Glovertown is a town of 2,000 people (2016) in Central Newfoundland. It is a base for exploring Terra Nova National Park.
Beyond its modest size, Glovertor n sits at the edge of some of Newfoundland's most productive seasonal fishing grounds. In spring, local crews converge on the waters of Alexander Bay to harvest capelin and snow crab, a rhythm that shapes the town's rhythm and supplies fresh seafood to markets along the Trans‑Canada Highway. Visitors who time their stay with the early‑summer runs can join guided boat trips that combine practical insight into the catch‑process with close‑up views of seabirds that follow the schools. The experience offers a working‑world perspective that city‑based tours rarely provide, and the post‑harvest celebrations in local pubs often feature impromptu music sessions that echo the sea’s cadence.
The highway that threads through Glovertown – part of the iconic Route 1 – is a favoured segment for travellers tracing the east coast’s dramatic coastline. While the town itself is a convenient pause, its understated charm lies in the small community library that houses a curated collection of Newfoundland poet‑writers. A cup of locally roasted coffee beside a window overlooking the bay invites a quiet moment of contemplation, a contrast to the relentless drive along the road. For the literary inclined, the library hosts occasional readings by regional authors, offering a glimpse into the narrative voice that has shaped the province’s identity.
Most visitors associate Glovertown with marine life, yet the surrounding inland terrain hosts a surprisingly diverse array of terrestrial wildlife. In late summer, the boreal forest fringes near Angle Brook become a gathering place for moose and black bears, drawn by abundant berries. Guided walks led by local naturalists provide safety tips and emphasise observation etiquette, ensuring that encounters remain respectful. Birdwatchers can also track the migration of the Atlantic puffin inland, as these seabirds sometimes roost in the sheltered cliffs near the town during nesting season, offering a rare inland sighting that complements the coastal colonies.
Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, CanadaGlovertown Bloody Bay, Alexander Bay, Saunders Cove, Angle BrookTown SealGlovertownLocation of Glovertown in NewfoundlandCoordinates: 48°40′N 54°03′W / 48.667°N 54.050°W / 48.667; -54.050Country CanadaProvince Newfoundland and LabradorCensus division7Settledearly 1800sArea • Total70.33 km2 (27.15 sq mi)Population (2021) • Total1,948 • Density29.6/km2 (77/sq mi)Time zoneUTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time) • Summer (DST)UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)Postal codesA0G 2K0Area code709Highways Route 1 (TCH) Route 310WebsiteGlovertown official site Glovertown is a town in northeastern Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is in Division No. 7 on Alexander Bay.
[edit] Originally, Glovertown was called Bloody Bay. That name dated back to the 18th century and supposedly it referred to a massacre of a family of 11 by Beothuk natives that were living in the area at the time. The town was renamed Alexander Bay in 1894. During 1894, a section of railway was being built in the area. A few years later, the town was renamed to Glovertown, its current name, after Sir John Hawley Glover who served as the governor of Newfoundland from 1876 to 1881 and from 1883 to 1885. The first settlers of Glovertown appeared in the early 19th century. In 1845, 12 people lived there. By 1857, there were only 10; by 1862 there were only eight. Then in 1869, the population jumped up to 80 and Glovertown started to become a thriving center for the fishery, boat building and lumbering industries. By 1891, there were 288 residents and the population had grown to 408 by 1911. Separate settlements had been established by that time in the Saunders Cove to Northwest Arm area. Presently these areas are part of Glovertown. On July 2, 1913, one of the sawmills located at Rosedale exploded and six people were killed. By 1935 there were 842 people living in the Glovertown area; 160 in Glovertown North, 325 in Glovertown Center, 53 in Angle Brook, 24 in Glovertown South and 24 in Alexander Bay. This population fluctuated in the coming years. The population continued to fluctuate for the next 11 years, until the forest fire of 1946. In 1946, there was a fire that was started by sparks coming from a passing train. The fire destroyed 46 homes and left families homeless. Two schools, several businesses and 150 square miles (390 km2) of timber were also destroyed during the fire. The lumber industry has never recovered from this loss. Eventually people from Greenspond, Flat Island, Bragg's Island, and Gooseberry Island began to resettle to Glovertown and the influx of new people brought new industries to the town, including dairy and construction. By 1971, the population of Glovertown was 1,915 and in 1981 it was 2,165. The Glovertown Regional High School was built in 1957 and an elementary school was built next to it in 1975. In 1998, both of the schools were joined to create present-day Glovertown Academy.
[edit] In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Glovertown had a population of 1,948 living in 822 of its 972 total private dwellings, a change of -6.5% from its 2016 population of 2,083. With a land area of 69.85 km2 (26.97 sq mi), it had a population density of 27.9/km2 (72.2/sq mi) in 2021.