Population: 538 (1996)
625 (1981)

Incorporated: 1967

Located on the East Side of Trinity Bay is the town of Heart's Content.The town is built along the northeast side and the southeast base of this harbour.

The first references to Heart's Content came from John Guy's journal of his voyage into Trinity Bay in 1612. Through much of the 17th Century Heart's Content was used by migratory fisherman from England. However, permanent settlement by at least 1677.

Like many other Newfoundland English settlements, this small village was a victim to the French army of "Pierre Le Moyne d'lberville" in 1697.

During the 18th century, the inshore cod fishery was the main source of income. Agriculture in the summer and logging in the winter also helped the fisherman and their families.

Heart's Content was given its place in the history of international communications by Cyrus Field who choose it as the terminus of his transatlantic submarine cable. In July 1866, when the cable was brought ashore, it was described as "a sheltered nook, where ships may ride at anchor safe from the storms of the ocean…on the beach is a small village of sixty houses, most of them the dwelling of these hardy men who vex the northern sea with their fisheries…"

Heart's Content did not depend of the cable industry alone for its successful economically standings. Besides the growing importance of the Labrador fishery and the seal hunt, as well as the shipbuilding industry, other economic stimuli made it a growing and prosperous community. Transportation connections between Heart's Content and the rest of the Avalon Peninsula improved and greatly accommodated the movement of people and goods, and the overall production of business the town and other areas of Trinity and Conception Bays.

Within 10 years of incorporation Heart's Content obtained most of the facilitates and the amenities of a small town. These included a town hall, fire station, a municipal park, water a sewage system, a ballpark and a senior citizens club. Also, in the old cable station a fascinating communications museum (which attracted many tourists and served the town by reminding both residents and visitors of Heart's Content's historical past).

Family names recorded in Heart's Content included:
Baker, Bryant, Cumby or Comby
George (dating back to 1708)
Hopkins (dating back to 1667)
Pitcher, Rendle or Rendell, Rockwood, Rowe
Smith, Suley or Sooley, Sullivan, Warren, White

Family names, which have disappeared by the end of the 20th century, included:
Bailey, James, Moores or Moors, Murphy, Murray, Ollerhead, Pottle, Senior, Walker and Young.