This community (which has three parts: Ingonish, Ingonish Centre and Ingonish Beach) was first settled by Portuguese fishermen in the 1520s, followed a century later by the French, when Samuel de Champlain noted the local Mi'kmaq name as "Niganis," though later the French named the town Port d'Orleans. It grew to second in importance to Louisbourg, but after Louisbourg fell in the town was abandoned.
