Spanish Wells Explained

Official Name:St. George's Cay
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Island
Subdivision Name1:St. George's Cay
Government Type:District Council
Leader Title1:Chief Councillor
Leader Name1:Robert Roberts
Leader Title2:Deputy Chief Councillor
Leader Name2:Herbie Albury
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1853
Population As Of:2022
Population Total:1,608 [1]
Demographics Type1:Demographics 2010
Demographics1 Title2:White
Demographics1 Info2:81.95%
Demographics1 Title3:Black
Demographics1 Info3:15.48%
Demographics1 Title4:Black and white
Demographics1 Info4:0.84%
Demographics1 Title5:Other
Demographics1 Info5:0.97%
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:−5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:−4
Coordinates:25.5458°N -76.7611°W
Area Code:242

Spanish Wells is a district of the Bahamas.[2] The settlement consists of a medium-sized town on the island of St. George's Cay [3] 610m (2,000feet) wide by 2860m (9,380feet) long, located approximately 500m (1,600feet) off the northern tip of Eleuthera island. According to the 2022 census, it has a population of 1,608 residents.

It is the only majority white district in The Bahamas.

Overview

Spanish Wells is extended by a bridge that links it to neighboring Russell Island, which is 5.8km (03.6miles) 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 Eleutheran adventurers from Bermuda (intending to be some of the first settlers of Eleuthera), who suffered shipwreck on a reef, known as the "Devil's Backbone" off Eleuthera in 1647. After living in a cave known as "Preacher's Cave" on Eleuthera, they ended up at Spanish Wells. Among other, later, groups of settlers were Crown loyalists, who left the United States after the American Revolutionary War.

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

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Census population and housing . Bahamas Gov . 17 April 2023.
  2. Spanish Wells District
  3. Web site: About Spanish Wells Spanish Wells Bahamas Dot Com. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080223205335/http://www.spanishwellsbahamas.com/aboutspanishwells . 2008-02-23 .
  4. Web site: About Spanish Wells, Russell Island & the Bahamas.
  5. Web site: Home - Our Spanish Wells.
  6. Web site: Department of Statistics of the Bahamas. bahamas.gov.bs. 30 March 2022.