Mainland: Located on the coast just north of L'Isle Rouge, on the "mainland", fisherman, most likely from Breton, while on the island, would look across the water to the area that they referred to as La Grand Terre or "The Big Land".

That "land" eventually became known as "The Mainland". The community was settled in the early 1880s, and local history reports, according to the BFN website, that at a later date a local priest tried unsuccessfully, to name it St. Anne.

In 2016, the census reported a community of 314 residents, down from 341 in 2011 (decrease of 7.9%).

L'Isle Rouge (Red Island): Located not very far from the land, L'Isle Rouge was a major summer fishing station from the late 1700s and was still considered the best fishing one on the west coast as late as 1862.

Most residents arrived in late April to stay until the end of September, and one of the first permanent settlers was a M. Cornect. There have been as many as 300 men on L'Isle Rouge in the late 1800s, but the 1874 census showed Red Island with 29 residents, 28 Newfoundland and one French.

In the early 1900s, the French continued to fish cod at Red Island and ship it to St. Pierre, and also had a lobster factory with a M. Chretien as manager.

No buildings remain on the island, but L'Isle Rouge continues to play an important role in the cultural heritage of the area. On the shore is the town of Mainland. Its museum has an information centre is called L'Heritage de L'Isle Rouge.

Used with permission from "Uncovering the Origin of 1001 Unique Place Names in Newfoundland and Labrador" 2021 Jennifer Leigh Hill

Address of this page: http://nl.ruralroutes.com/Mainland