George Town | |
---|---|
Top: George Town skyline; top middle: Camana Bay, Esterly Tibbitts Highway; Center: Camana Bay street; Bottom middle: National Museum, 1919 Peace Memorial; Bottom: George Town waterfront street | |
Coordinates: 19°17′42″N81°22′52″W / 19.29500°N 81.38111°W | |
Country | United Kingdom |
Overseas Territory | Cayman Islands |
Island | Grand Cayman |
Area | |
• Total | 29 km2 (11 sq mi) |
Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
Population (2022) [1] | |
• Total | 40,957 [2] |
Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern Standard Time) |
• Summer (DST) | (Not Observed) |
Area code | +1-345 |
George Town is the capital and largest city in the Cayman Islands, located on Grand Cayman. As of 2022 [update] , the city had a population of 40,957, [2] making it the largest city (by population) of all the British Overseas Territories. [1]
George Town is the heart of the Cayman Islands financial services industry (there are close to 600 Bank and Trust companies in the Cayman Islands). The Caymanian government offices are located in the city. According to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network in 2016, George Town is classed as a Beta city. [3]
The Caymanian government offices are located in George Town. These offices include the Parliament of the Cayman Islands, the Court Houses and the Government Administration Building. The Government Administration Building houses the offices of the Premier and other members of Cabinet, the Deputy Governor and his staff as well as other elected officials and civil servants. The former Old Courts Building located at the corner of Shedden Road and Harbour Drive is now the National Museum of Grand Cayman. The building was built more than 150 years ago and has served the Caymanian government not only as a court building but as a jail and the island's first official Post Office.
The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory; however, they are given special autonomy when dealing with domestic affairs. Foreign affairs are the responsibility of the British appointed Governor and the British Government. The British Army will also be called to defend or assist the islands in the event of a natural disaster or military conflict. It is also trusted that the United States would assist the islands in time of need if the UK requests, seeing that the US is closer in proximity to the islands than the UK.
The politics of George Town is dominated by the People's Progressive Movement, who won 5 out of the 7 electoral districts in the city during the 2021 general election. [4] They believe in introducing a nationwide welfare program, an increased financial presence in the UK, EU and US, reduced interference by the UK in domestic affairs and funding sustainable development projects across the islands. [5]
49.6% of the Cayman Islands population live in George Town. [2] It has recorded residents from more than one hundred countries. 37.9% of George Town's residents are Caymanian, and 63.8% are immigrants and permanent residents. The vast majority of the city's population are immigrants, mostly hailing from Jamaica, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Honduras and India. There is also a growing South African population. [6]
Christianity is the most followed religion in the city, with most being Protestant with a sizable Catholic population. There is also a Jewish center and Islamic Society in the city.
George Town's city limits extend from the east at the edge of the South Shore District, north just beyond Owen Roberts International Airport, south to Hog Sty Bay and west to Seven Mile Beach and the West Bay District. George Town's famous Seven Mile Beach is a long crescent of coral-sand beach extending up to the West Bay region of Grand Cayman and is the most popular and populated area for tourists on the island. [7]
George Town has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), with a hot and wet season from May through November, and a very warm and dry season from December through April. As with most tropical climates, there is only a slight variation in monthly mean temperatures during the course of the year.
