Lark Harbour and York Harbour: Located in the Bay of Islands area, both are named after ships. While Cook is best known for being the captain of his ship the Grenville, he was also the captain of two other ships, the H.M.S. Iark (hence Lark Harbour) and the H.M.S. York (hence York Harbour).

Lark Harbour, located on the north shore of the Bay of Islands near its southwestem entrance, was named by Cook while surveying the area in 1767.

The most recent census showed a population of 522 in 2016, a 2.4% increase from the 510 recorded five years previously. York Harbour located on the south side of the Bay of Islands was also named in 1767.

The population of York Harbour in 2016 was less than that of Lark Harbour. There were 344 residents then, not much change from the previous census in 2011 when 347 residents were recorded (0.9% decrease).

Further north, Bay of Islands is aptly named as the bay is so large (355 km2 or 137 mi2) there are a number of islands, both large and small are found within it. The following description of the bay is from the ENL:

[The bay] is composed of four main parts: an open bay, dotted with about twelve islands, for which the bay was named, and three large arms which extend from the open water eastward: North Arm, Middle Arm (which itself divides into two smaller extensions of the sea: Goose and Penguin Arms) and the Humber Arm, into which the Humber River empties.

Because of glacial scouring of the area, the waters of the arms and open bay are quite deep and their banks are steep.

Settlement on the shores of the Bay of Islands has always been concentrated in the southern Humber Arm, where, at first, salmon fisheries attracted immigrants.

Later the development of herring fisheries and sawmilling attracted more settlers and finally the large pulp and paper industry established in Comer Brook in the 1920s made the eastern end of the Humber Arm the area with the second largest population in Newfoundland after St. John's.

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/YorkHarbour