on regional connections and taxi/courier services.

 

Harbour Grace has a mix of local transportation services, regional bus connections, a small airport, and ferry links but needs a comprehensive public transit network within the town. The transport system is oriented around the town's regional hub and fishing/tourism center role.

 

Living in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Harbour Grace is a historic town with a population of around 2,800 as of 2021. It has a long history dating back to the 16th century as an important fishing and port center.

 

The town's economy is still largely focused on fishing and fish processing. However, Harbour Grace is also working to diversify its economy and develop a small tourism industry based on its rich history and heritage buildings.

 

Demographically, Harbour Grace has an aging population, with a median age of 51.8 years compared to the provincial median of 46.3 years. Around 30% of residents are aged 65 and over. The town has a mix of homeowners and renters, with 83.5% of occupied dwellings being owner-occupied.

 

The cost of living in Harbour Grace is about 9% lower than the provincial average for Newfoundland and Labrador. Goods, services, and housing are more affordable than the national average.

 

Regarding transportation, Harbour Grace has local taxi and courier services, regional bus connections, a small airport, and a ferry link to nearby Bell Island. However, the town needs a comprehensive public transit system within its boundaries.

 

Harbour Grace offers a slower-paced, historic, small-town lifestyle. It focuses on the fishing industry and emerging tourism opportunities. The lower cost of living and aging demographics provide challenges and opportunities for the community.

 

Healthcare in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Healthcare in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, is provided by the following facilities:

 

Harbour Grace Hospital

• The primary healthcare facility in the town, offering a wide range of medical services
• Part of the Eastern Health regional health authority

 

Grace Centre

• A provincial inpatient addictions treatment centre for adults aged 18+

 

Other healthcare services include:

• Carbonear General Hospital, located in the nearby town of Carbonear
• Fewer's Ambulance Service for emergency medical transportation

 

The town also has an RCMP detachment that provides police services.

 

Harbour Grace is a relatively small town. It is part of the Eastern Health regional health authority and has access to a hospital, health centre, pharmacy, addiction treatment facility, and emergency services to meet the healthcare needs of its approximately 2,800 residents.

 

Tourist places in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Here are some of the top tourist attractions and places to visit in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador:

 

Conception Bay Museum

• Located in the historic 1870 customs house
• Showcases the history and culture of Harbour Grace and the surrounding area

 

Gordon G. Pike Railway Heritage Museum and Park

• Housed in a former railway station from 1881-1884
• Designated a Municipal Heritage Building in 2006

 

Earhart Airfield

• Used by pioneering aviators like Amelia Earhart for transatlantic flights in the early 20th century
• Reinstated to official international airdrome status in 1999 after years of being considered abandoned

 

S.S. Kyle Shipwreck

• The remains of a steamship that ran aground in 1933
• A popular spot for photographers and history buffs to explore

 

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

• A historic church that offers insight into the town's history

 

Annual Harbour Grace Regatta

• A popular annual boat race and festival

 

Harbour Grace's rich history, heritage buildings, and connection to early aviation make it an interesting destination for tourists exploring Newfoundland's past. The town's small size allows visitors to walk around and take in the historic atmosphere easily.

 

Local Food of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

The local cuisine and food scene in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, is centred around the town's long history as a fishing and seafood processing center:

• Seafood is a staple, with dishes featuring fresh local catches like cod, lobster, crab, and shrimp. Popular seafood dishes include fish, chips, chowder, and boiled or fried cod.
• Traditional Newfoundland dishes like toutons (fried dough), figgy duff (a steamed pudding), and Jiggs dinner (salt meat, potatoes, cabbage, and pease pudding) are also commonly found in Harbour Grace.
• The Republic of Newfoundland Brewery in Harbour Grace produces local craft beers that pair well with the region's seafood and traditional fare.
• Kay's Restaurant & Takeout is a highly-rated local eatery serving Newfoundland specialties and seafood dishes.
• Other restaurants in the town, such as O'Reilly's Irish Newfoundland Pub, also feature local ingredients and Newfoundland-inspired cuisine.

 

In summary, Harbour Grace's local food culture is heavily influenced by its maritime heritage. It focuses on fresh seafood, traditional Newfoundland dishes, and locally produced craft beer. The town's small size allows it to maintain a strong connection to its culinary roots.

 

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