Grand Bruit was founded in the early 19th century. It experienced depopulation related to changing economic and demographic conditions in rural Newfoundland, in particular the
collapse of the Newfoundland cod fisheries in the early 1990s. The last school in the community closed on June 22, 2007, as the last students from the town graduated from elementary school. By 2009, Grand Bruit had an aging population of 31. By September 2009, 26 out of 31 residents had voted their intent to move the community and take payouts from the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador of $100,000. A provincial law on resettling
outports requires 90 percent of a community to consent to relocation before a community can be moved. Residents have the option to apply for government permits to return to their homes seasonally for use as summer cottages. , the last remaining residents of Grand Bruit accepted the provincial government's offer of $80,000 per household ($90,000 offered to households of two or more residents). By 2010, the last permanent residents had relocated and ferry service ceased. == Geography ==