Whitbourne, Newfoundland and Labrador

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Whitbourne
other_name =
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settlement_type = Town
motto =


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pushpin_label_position = left
pushpin_map_caption = Location of Whitbourne in Newfoundland
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = NL
subdivision_type3 = Census division
subdivision_name3 = 1
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1880
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area_total_sq_mi =
area_total_km2 = 21.41
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population_as_of = 2001
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population_total = 930
population_urban =
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population_density_sq_mi =
population_density_km2 = 43.4
timezone = Newfoundland Time
utc_offset = -3:30
timezone_DST = Newfoundland Daylight
utc_offset_DST = -2:30
latd = 47
latm = 25
lats =
latNS = N
longd = 53
longm = 32
longs =
longEW = W
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area_code = 709
blank_name = Highways
blank_info = Route 1
Route 80
Route 81
Route 100
website =
footnotes = Whitbourne is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in Division No. 1.

Whitbourne, Newfoundland’s first inland town, is named after Sir Richard Whitbourne, one of the most colourful early settlers of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador who wrote a book about Newfoundland that was published in 1620. Sir Richard was appointed by the High Court of the Admiralty to set up the first English law court in the New World in 1615 in Trinity. He was kidnapped and held by the notorious Pirate Peter Easton in Harbour Grace. He also described a mermaid that he saw in St. John's harbour. Later, he became governor of Renews on the Southern Shore.

Whitbourne, unlike most communities on the Island of Newfoundland is inland. It was founded in about 1880 during the construction of the Newfoundland Railway. The railway continued to be an important employer in the Town until its abandonment in 1988, although its economic significance declined gradually throughout the twentieth century.

Sir Robert Bond, the Prime Minister from 1900 to 1909, played a role in the expansion and planning of the Town and developed an elaborate country home, the "Grange", there.

The town of Whitbourne is located just off the Trans-Canada Highway on Route 81. It is located at the centre of three possible routes to visit the Avalon Peninsula. Route 80 is one of the two entrances to the Baccalieu Trail, Route 100 and Route 81 lead to the Marine Atlantic Ferry Service in Argentia and other parts of Placentia and St. Mary's Bays, and Route 1, the Trans Canada leads towards the second entrance to the Baccalieu Trail and the capital city of St. John's. As a result, there is a Provincial Visitor Information Centre on the Trans Canada near the town.

Whitbourne has many of the amenities of a small town that has traditionally been a regional service centre. The town’s Wetlands Conservation Trail is of interest to many visitors. According to the 2001 Statistics Canada Census:
*Population: 930
*% Change (1996-2001): -5.9
*Dwellings: 418
*Area (km²): 21.41
*Density (persons per km²): 43.4

ee also

* List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador

References

* "Towns of Trinity Bay" The Baccalieu Trail Tourism Association, with permission from Webmaster.

	North: Division No. 1, Subd. Y
West: Division No. 1, Subd. Y	Whitbourne	East: Division No. 1, Subd. M
	South: Division No. 1, Subd. X