Stephenville, Nfld, Town, pop 7109 (2001c), 7764 (1996c), 7621 (1991c), area 35.50 km2, inc 1952, is located on the north shore of St George's Bay in southwestern Newfoundland. Named for Acadian pioneer Stephen Le Blanc, it was settled as a fishing/farming site around 1845. On the great circle air route between the US and Europe, it was chosen as the site for the American-built Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, which opened in 1941, causing the small town to grow rapidly. The base closed in 1966 with severe economic consequences for the region, but the Harmon Field airport was converted to a commercial air facility run by the Canadian Department of Transport; the base passed to the provincial government and was administered by the Crown's Harmon Corp, formed in 1967 to attract new industry. In 1972 a $140-million linerboard mill went into production, but it closed 1977. In 1979 the world's largest producer of newsprint, Abitibi-Price (now Abitibi-Consolidated), purchased the mill and converted it for newsprint. It opened 1981, providing significant employment for the town.