Summerford is a small town on the central coast of

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. It is located just off Route 340, along Route 344. The ''Town of Summerford'' (formerly the ''Farmer’s Arm'' circa 1906) lies mostly on

New World Island New World Island is an island in Notre Dame Bay, just off the coast of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The island is connected to Newfoundland by a causeway. The prominent communities on the island are Summer ...

Notre Dame Bay Notre Dame Bay is a large bay in Newfoundland, Canada. To the south it adjoins the Bay of Exploits. The name, French for '' Our Lady Bay'', dates to at least 1550, and is possibly a French translation of an earlier Portuguese name. Trump Isl ...

just off the coast of the island of

. Strong's Island, which is connected to New World Island by Island Drive, is also a part of the town. Summerford had a population of 805 in 2021, down from 906 in the

Canada 2016 Census The 2016 Canadian census was an enumeration of Canadian residents, which counted a population of 35,151,728, a change from its 2011 population of 33,476,688. The census, conducted by Statistics Canada, was Canada's seventh quinquennial censu ...

. It is close to the neighbouring communities of Virgin Arm-Carter's Cove and Cottlesville.

History

At Summerford’s advent, it was a town focusing on the industries of fishing and logging. It was a relatively prosperous town within rural, coastal Newfoundland. It contained three churches, which were filled every Sunday, for religion was paramount in this community. Farming was also a staple, as most grew their own food and raised their own animals for meat. During the global conflicts of World War I and World War II, almost any man capable left the town to aid the British side, as at this point, Newfoundland was still a colony of Britain. In the early 1970s, the Town Hall was established, which also serves as a community hall, fire station, and holds the library. The residents fought against having a town hall built for many years, knowing it would mean more taxes, but in the end, it was established anyway. The local government consists of a mayor, deputy mayor and 6 to 8 councilors. Summerford required a doctor, so a clinic/house was built for one, in the early 1960s. A full clinic was built later, in the late 1960s, because of population increases. The New World Island Clinic serves all of NWI, and is an extension of the

Twillingate Twillingate is a town of 2,121 people located on the Twillingate Islands ("Toulinquet") in Notre Dame Bay, off the north eastern shore of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The town is about north ...

Hospital. Summerford residents generally attend New World Island Academy, a K-12 school, located along Route 340.

Demographics

In the

2021 Census of Population The 2021 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population with a reference date of May 11, 2021. It follows the 2016 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 35,151,728. The overall response rate was 98%, which is sli ...

conducted by

Statistics Canada Statistics Canada (StatCan; ), formed in 1971, is the agency of the Government of Canada commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. It is headquartered in ...

, Summerford had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of .Canada 2016 Census
Community Profile
Statistics Canada. Accessed February 6, 2018 With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

Economy

Summerford’s economy consisted of a mainly barter system for many years, and still implements it occasionally. Historically there have been multiple regional schools, both elementary and high. In 2003 the, New World Island Academy was opened. It is a K-12 school, and its students are from all over the island. Tourists supply local artists and crafts people, as well as tour guides, etc. with income during the summer months.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Summerford, Newfoundland And Labrador Towns in Newfoundland and Labrador