Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland Labrador, is a charming town with a rich history and vibrant culture. Incorporated on October 19, 1965, this town is nestled in Division 1 of the Newfoundland and Labrador census division. Located northeast of Bay Roberts, Upper Island Cove has seen a steady growth in population since the establishment of the Way office in 1864.
Upper Island Cove is a unique town both in its physical location and its culture. Built at the bottom of high cliffs, the town was once known as “The Walled City." A number of today's residents are descendants of early fishermen from England and Ireland, adding a rich cultural heritage to the town.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Upper Island Cove had a population of 1,401 living in 582 of its 669 total private dwellings. This represented a change of -10.2% from its 2016 population of 1,561. With a land area of 7.82 km2 (3.02 sq mi), it had a population density of 179.2/km2 (464.0/sq mi) in 2021.
The Parish of Upper Island Cove is made up of three congregations: St. Peter's, Upper Island Cove; St. John the Evangelist, Bishop's Cove; and St. Andrew's, Bryant's Cove. The Parish dates back to 1815 when construction began on the first church building at Upper Island Cove.
Today, Upper Island Cove is one of the largest Anglican Parishes in the Diocese serving over 850 families in the three communities. Each of the Church buildings is unique in architecture and is well maintained. The Parish is served by active Sunday Schools, a Vacation Bible School, J.A., C.L.B., Three A.C.W. Branches, an A.C.A.A., and various Adult Christian Education Programs.
St. Peter’s School celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2011. It is a part of the Eastern School District, whose main offices are in St. John's. St. Peter's currently has an enrollment of 248 students and offers grades Kindergarten through Grade 9. The average class size is 22.5 students. The school serves the communities of Bishop’s Cove, Bryant’s Cove and Upper Island Cove. Approximately 91% of students are bussed to school on a daily basis. Although its name dates back to the time when there was a denominational school system in Newfoundland and Labrador, and schools were run by various churches, today it is a public school.
