St. Mary's Bay stretches approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) wide at its mouth, from Point Lance in the west to Cape Freels in the east, and it extends almost 58 km (36 mi) to the NNE to its farthest point inland at Colinet.
St. Mary's Bay, while not hit as hard as neighbouring Placentia Bay, was subject to the Resettlement Program spearheaded by Joey Smallwood, Newfoundland and Labrador's first premier (1949-1972).
People in rural communities deemed no longer viable (whether by reason of population, economics, or remote location) were pressured by the government to relocate to 'growth centres.'
Thus, there are several ghost towns around St. Mary's Bay, abandoned a generation ago.
Starting at the southwest extremity and moving around the bay in a clockwise fashion (population data from 2006 census[1]) :