Smith's Parish, Bermuda
Encyclopedia
Smith's Parish is one of the nine parishes of Bermuda
. It is named for English aristocrat Sir Thomas Smith/Smythe (1558-1625).
, the large lagoon close to the main island's northeastern tip. It is joined to Devonshire Parish
in the southwest and Hamilton Parish
in the northeast. As with most of Bermuda's parishes, it covers just over 2.3 square miles (about 6.0 km² or 1500 acres).
Natural features in Smith's include Spittal Pond
, John Smith's Beach, Devil's Hole
, Gibbet Island
, and Spanish Rock.
of Bermuda, Smith's was named after one of the nine chief investors of the Somers Isles (Bermuda) Company. In this case, it was named for the Company's first governor, Sir Thomas Smith, who also acted as a governor for the East India Company
and treasurer of the Virginia Company
. Smith would go on to invest some £60,000 into Bermuda (only £20,000 less than what he invested in the much larger Virginia). Despite this, his contribution to his stake in the colony was minimal, and the area was briefly known as "Harris' Bay".
, Smith's has been divided into three constituencies (Smith's South, Smith's West and Smith's North), and so has 3 representatives in Parliament. As of 2003, two of these are members of the UBP
party, and one is a member of the PLP
party.
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. It is named for English aristocrat Sir Thomas Smith/Smythe (1558-1625).
Description
It is located in the northeast of the main island, at the southern end of Harrington SoundHarrington Sound, Bermuda
Harrington Sound is a large inland body of water in the northeast of the main island of Bermuda. It is surrounded by the main island on all sides, only appearing open to the ocean via a small channel called Flatt's Inlet in the southwest...
, the large lagoon close to the main island's northeastern tip. It is joined to Devonshire Parish
Devonshire Parish, Bermuda
-Location:It is located in the centre of the territory, close to the junction between the main part of the main island and the peninsula containing the capital, Hamilton, and Pembroke Parish . To the northeast, it is joined to Smith's Parish, and to the southwest it borders Paget Parish. As with...
in the southwest and Hamilton Parish
Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
Hamilton Parish is one of the nine parishes of Bermuda. It was renamed for Scottish aristocrat James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton when he purchased the shares originally held in the Virginia Company by Lucy, Countess of Bedford.It is located in the northwest of the island chain, and is...
in the northeast. As with most of Bermuda's parishes, it covers just over 2.3 square miles (about 6.0 km² or 1500 acres).
Natural features in Smith's include Spittal Pond
Spittal Pond, Bermuda
Spittal Pond is the third largest pond in Bermuda, and is surrounded by Bermuda's largest wildlife sanctuary, the Spittal Pond Nature Reserve. It is located close to the Atlantic coast of Smith's Parish....
, John Smith's Beach, Devil's Hole
Devil's Hole, Bermuda
Devil's Hole is a large water-filled sinkhole, close to the southeastern corner of Harrington Sound, Bermuda. At one time a subterranean, oceanic cave, it is fed by the Atlantic ocean proper, rather than the far closer sound, via an underground estuary....
, Gibbet Island
Gibbet Island, Bermuda
Gibbet Island is an island of Bermuda. It is located at the mouth of Flatt's Inlet which leads to Harrington Sound. Its name arises from the fact that runaway slaves were gibbetted, or hung here as punishment...
, and Spanish Rock.
History
Like all of parishesSubdivisions of Bermuda
||The land area of Bermuda is divided into nine parishes. There are also two defined municipalities, located in the boundaries of two of the parishes.-Parishes:...
of Bermuda, Smith's was named after one of the nine chief investors of the Somers Isles (Bermuda) Company. In this case, it was named for the Company's first governor, Sir Thomas Smith, who also acted as a governor for the East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
and treasurer of the Virginia Company
Virginia Company
The Virginia Company refers collectively to a pair of English joint stock companies chartered by James I on 10 April1606 with the purposes of establishing settlements on the coast of North America...
. Smith would go on to invest some £60,000 into Bermuda (only £20,000 less than what he invested in the much larger Virginia). Despite this, his contribution to his stake in the colony was minimal, and the area was briefly known as "Harris' Bay".
Politics
For purposes of national representationElections in Bermuda
Elections in Bermuda have been taking place since 1968. Bermuda elects on territorial level a legislature. Parliament has two chambers. The House of Assembly has 36 members, elected for a five year term in single seat constituencies...
, Smith's has been divided into three constituencies (Smith's South, Smith's West and Smith's North), and so has 3 representatives in Parliament. As of 2003, two of these are members of the UBP
United Bermuda Party
The United Bermuda Party was a political party in Bermuda. It represented itself as centrist party in favor of a moderate social and fiscal agenda...
party, and one is a member of the PLP
Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)
The Progressive Labour Party is a political party in Bermuda. It has been in power since 1998, winning subsequent elections in 2003 and 2007.- Formation :...
party.