In addition to Nouvelle itself, the municipality also includes the communities of Allard, Brébeuf (Dugal), Drapeau, Miguasha, Miguasha-Ouest, Nouvelle-Ouest, and Provancher.

The seal's red and gray colours represent the colors of the rocks present on the fossil site.

Nouvelle was first settled by Acadians fleeing the deportation of 1755, fish merchants from Jersey, Channel Islands and some Irish.

The name Nouvelle (French meaning "new") was used as early as the end of the 18th century and stood for the "new land" being made available west of the town that is now called Carleton-sur-Mer.

It first appeared on documents in 1787 by the Jersey businessman Charles Robin and by Abbé Joseph Mathurin Bourg, the first Acadian priest.