Anguilla

Anguilla Background

Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency, along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency.

Anguilla Information

• Population: 13,008 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Anguillan(s) adjective: Anguillan
• Location:: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
• Religions:: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
• Ethnic Groups:: black (predominant), mulatto, white
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 102 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 102 sq km
• Coast Line: 61 km
• Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
• Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2001)
• Environmental Issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
• Natural Resources: salt, fish, lobster
• Highways: total: 105 km paved: 65 km unpaved: 40 km (1997)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Blowing Point, Road Bay
• Airports: 3 (2003 est.)