Gambo is the closest town to Mint Brook, the birthplace of Joey Smallwood, former premier of Newfoundland and last father of confederation. It is located 47 km (29 mi) from Gander International Airport and 303 km (188 mi) from St. John's.
History
The name Gambo first appeared in the census of 1857. The name Gambo is said by M. F. Howley to be a corruption of a Spanish or Portuguese name that meant "bay of does".[2] The first steam-driven sawmill in Newfoundland was established here. The first-way office was established in 1882 under Waymaster Simeon Osmond. In 1964, the three separate communities of Dark Cove, Middle Brook, and Gambo were incorporated as one town known as Dark Cove-Middle Brook-Gambo. In 1980, the town officially changed its name to Gambo.[3]
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Gambo had a population of 1,816 living in 807 of its 967 total private dwellings, a change of -8.2% from its 2016 population of 1,978. With a land area of 93.03 km2 (35.92 sq mi), it had a population density of 19.5/km2 (50.6/sq mi) in 2021.[1]
Attractions
Gambo is known for its Smallwood Days and its Loggers' Sports Festival. One of the town's most important sights is the Logger's Memorial Park.
