Nestled on the east coast of Newfoundland, Clarenville, Newfoundland Labrador, Canada, is a town that boasts a rich history and stunning natural beauty. Incorporated in 1951, Clarenville is situated in the Shoal Harbour valley, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean's arm, known as Random Sound.
Clarenville, Newfoundland Labrador, is strategically located near the centre of three peninsulas: Avalon, Burin, and Bonavista. The town is connected to the Bonavista Bay area and the rest of the provincial road network through Route 1 (the Trans-Canada Highway) and Route 230.
The town's geography is characterized by a ridge of broken peaks, rising up to 152 meters above sea level, parallel to the coastline. The southern part of Clarenville is marked by valleys that have cut their way through from the coast, with the most notable being the valley formed by the Lower Shoal Harbour River and Dark Hole Brook.
Clarenville has developed in a narrow strip between the coastal ridge and the sea, with an average width of the corridor between 450 and 600 meters. The town is located at the most westerly end of an in-drift called Random Sound, making it an ideal location for commercial shipping and recreational boating.
The history of Clarenville, Newfoundland Labrador, dates back to the mid-19th century, with the first settlement around 1848. The town was initially made up of five communities: Lower Shoal Harbour, Dark Hole, Brook Cove, Broad Cove, and Red Beach.
The origin of the town's name, Clarenville, has two versions. One suggests it was named in memory of the Duke of Clarence, while the other attributes it to a son of Premier Sir William Whiteway. However, by 1901, the universally accepted spelling was Clarenville.
One of the first settlers of Lower Shoal Harbour was John Tilley and his family. Known as "Scholar John," Tilley was a self-taught reader and writer. He and his family were involved in various activities, including fox farming, gardening, coopering, blacksmithing, fishing, and fish canning. In 1993, Clarenville and Shoal Harbour were amalgamated.
Clarenville, Newfoundland Labrador, is a hub of recreational activities. The town has hosted several sporting events, including the 1994 Newfoundland Winter Games and the 1997 National Under 17 Men's Softball Tournament.
The town boasts a health club with an indoor pool, three softball diamonds, a soccer pitch with a running track, and a recreation complex with three regulation size volleyball courts. The Clarenville Events Centre, home to the Clarenville Caribous, includes a theatre, a rink for hockey, figure skating, and curling.
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy three golf courses, hiking trails, snowmobiling country, and the only ski resort east of Corner Brook, 'White Hills Ski Resort'.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Clarenville, Newfoundland Labrador, had a population of 6,704 living in 2,804 of its 3,123 total private dwellings. This represented a 6.6% increase from its 2016 population of 6,291. With a land area of 139.91 km2 (54.02 sq mi), the town had a population density of 47.9/km2 (124.1/sq mi) in 2021.
