Conche: The community of Conche first appeared on a map produced in 1613 after Champlain's voyage of 1612 to the area. It is on a peninsula which includes the communities of Stage Cove and Silver Cove. The derivation of the name has never been confirmed.

Some believe that it comes from the French family name Chibon or Chiban, however others speculate it might come from "The Conchs", an abbey in Normandy. Local townsfolk have suggested that it is named for the shellfish, the conch, either because conch are found in the area or because the peninsula is shaped like a conch.

In 1707, the relative peace between the French fishermen and the English resulted in English warships being trapped by the French fleet in the bay. Two ships were sunk, and their remains are now are part of a designated Provincial Site of Historic Significance.

Like other nearby communities, French captains hired an Irishman to be the caretaker of the community while the fishermen left in the winter, opening it up to settlement by English speaking settlers.

In 1876 the last French fishing rooms were abandoned, however English settlers continued to live there, and the area became known for its salmon fishery (and to a lesser extent as a source of seal).

It is reported that in 1966 there were as many as 624 residents, however, in the 2016 Census there were 170 residents listed, a decrease of 6.1% since 2011, when there were 181 residents. Part of the decrease may be, however, due to changes in census boundaries.

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/Conche