Climate data for George Town (Owen Roberts International Airport) 1981-2010, extremes 1971-2013 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high humidex | 39.2 | 42.6 | 43.3 | 43.5 | 45.4 | 43.8 | 45.5 | 44.8 | 44.8 | 44.1 | 43.1 | 43.1 | 45.5 |
Record high °C (°F) | 32.2 (90.0) | 31.7 (89.0) | 32.2 (90.0) | 32.8 (91.0) | 33.9 (93.0) | 34.4 (94.0) | 34.4 (94.0) | 35.0 (95.0) | 34.4 (94.0) | 33.6 (92.4) | 32.8 (91.0) | 32.2 (90.0) | 35.0 (95.0) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.6 (83.4) | 29.1 (84.3) | 29.9 (85.9) | 30.7 (87.3) | 31.6 (88.9) | 32.2 (89.9) | 32.2 (89.9) | 31.7 (89.0) | 31.0 (87.8) | 29.6 (85.2) | 28.6 (83.5) | 30.3 (86.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 25.8 (78.4) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.6 (79.9) | 27.6 (81.7) | 28.5 (83.3) | 29.2 (84.6) | 29.6 (85.3) | 29.7 (85.5) | 29.3 (84.7) | 28.5 (83.3) | 27.5 (81.5) | 26.2 (79.2) | 27.9 (82.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.2) | 22.4 (72.3) | 22.7 (72.9) | 23.7 (74.6) | 24.7 (76.4) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.7 (78.2) | 25.6 (78.0) | 25.3 (77.6) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.1 (75.4) | 23.2 (73.8) | 24.2 (75.5) |
Record low °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) | 15.0 (59.0) | 16.1 (61.0) | 16.7 (62.0) | 17.2 (63.0) | 21.7 (71.0) | 20.6 (69.0) | 20.0 (68.0) | 21.1 (70.0) | 21.1 (70.0) | 18.0 (64.4) | 14.1 (57.3) | 14.1 (57.3) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 51.8 (2.04) | 38.1 (1.50) | 33.5 (1.32) | 32.2 (1.27) | 151.4 (5.96) | 157.5 (6.20) | 146.8 (5.78) | 149.8 (5.90) | 222.0 (8.74) | 219.8 (8.65) | 153.7 (6.05) | 71.0 (2.80) | 1,427.6 (56.21) |
Average rainy days | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 123 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 76 | 76 | 75 | 75 | 77 | 78 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 79 | 78 | 78 | 77 |
Source 1: National Weather Service (Cayman Islands) [8] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather In Cayman [9] |
Climate data for George Town | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average sea temperature °C (°F) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.3 (79.3) | 26.6 (79.9) | 27.5 (81.5) | 28.3 (82.9) | 28.8 (83.8) | 29.3 (84.7) | 30.1 (86.2) | 30.1 (86.2) | 29.1 (84.4) | 28.3 (82.9) | 27.6 (81.7) | 28.2 (82.8) |
Mean daily daylight hours | 11.1 | 11.5 | 12.1 | 12.6 | 13.1 | 13.3 | 13.2 | 12.8 | 12.2 | 11.7 | 11.2 | 11.0 | 12.2 |
Average Ultraviolet index | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10.5 |
Source #1: seatemperature.org [10] | |||||||||||||
Source #2: Weather Atlas [11] |
The financial services generated CI$1.2 billion of GDP in 2007 (55% of the total economy), 36% of all employment and 40% of all government revenue. The Cayman Islands ranks fifth internationally in terms of value of liabilities booked and sixth in terms of assets booked. It has branches of 40 of the world's 50 largest banks. The Cayman Islands are the second largest captive domicile in the world with more than 700 captives, writing more than US$7.7 billion of premiums and with US$36.8 billion of assets under management. There are more than 9,500 funds under licence with globally recognised legal, audit/accounting and fund administration services[ citation needed ] (incl. the Big Four auditors [ citation needed ]). Major law firms such as Maples and Calder and Ogier (law firm) have established themselves in the Cayman Islands. Similarly, large accounting firms such as KPMG, PwC, Ernst & Young and Deloitte are also present. As a result, the Cayman Islands are a leader in captive domiciles, hedge fund registrations and is considered a major international banking centre.
George Town is a popular port of call for the Caribbean with cruise ships anchoring in George Town Harbour Tuesday through Friday. Cruise ships calling at George Town anchor offshore and ferry their passengers ashore by tenders, also known as shuttle boats. Passengers disembark in George Town, in the centre of the Grand Cayman shopping district and usually remain anchored from early morning until mid-afternoon.
Activities available to tourists in George Town include submarine tours of George Town Harbour, glass-bottom boat tours, snorkelling, scuba-diving, parasailing, charter boat tours, rum distillery tours, art galleries, a historical museum, and of course, shopping and eating. For nightlife, Seven Mile Beach is host to numerous nightclubs and bars. George Town's waterfront is also home to a Harley-Davidson shop, a Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville franchise, and a Guy Harvey art studio and restaurant. The Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa and The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman are the most expensive hotels on the island. [12]
George Town, as well as the rest of Grand Cayman, is served by nearby Owen Roberts International Airport. It is one of the only two entrance points to the Cayman Islands by air, the other being Charles Kirkconnell Airport on Cayman Brac.
There are over 55 weekly flights into the Cayman Islands. Cayman Airways is the National Flag Carrier of the Cayman Islands and features 3 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets, 2 Saab B+ and two Twin Otters. Non-stop service to Grand Cayman are available from Atlanta, Chicago, Tampa, Newark, London, Toronto, New York, Montego Bay, Washington D.C., Havana, Miami, Panama City, La Ceiba and more. [14]
The following highways serve the city:
A fleet of Share taxi minibuses serve the city. [15]
The Cayman Islands Education Department operates George Town Primary School, Red Bay Primary School, Prospect Primary School, John Gray High School and the University College of the Cayman Islands.
