[1] The village takes its name from "Havre Boucher", a natural harbour that opens onto St. George's Bay to the north.

The community has expanded from its original setting on the west side of the harbour to now encompass the communities of Auld's Cove, Cape Jack, East Havre Boucher, West Havre Boucher, Frankville and Linwood.

Havre Boucher is largely rural and dependent upon the fishing industry, and as a service centre for the surrounding area.

[2] Construction of the Canso Causeway, which opened in 1955, saw the Canadian National Railway mainline from Truro-Sydney being diverted from Linwood to an alignment north through Havre Boucher and Cape Jack, following the Strait of Canso to the causeway.

Prior to that time, the railway ran from Linwood to Mulgrave where a ferry service operated to Point Tupper.