Stephenville Crossing, a quaint town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is home to a population of 1,634 (as of 2021). Nestled on the island of Newfoundland, this charming community marks the easternmost limit of Bay St. George.
The town's name, Stephenville Crossing, is a nod to the Newfoundland Railway that once traversed the community, connecting Port aux Basques to Corner Brook. The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) constructed the Hanson Memorial Highway to link the railway line at Stephenville Crossing with Harmon Field, a construction project on the other side of a hill to the north, in Stephenville. The USAAF later built its own railway line from Stephenville Crossing to Stephenville.
Since the construction of the air base, Stephenville Crossing has functioned as a suburb of Stephenville, despite a ten-minute car drive separating the two towns. The railway in Newfoundland was abandoned by CN in 1988, with the last train passing through Stephenville Crossing to St. George's (return) on June 6, 1990.
Located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland within Division No. 4, Stephenville Crossing is part of the area known as Bay St. George.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Stephenville Crossing had a population of 1,634 living in 751 of its 826 total private dwellings. This represented a -4.9% change from its 2016 population of 1,719. With a land area of 31.07 km2 (12.00 sq mi), the town had a population density of 52.6/km2 (136.2/sq mi) in 2021.
Stephenville Crossing boasts a variety of amenities, including a four-pump gas station, a federal post office, two pharmacies, a grocery store, a convenience store, two building supplies stores, a volunteer fire department, a K-8 elementary school (including a pre-school program), and a bar.
The town also features a medical clinic with a family doctor, a provincial long-term care centre, and a search and rescue unit. The Barachois Search and Rescue is active in assisting authorities in water rescues and finding missing persons.
The government-run Bay St. George Long-Term Care Centre, which opened in 1976 and expanded in the mid-1980s, offers 114 beds and provides comprehensive care to residents living with diminished capabilities.
