Grand Bahama
Encyclopedia
Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States
, lying 90 kilometre off the state of Florida
. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays. The island is approximately 150 kilometre long west to east and 20 kilometre at its widest point north to south.
Administratively the island consists of the Freeport Bonded Area
and the districts of East Grand Bahama
and West Grand Bahama
(pre-Columbian) name for the island was Bahama. Grand Bahama's existence for almost two centuries was largely governed by the nature of these "great shallows" - the coral reefs surrounding the island were treacherous, and repelled its Spanish owners (who largely left it alone apart from infrequent en-route stops by ships for provisions) while attracting pirates, who would lure ships onto the reefs where they would run aground and be plundered. The Spaniards took little interest in the island after enslaving the native Lucayan
inhabitants.
in 1670. Piracy continued to thrive for at least half a century after the British takeover, though the problem was eventually brought under control.
Grand Bahama was to remain relatively quiet until the mid-nineteenth century, with only around 200-400 regular inhabitants in the capital, West End. In 1834, the towns of Pinder’s Point, Russell Town and Williams Town were established by former Bahamian slave
s after the abolition of slavery in the British empire
. The island was still little developed until a brief boom in economic activity during the American Civil War
, when it was a center for blockade runners smuggling goods (mostly weaponry, sugar and cotton) to the Confederacy
. A second brief smuggling boom occurred during the years of prohibition
in the USA.
n financier named Wallace Groves began redevelopment with the Bahamian government to build the city of Freeport
under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and create the Grand Bahama Port Authority
Soon after, the ambitious Edward St. George, with the financial help of Sir Jack Hayward, took the company to new frontiers. Seeing the success of Cuba as a tourist destination for wealthy Americans, St. George was eager to develop Grand Bahama in a similar vein. The city grew rapidly, with St. George adding a harbour, an airport (the largest privately owned airport in the world) soon after the city was founded, and the tourist center of Port Lucaya in 1962. Grand Bahama became the second most populous island in the Bahamas (over 50,000 in 2004).
Tourism
is the mainstay of the island's economy. The resort area at Port Lucaya and visits by cruise ship
s provide the bulk of this activity. Grand Bahama's tourism sector is complemented by an oil bunkering facility owned by Vopak
and a transshipment
/container
port partly owned by Hong Kong
conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa
and the Grand Bahama Port Authority. There are also quarrying operations on the island and a large shipyard.
There are two airports on the island: Grand Bahama International Airport
in Freeport
, and West End Airport
in West End
. Grand Bahama International Airport is the larger of the two, and West End Airport mostly serves cargo aircraft.
and seven Town areas for administrative purposes. Each district is run by a Chief Councilor, and each Town Area or Township is run by a Chairperson. As of 1996
Grand Bahama has three districts.
Elections are held every 5 years in Grand Bahama. The two principal parties are the Progressive Liberal Party
and the Free National Movement
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, lying 90 kilometre off the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays. The island is approximately 150 kilometre long west to east and 20 kilometre at its widest point north to south.
Administratively the island consists of the Freeport Bonded Area
Hawksbill Creek Agreement
The Hawksbill Creek Agreement was an agreement signed in 1955 between the Government of the Bahamas and Mr Wallace Groves to establish a city and free trade zone on Grand Bahama Island with an aim of spurring economic development in the region....
and the districts of East Grand Bahama
East Grand Bahama
East Grand Bahama is a district of the Bahamas, situated on the eastern part of the island of Grand Bahama.The local government seat for the district is in the settlement of High Rock, a fairly small town. It is situated approximately 40 miles east of the City of Freeport, and 20 miles from the...
and West Grand Bahama
West Grand Bahama
West Grand Bahama is one of 31 districts of The Bahamas. The district covers the entire western portion of Grand Bahama island, excluding the city of Freeport, which forms its own district...
Early Spanish contact
The Spanish gave the island the name Gran Bajamar, meaning "Great Shallows", and what the eventual name of the Bahamas islands as a whole is derived from. However, the LucayanLucayan
The Lucayan were the original inhabitants of the Bahamas before the arrival of Europeans. They were a branch of the Taínos who inhabited most of the Caribbean islands at the time. The Lucayans were the first inhabitants of the Americas encountered by Christopher Columbus...
(pre-Columbian) name for the island was Bahama. Grand Bahama's existence for almost two centuries was largely governed by the nature of these "great shallows" - the coral reefs surrounding the island were treacherous, and repelled its Spanish owners (who largely left it alone apart from infrequent en-route stops by ships for provisions) while attracting pirates, who would lure ships onto the reefs where they would run aground and be plundered. The Spaniards took little interest in the island after enslaving the native Lucayan
Lucayan
The Lucayan were the original inhabitants of the Bahamas before the arrival of Europeans. They were a branch of the Taínos who inhabited most of the Caribbean islands at the time. The Lucayans were the first inhabitants of the Americas encountered by Christopher Columbus...
inhabitants.
British rule
The islands were claimed by Great BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1670. Piracy continued to thrive for at least half a century after the British takeover, though the problem was eventually brought under control.
Grand Bahama was to remain relatively quiet until the mid-nineteenth century, with only around 200-400 regular inhabitants in the capital, West End. In 1834, the towns of Pinder’s Point, Russell Town and Williams Town were established by former Bahamian slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
s after the abolition of slavery in the British empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. The island was still little developed until a brief boom in economic activity during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, when it was a center for blockade runners smuggling goods (mostly weaponry, sugar and cotton) to the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. A second brief smuggling boom occurred during the years of prohibition
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
in the USA.
