Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) aroused great interest in Newfoundland when he described “a sea so full of fish that a basket thrown overboard is hauled back brimming with cod.” He was followed by other explorers, visiting the island’s coastline and claiming it for various European countries. St. John’s became the fishing industry’s center and North America’s oldest settlement. It remains that way today, as St. John’s continues to thrive despite its harsh climate. The people of St. John’s are known for their friendliness – a delightful contrast to the natural beauty around these historic parts of Canada.
St. John’s is located in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, on the eastern side of the Avalon Peninsula. It spans 446.04 km2 (172.22 sq mi) and is famous for its eventful history, including being the easternmost city in North America (excluding Greenland). The name was probably invented during British settlement. Still, it could have been after a fishing village with the same name that existed without a permanent settlement for most of the 16th century.
São João appears as the English translation of a Portuguese map from 1519 and is one of the oldest cities in North America. It was incorporated as a city in 1888. Including Saint John, Canada’s 20th-largest metropolitan area and second-largest Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) in Atlantic Canada, after Halifax, as well as the province’s capital. The city had a rich history, having played an essential role in the Seven Years’ War, the American Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in Saint John’s. Referred to by speakers of the Irish language in Newfoundland as Baile Sheáin.
St. John’s is known for its vibrant culture and picturesque setting. The city is situated on the east coast of North America, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is also home to some of Canada’s oldest buildings, including Signal Hill National Historic Site and St. John’s Cathedral. If you’re planning a trip to Canada, add St. John’s to your list of destinations!
Google maps of St. John’s
Geography
St. John’s is located on the northeast coast of Newfoundland at the mouth of the St. John River. It is North America’s most easterly city, 475 kilometers (295 mi) closer to London than Edmonton, and Canada’s closest city to all of Ireland. The winter population is 19% greater than the summer population. Still, tourism in the wintertime is less because of its extreme climate, including average temperatures well below freezing from December through February and heavy snowfall in November and March. Its downtown area, served by a deep harbor, lies west and north of downtown, and most suburbs are eventually built towards it on land, then extending east, south, and west for a total size of about 200 square km (77 sq mi).
Sometimes referred to as “the city of hills”, St. John’s is home to many steep streets and houses built on small parcels of land. The city’s east end, including Mundy Pond, is predominately made up of large residential areas intermixed with commercial businesses. In addition, several outport communities are within proximity to the city.
Regarding woody shrubs, native species include poison ivy, raspberries, and nannyberries. Common non-native woody shrubs include viburnums, honeysuckles, dogwoods, and barberries. Herbaceous (non-woody) plants are abundant and diverse. Wild sarsaparilla, trilliums, violets, touch-me-not, Solomon’s seal, and Canada anemone are just a few of the many native species that blanket the forest floor in springtime.
Climate
Summers in St. John’s are cooler and more moderate than other locations with a similar climate at the same latitude because of coast-bound breezes from the Atlantic. In winter, temperatures can drop below −4.9 °C (23.2 °F). The city is susceptible to tropical cyclone activity, bordered by water on the east side. The rainiest parts of the country are coastal British Columbia. However, it still experiences a lot of rainfall because its environment is conducive to storm activity, thanks mainly to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, where moisture can be drawn.
St. John’s is Canada’s most foggy (124 days with fog) and windiest (with an average wind speed of 24.3 km/h). Precipitation is frequent and can be heavy, occurring all year round. Summer tends to be the driest season, with thunderstorms only occasional but then coming in the autumn months, which are the wettest. The wettest months are October to January, with December as the wettest month on average. This winter precipitation maximum is unusual for a humid continental climate, which typically sees a precipitation maximum during late spring or early summer (such as in the Midwest US). However, most heavy precipitation events in St. John’s occur when storms come from high-latitude areas such as New England and the Northeastern United States. They are most common during autumn months, which often leads to intense storm activity where 40-80 mm of rainfall equivalent can fall across just one storm event.
