The community was renamed after Sir Walter Raleigh,[1] and public notice of the change was given by John R. Bennett, Colonial Secretary, on 24 March 1914.

[2] Coincidentally, in 1922, the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Raleigh, the flagship of the North Atlantic & West Indies squadron, ran aground across the straits in Labrador.

[3] Though untrue, local folklore holds that the town of Raleigh was renamed after the ship; this is an example of folk etymology.

[4] Raleigh has a harbour with Burnt Cape on one side to protect against the elements in the very harsh winters - which can see 12.3-metre (40 ft) snowbanks after a winter storm.

The Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve lies within the town's boundaries.