The Twillingate Islands provide an excellent sheltered harbour and easy access to the rich fishing grounds nearby.

Twillingate Island is connected to mainland Newfoundland via the Walter B. Elliott causeway as part of Route 340.

The Maritime Archaic people were later supplanted by the Beothuk, and possibly the Dorset Inuit, who occupied the area until the arrival of European settlers.

[3][6] The native Beothuk managed to survive until the early 19th century in small numbers near Twillingate and the mouth of the Exploits River.

It was a busy trade and service centre for Labrador and the northern shore fisheries for more than two centuries.

Since the Fisheries and Oceans Canada moratorium on fishing northern cod (see Endangered Species Controversies in Canada and Europe) was announced on July 2, 1992,[9] followed shortly after by the collapse of the fishing industry, Twillingate has been forced to look to the tourist industry for income and has become a popular spot for visitors in the summer.

Other parts of Durrell, Bayview and the central area of the town are situated on more elevated land.

[12] Twillingate has a cool to cold, wet and very snowy humid continental climate with vast seasonal differences.

[14] Data from the Statistics Canada 2006 census show that there were 2,448 residents living in Twillingate in 2006; a change of -6.2% from 2,611 in 2001.

Today, Twillingate's economy revolves primarily around careers in construction, logging and the tertiary sector, which involves providing services to the community.

Because of the cod moratorium in 1992, fishing is not practised as much in the area, though some fishermen still catch crab, lobster and other aquatic species.

The Long Point Lighthouse, found near Crow Head, is a popular tourist attraction, as are the humpback whales that can be seen in the Atlantic Ocean.

The festival features local talent, dances, and entertainment from Newfoundland on Thursday and Friday nights.

The festival draws in many tourists from around North America and around the world and exposes them to the culture of Twillingate.

In 1990, the "Twillingate Fishery" was featured on season 26 of Land and Sea, a documentary series produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBNT) of St. John's.

The community was also the setting for Anne Troake's 2005 documentary on her family's long involvement with the seal hunt, My Ancestors Were Rogues and Murderers.

On August 15, 2020, NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, announced Twillingate as the Kraft Hockeyville Canada Champion.

In 2003, he defeated Progressive Conservative candidate Derrick Dalley, who was born in Twillingate, by 607 votes.

Medical services are provided by the small Notre Dame Bay Memorial Health Care Centre.

The fire department is located in the Town Hall building, at the corner of Main Street and Blandford's Lane on the south side.

Eastlink, formerly operating as Persona Communications, provides both high speed internet and cable television to the community, as well as the cable-only House of Assembly Channel.