The land remained undeveloped until 1905, except for the Newfoundland Railway, which ran about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Grand Falls.

[4][5] Worried about the impending war in Europe, Alfred Harmsworth (Baron Northcliffe) began looking for an alternative source of newsprint for his family's newspaper and publishing business.

The site had great potential due to access to lumber, the possibility of hydroelectricity and a deep-water port available in nearby Botwood.

On January 7, 1905, the Harmsworths and Robert Gillespie Reid, owner of the Newfoundland Railway, formed the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company, and the mill was constructed and opened on October 9, 1909.

At that time, only employees of the mill and workers from private businesses were permitted to live in Grand Falls.

Other people settled north of the railway in a shack town known as Grand Falls Station, which became Windsor, named for the Canadian Royal Family.

The Anglo Newfoundland Development Company, owners of the town, catered to the social and athletic needs of the people living there.

An election for the first municipal government was soon held, which eventually led to the incorporation of the town of Grand Falls.

[6][7] In 1998, the Texas Vampires scandal occurred in the town, leading to the inception of the Newfoundland Health Research Ethics Authority.

Today, the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, part of the 5th Canadian Division is stationed in the town.

Grand Falls-Windsor has a humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfb), its classification being similar to the remainder of Newfoundland.

Due to its farther inland position than most localities the influence of the Atlantic Ocean and its moderation is less prevalent, rendering its summers the warmest on the island.

Winter lows are also more extreme than in St. John's and Corner Brook, although swings are very moderate when compared to areas on similar latitudes in continental Canada.

The closure was effected due to exchange rate volatility, energy, and fiber pricing, as well as structural challenges in the North American newsprint industry.

[20][21][22] Of the population in 2006, 790 (5.83%) people were in a common-law relationship, 3,160 (23.31%) were single, 650 (4.79%) divorced, 830 (6.12%) were widowed, 315 (2.32%) separated and the rest, 6,455 (47.54) were married.

Mary March Provincial Museum in Grand Falls, 24 Catherine St., shows exhibits about the Beothuk people, geology, regional industry and natural history.

The Salmonid Interpretation Centre at the Grand Falls is noteworthy as well[24] Also every year in summer the Salmon Festival is held; it has had performances by Aerosmith, Kiss, and The Eagles.

It was largely responsible for the development of Grand Falls as a town with the creation of a pulp-and-paper mill.

It has concrete lintels over the doors and windows, and the centre portion of the hall features a peaked roof.