Large detailed map of Newfoundland and Labrador with cities and towns

Description:
This map shows cities, towns, rivers, lakes, islands, Trans-Canada highway, major highways, secondary roads, winter roads, railways, and national parks in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Cities and towns of Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador contains approximately 270 incorporated municipalities. The province's settlement pattern reflects its historical dependence on fishing, mining, and forestry, with most communities located along coastlines or near resource extraction sites.

Major Urban Centers

St. John's, the provincial capital and largest city, has a metropolitan population of approximately 212,000 residents. Founded in 1583, it is one of the oldest cities in North America and serves as the economic and cultural center of the province. The city is located on the Avalon Peninsula and functions as the primary hub for government, education, and healthcare services.

Corner Brook, with a population of approximately 19,000, is the second-largest city and serves as the regional center for western Newfoundland. Mount Pearl, with about 23,000 residents, is the second-largest municipality by population and is located adjacent to St. John's.

Regional Distribution

Communities are distributed across distinct geographical regions. The Avalon Peninsula contains the highest concentration of population, including St. John's and surrounding towns. The eastern Newfoundland coastline features numerous small fishing communities, many established in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Central Newfoundland includes towns such as Gander (population approximately 11,000), historically important for aviation, and Grand Falls-Windsor (population approximately 14,000), established around the pulp and paper industry. Western Newfoundland's communities include Corner Brook and smaller coastal settlements along the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Labrador Communities

Labrador's population of approximately 27,000 is concentrated in several key communities. Happy Valley-Goose Bay (population approximately 8,000) serves as the regional center. Labrador City (approximately 7,200) and nearby Wabush are mining communities in western Labrador near the Quebec border. Coastal Labrador features smaller communities such as Nain, Hopedale, and Makkovik, many with significant Indigenous populations.

Many smaller communities have populations under 500 residents. The province underwent significant demographic changes during the 1950s and 1960s when the government relocated residents from isolated outports to larger communities, a controversial program affecting hundreds of settlements.