Spanish Wells
St. George's Cay | |
|---|---|
EDT) | |
| Area code | 242 |
Spanish Wells is a
Overview
Spanish Wells is extended by a bridge that links it to neighboring Russell Island, which is 5.8 km (3.6 mi) long and has become an integral part of the community.[4] Spanish Wells is so small that many residents get around the island using golf carts instead of full-sized cars. Spanish Wells is known for its white powdery beaches, tropical breezes, laid back atmospheres and friendly people.[5]
History
Historically, the island was used as a last stop for the Spanish treasure fleet returning to Europe and Iberian Peninsula. Spanish galleons and Spain's medieval ships refilled their water supply from wells created for this purpose - thus the English name of the settlement: Spanish Wells.
The first British colonists were the
Economy
In the late 1970s and early 1980s an illegal drug trade in the Bahamas had a prevalence, Spanish Wells served as a transshipment point for illicit recreational drugs being shipped from Latin America to North America as part of the transoceanic illegal drug trade.
Commencing in 2006, Spanish Wells developed as a centre for lobster fishing and tourism in Bahamas.
Demographics
Spanish Wells is populated primarily by White Bahamians, who constitute 81.95% of the district's population. Afro-Bahamians constitute a further 15.48% of the population. As of the 2010 census, the district is home to 1,551 residents.[6]
Tropical Storms of Late 20th Century
The area suffered extensive property damage during a direct hit from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and Floyd in 1999.
Notable people
- Clay Sweeting, Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister
References
- ^ "Census population and housing" (PDF). Bahamas Gov. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Spanish Wells District in Geonames.org (cc-by)
- ^ "About Spanish Wells Spanish Wells Bahamas Dot Com". Archived from the original on 2008-02-23.
- ^ "About Spanish Wells, Russell Island & the Bahamas".
- ^ "Home - Our Spanish Wells".
- ^ "Department of Statistics of the Bahamas" (PDF). bahamas.gov.bs. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- Everild Young, Eleuthera the island called Freedom, Regency Press (London, 1969)