Hawksbill Creek Agreement era
By the middle of the 20th century, Grand Bahama's population numbered around 500 and the island was one of the least developed of the Bahamas' islands. However the island finally gained a stable source of income when in 1955 a VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
n financier named Wallace Groves began redevelopment with the Bahamian government to build the city of Freeport
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and create the Grand Bahama Port Authority
Grand Bahama Port Authority
The Grand Bahama Port Authority is a privately held corporation that also acts as the municipal authority for Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas...
Soon after, the ambitious Edward St. George, with the financial help of Sir Jack Hayward, took the company to new frontiers. Seeing the success of Cuba as a tourist destination for wealthy Americans, St. George was eager to develop Grand Bahama in a similar vein. The city grew rapidly, with St. George adding a harbour, an airport (the largest privately owned airport in the world) soon after the city was founded, and the tourist center of Port Lucaya in 1962. Grand Bahama became the second most populous island in the Bahamas (over 50,000 in 2004).
Economy
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is the mainstay of the island's economy. The resort area at Port Lucaya and visits by cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s provide the bulk of this activity. Grand Bahama's tourism sector is complemented by an oil bunkering facility owned by Vopak
Vopak
Royal Vopak N.V. is a Dutch company that stores and handles various oil and natural gas-related products. The company was created by the merger of Van Ommeren and Pakhoed in 1999. In 2002, the distribution of oil and natural gas related products was split off; a new company Univar was created for...
and a transshipment
Transshipment
Transshipment or Transhipment is the shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination, and then from there to yet another destination....
/container
Containerization
Containerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
port partly owned by Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa Limited or HWL of Hong Kong is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. HWL is an international corporation with a diverse array of holdings which includes the world's biggest port and telecommunication operations in 14...
and the Grand Bahama Port Authority. There are also quarrying operations on the island and a large shipyard.
There are two airports on the island: Grand Bahama International Airport
Grand Bahama International Airport
Grand Bahama International Airport is a privately owned international airport in Freeport, Bahamas. The airport is a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings and The Port Group...
in Freeport
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
, and West End Airport
West End Airport
West End Airport is an airport that serves Grand Bahama. While smaller than the other airport on the island located in Freeport, this airport has two runways each in length. This airport was recently re-opened and serves mostly cargo aircraft. The main runway is runway 10 and is the westernmost...
in West End
West End, Grand Bahama
West End is the oldest town and westernmost settlement on the Bahamian island of Grand Bahama. It is the current capital of Grand Bahama, contrary to the belief that Freeport City is the capital of the island. It is also the third largest settlement in the Bahamas...
. Grand Bahama International Airport is the larger of the two, and West End Airport mostly serves cargo aircraft.
Administrative regions
Grand Bahama is divided in to three DistrictsDistricts of the Bahamas
Local government in the Bahamas exists in two forms, namely second-schedule and third-schedule district councils. There are a total of 32 local government districts: 13 second-schedule districts, which are further sub-divided into town areas, and 19 third-schedule districts, which are all unitary...
and seven Town areas for administrative purposes. Each district is run by a Chief Councilor, and each Town Area or Township is run by a Chairperson. As of 1996
The Bahamas Local Government Act of 1996
The Bahamas Local Government Act of 1996 is a piece of legislation of the Bahamas.In 1996, the Bahamian Parliament passed "The Local Government Act" to facilitate the establishment of Family Island Administrators, Local Government Districts, Local District Councillors, and Local Town Committees for...
Grand Bahama has three districts.
- East Grand BahamaEast Grand BahamaEast Grand Bahama is a district of the Bahamas, situated on the eastern part of the island of Grand Bahama.The local government seat for the district is in the settlement of High Rock, a fairly small town. It is situated approximately 40 miles east of the City of Freeport, and 20 miles from the...
- West Grand BahamaWest Grand BahamaWest Grand Bahama is one of 31 districts of The Bahamas. The district covers the entire western portion of Grand Bahama island, excluding the city of Freeport, which forms its own district...
- The City of Freeport
Elections are held every 5 years in Grand Bahama. The two principal parties are the Progressive Liberal Party
Progressive Liberal Party
The Progressive Liberal Party is a populist party in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas commonly abbreviated PLP. The PLP lies on the left of the political spectrum....
and the Free National Movement
Free National Movement
The Free National Movement is a socially liberal and economically conservative political party in The Bahamas. It is currently the ruling party, winning 23 of the 41 seats in the Bahamas House of Assembly on May 2, 2007; two of these seats are currently being contested in Electorial Court by the...
.
Main settlements
- Freeport is the major city of Grand Bahama . As mentioned above, it holds the commercial ship harbour and the main airport.
- Lucaya is a tourist destination on the island, with beaches and hotels
- West EndWest End, Grand BahamaWest End is the oldest town and westernmost settlement on the Bahamian island of Grand Bahama. It is the current capital of Grand Bahama, contrary to the belief that Freeport City is the capital of the island. It is also the third largest settlement in the Bahamas...
is the oldest town, westernmost settlement, and capital of Grand Bahama island. It first achieved notoriety as a Rum-runningRum-runningRum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
port during prohibition.
- In the 1950s it became home to the Jack Tar marina and club. However, over the years the marina fell into disrepair and the whole city of West End was of little economic import to Grand Bahama. In 2001, the marina was bought out by a group which renamed it Old Bahama Bay.
- McLeans Town is the eastern most settlement and a 30 minute ferry ride from the northernmost settlement of the Island of AbacoAbaco IslandsThe Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand...
.
- McLeans Town is the eastern most settlement and a 30 minute ferry ride from the northernmost settlement of the Island of Abaco
External links
- Official Tourism Site of The Islands of the Bahamas
- Official Site of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board
- BASRA - Bahamas Air-Sea Rescue Association
- Grand Bahama Power Company