Population: 295 (1996)
326 (1986)

Located along a series of low cliffs on the north side of a broad, open cove, on the North Shore of Conception Bay is the Community of Northern Bay.

Local tradition tells that permanent settlement dates from 1801, when 2 Irish fishermen named Cummins and Fogarty bought premises from John Web of Harbour Grace; but English and Irish immigrants were settling the North Shore in the 1700's.

Northern Bay was settled by both Irish and English, early family names included: Cummins, Fogarty, Hogan, Moores, Buckler, Butler, Dale, Duggan, Hinchey, Howell, Johnson, Puddester, and Tobin. To the north, Long Beach (considered a part of Northern Bay) was mainly Irish Catholic with family names including Layman, McCarthy, Mullaly, Johnson, O'Flaherty, Steele and Woodfine.

Residents fished locally for cod and salmon. Men and sometimes women went to the Labrador fishery; men also engaged in the spring seal hunt in vessels out of Harbour Grace and St John's.

After fish plants in Old Perlican and Bay de Verde opened in the 1960's a number of people found employment as plant workers, and a few became involved in the new fresh fish business as vessel owners and fishermen. In the late 1970's with the development of the crab fishery more residents found work in the processing plants, but crab catches fell after 1985.