RANDOM ISLAND: Located further south, Random Island is in the "next bay" - Trinity Bay. The Island is partially surrounded by the Bonavista Peninsula, Random Island is considered to be the second largest of the offshore islands of province.

According to Wikipedia contributors, the island is approximately 35 km (22 mi) long, its width varies from 15 km (9.3 mi) on the eastern end, to 6 km (3.7 mi) in the middle, to 17 km (11 mi) on the western end, with a total area, according to the Random Island Academy website of around 310 km2 (120 mi).

In another location, however, Wikipedia lists the area as being 255 km2 or 98.4 mi2. According to the 2016 census, the population of the island was 1,232.

According to information contained in the Canadian Encyclopedia, the name of the island may come from the Old English "randon", a term that means "disorderly," specifically when referring to the sea. Below is a brief history of the island from Wikipedia:

Random Island's first permanent settlement, Ryder's Harbour, was founded in the 1760s. The site, located at the northeastern terminus of the island, was previously visited often by the many fishing expeditions from Trinity.

Deer Harbor and Thoroughfare were settled nearby in the 1800s as fishing traffic to Random Island grew. On the western side of the island, settlers began arriving in the 1850s, mostly from the southern end of Trinity Bay.

Soon thereafter, settlement took place on the southern portion of island, becoming Hickman's Harbour.... Ryder's Harbour is considered one of the founding communities, but ceased to exist due to natural evolution away from it, while Deer Harbour was a victim of government resettlement policies in the 1960s....

The population of Random Island had risen to past 1000 by 1901, with Hickman's Harbour being the most populous community at 309 people.

The Random Island Academy website outlines what happened to the island at the beginning of the 20th century: many of the components of the varied economy of Random Island in the late 1800s began to unravel in the early 1900s.

Slate quarrying had died out by 1910 and the Labrador fishery had begun a precipitous decline. The island had sent 19 schooners to the Labrador in 1901, but there were only seven in 1921, with the fishery dying out altogether in the 1930s.

Of course, this spelled the end of Random Island shipyards and also caused a decline in sawmilling.

While the inshore fishery continued to be fairly productive at Thoroughfare and Deer Harbour, the work force of other communities came largely to be employed away from Random Island, in pulpwood cutting and general labour.

Some moved to Clarenville, which was becoming the major service centre for the area, while others who stayed on the island were also employed away and returned home on weekends.

In 1952, the Hefferton Causeway and bridge were completed connecting Random Island to the mainland of Newfoundland (by means of Route 231). Route 231, also known as Random Island Road, (and the Discovery Route by some) is a 33.6- kilometre-long (20.9 mi) cast-west highway.

Constructing the Hefferton Causeway, followed by road upgrades, greatly facilitated travel to Clarenville and the rest of Newfoundland. Deer Harbour and Thoroughfare were resettled when it was decided in the 1960s not to link them to the roads.

The population continued to rise slowly, and in 1986 the island's population reached just over 1500. Hickman's Harbour continued to be the largest community, with a population of 479.

Apart from some fishing and sawmilling, few residents were employed on Random Island itself, more working at Clarenville or farther afield.

In 1983, Decks Awash did a special issue on Random Island which offers a plethora of information: The following is from that publication:

The Hefferton Causeway (locally known as the Bar Bridge) links Random Island to the mainland at Miton. The tot al distance from the island to the Mainland is about 1100 feet over very shallow tidal water.

Work on the road link began in 1951 and was completed in 1952. The causeway is primarily rock- fill topped by a road, but a bridge in the centre allows small boats to pass from North west Arm to Smith Sound.

The causeway was named after Samuel J. Hefferton, a minister in the first cabinet of Premier J.R Smallwood.

Sam Hefferton (1896-1980) represented the electoral district of Trinity North in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1949 to 1956. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador Following Rte. 231 one comes to the following communities on the Island:

Random Heights: Random Heights (and Robinson Bight) are relatively recent in their development as communities. Both were founded in the 1970s.

The first residents were the dean, Simmons and Walters families. Most of the people living in the Heights travel to Clarenville to work.

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/RandomIsland