Its significant winter precipitation characterizes Southern Newfoundland, receiving an annual average of 335 cm (132 in). Two or more types of winter precipitation can fall from the same storm, including rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Snowfall is heaviest during this season, but changing conditions within storms can also cause a variety of accumulation scenarios, including heavy snow followed by heavy rain, melting the snow cover; snow that remains and melts several times throughout the same storm cycle; or snow becoming heavy rains and melting any existing snow accumulations.
- The highest temperature ever recorded in St. John’s is 34 degrees Celsius (93 F)
- The lowest recorded temperature is −29.4 °C (−20.9 °F)
St. John’s experienced a state of emergency due to a snowstorm and hurricane-force winds on 17 January 2020. The Canadian Army was called to tackle the ongoing snow removal efforts the next day. The state of emergency ended eight days later, on 27 January.
Did you know?
Did you know that St. John’s, Canada is one of the oldest English-founded cities in North America? St. John’s was founded in 1604 by Sir George Calvert, an English nobleman who later became Lord Baltimore. The city is named after John the Baptist, and its coat of arms includes two lions (representing England) and a cross (representing Scotland).
Saint John’s unique architecture differs from the rest of Canada; its significant buildings are remnants of its history as one of the first British colonial capitals. Buildings took various shapes according to what was available to construct them.
With steep hills and a maze of winding residential streets, St. John’s can be compared to San Francisco. As such, the housing in St. John’s is typically colorful with bright paint jobs. This earned its downtown the nickname “Jelly Bean Row.”
Today, St. John’s is the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, and it is known for its scenic beauty, friendly people, and unique culture. The city is located on the east coast of Canada, the easternmost city in North America. It is also one of the world’s windiest cities–making it an excellent place for windsurfing!
The population of St. John’s in 2021 was 110,525 out of a total of 49,298 dwellings. This is a 1.5% change from the 2017 population of 108,860. The city spans a land area of 446.02 km2 and has a density of 247.8/km2 in 2021.
The median age in St. John’s is 40.5 years old, which is only slightly lower than the national average of 41.2 years old. Children comprise 13.9% of the population, while people 65 and over comprise 16.5%, so seniors are well-represented in this small city. The percentage of individuals who finish post-secondary education is higher in St. John’s than nationally, with 70.6% of residents aged 25 to 65 holding a certificate, diploma, or degree compared to 60%.
92.9% of people in St. John’s speak English as their mother tongue, while 1.1% speak Chinese, the second-most popular language.
The offshore oil and gas industry is a significant contributor to the provincial economy, and St. John’s is the base for many of the province’s offshore oil rigs. The city is also home to several fishing companies, and its harbor is filled with trawlers and other fishing boats. In addition to these traditional industries, St. John’s has a growing tourism sector as more and more people visit Newfoundland to see its natural beauty.
The report cited several reasons for this ranking, including the city’s skilled workforce, quality of life (ranked 8th in Canada), and access to financing (ranked 7th in Canada). With a strong focus on research and development, St. John’s is also becoming a hub for innovation and creativity. In 2010, Forbes magazine named St. John’s one of the top 10 cities in North America for young entrepreneurs.
St. John’s has traditionally been one of the safest cities in Canada to live in. The crime rates in St. John’s have increased steadily in recent years, while crime has decreased nationally. As of 2010, the total crime severity index for the city was 101.9, an increase of 10% from 2009 and 19.2% above the national average. The violent crime severity index was 90.1, an increase of 29% from 2009 and 1.2% above the national average, putting St. John’s at the seventh-highest metropolitan crime index and twelfth-highest metropolitan violent crime index in the country that year.
Accommodation in St. John’s
There are many accommodation options in St. John’s, ranging from hotels and motels to bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals. If you’re looking for a hotel, the Marriott Newfoundland is a great option. It’s centrally located and offers stunning views of the harbor. The Hilton St. John’s is another popular choice, just steps from the historic Water Street.
For those wanting a more intimate experience, there are plenty of bed and breakfasts to choose from. The Battery B&B is located in a Victorian-style house overlooking downtown St. John’s, while Gower Street B&B offers rooms with private balconies overlooking Signal Hill. Many vacation rentals are available throughout the city, whether you’re looking for an apartment, townhouse, or even a house.
Visit this page for driving directions in St. John’s.