The People

The province's present population of approximately 550 000 is largely descended from settlers from southwestern England and southern Ireland who immigrated to Newfoundland in the late 1700s and early 1800s. There is also a small but vibrant francophone population, perhaps reflecting France's early presence in the area.

The pattern of settlement was mainly determined by the fishing industry, a population distribution that has persisted to this day. The Avalon Peninsula and northeastern Newfoundland, the traditional base for the fisheries, continue to be the most heavily populated areas.

St. John's, the historic commercial centre

and capital of the island, is the province's largest city, with a population of approximately 174 500. Other major centres are Grand Falls, Windsor, Corner Brook, Gander and Happy Valley- Goose Bay. The smaller communities - often called outports - remain, nevertheless, a major element in Newfoundland society. The twin towns of Labrador City and Wabush, which together form the largest urban community of Labrador, are based on the iron-ore mining industries of the area.

Today, Newfoundland and Labrador are home to four peoples of Aboriginal ancestry: the Micmac, who are located on the island portion of the province, and the Inuit, the Innu and the Métis who are concentrated in the coastal communities of Labrador.