John Gray High is in the former George Hicks High School building since 2012. [16]
Caymanian children are entitled to free primary and secondary education. Various churches and private foundations operate several private schools that offer American and British based studies starting from nursery up to A Levels and College. [17]
Private schools include:
The Montessori School also operates three schools in George Town. The schools are located on South Church Street, Hind's Way (off Walkers Road) and Prospect Point Road in Red Bay.
St. Matthew's University, a Medical and Veterinary school is located on the outskirts of George Town. [19]
The CaymanIslands is a self-governing British Overseas Territory, and the largest by population. The 264-square-kilometre (102-square-mile) territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are located south of Cuba and north-east of Honduras, between Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. The capital city is George Town on Grand Cayman, which is the most populous of the three islands.
The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean that have been under various governments since their discovery by Europeans. Christopher Columbus sighted the Cayman Islands on May 10, 1503, and named them Las Tortugas after the numerous sea turtles seen swimming in the surrounding waters. Columbus had found the two smaller sister islands and it was these two islands that he named "Las Tortugas".
This is a demography of the population of the Cayman Islands including population density, ethnicity, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Nassau is the capital and largest city of the Bahamas. It is located on the island of New Providence, which had a population of 246,329 in 2010, or just over 70% of the entire population of the Bahamas. As of April 2023, the preliminary results of the 2022 census of the Bahamas reported a population of 296,522 for New Providence, 74.26% of the country's population. Nassau is commonly defined as a primate city, dwarfing all other towns in the country. It is the centre of commerce, education, law, administration, and media of the country.
This article talks about transportation in the Bahamas, a North American archipelagic state in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Toronto Islands are a chain of 15 small islands in Lake Ontario, south of mainland Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the territory's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles (121 km) southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Cayman Brac.
Little Cayman is one of three Islands that make up the Cayman Islands. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 60 miles (96 km) northeast of East End, Grand Cayman and five miles (8 km) west of West End, Cayman Brac. Little Cayman is the least populous island of the three, with a permanent population of about 160 (2021) including seasonal residents/homeowners. The majority of the population are expatriate workers from Jamaica, the Philippines, and Honduras and from other Latin American countries as well as Canada, the USA, India, Australia, Scotland, England, and South Africa. There are a handful of local Caymanians estimated as fewer than 20. It is about 10 miles (16 km) long with an average width of 1 mile (1600 m) and most of the island is undeveloped. Almost the entire island is at sea level. The highest elevation is about 40 feet. The rainy season, which consists of mostly light showers, occurs in Mid-April until June and again in mid-September to mid-October. There will be occasional quick rain showers in the early morning hours. The coolest months are from End of November until Mid March as the cold fronts coming in from the North which the temperature can drop into the low'70s. The Hottest and dryest months are in Summer starting mid-June to mid-September with temperatures between the mid-80s and high 90s. There are no large or predatory or venomous animals that pose a threat to humans.
The Toronto waterfront is the lakeshore of Lake Ontario in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It spans 46 kilometres between the mouth of Etobicoke Creek in the west and the Rouge River in the east.
Dunedin is a city of 136,000 people in the South Island of New Zealand. The principal suburbs of Dunedin are as follows. Inner and outer suburbs are ordered by location, clockwise from the city centre, starting due north:
The Grand Strand is an arc of beach land on the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina, United States, extending more than 60 miles (97 km) from Little River to Winyah Bay. It is located in Horry and Georgetown Counties on the northeastern South Carolina coast.
Providenciales is an island in the northwest Caicos Islands, part of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory. The island has an area of 98 km2 (38 sq mi) and a 2012 Census population of 23,769. Providenciales is the third largest island in the Turks and Caicos in area, and is home to a large majority of the population of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Hillarys is a northern coastal suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, in the local government area of the City of Joondalup. It is part of the Whitfords precinct, and is located 21 km north-northwest of Perth's central business district via Mitchell Freeway and Hepburn Avenue.
Seven Mile Beach (SMB) is a long crescent of coral-sand beach on the western end of Grand Cayman island. Seven Mile Beach is known for its beauty, receiving the honor of "The Caribbean's Best Beach" in 2015 from Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine. It is public property and one is able to walk the full length of the beach, regardless of where they are staying. The Seven Mile Beach is the most popular and most developed area of Grand Cayman. It is home to the majority of the island's luxury resorts and hotels.
Banksia Beach is a town and suburb on Bribie Island in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the suburb of Banksia Beach had a population of 7,180 people.
West Bay is a district located on the west side of the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. The population is 15,335.
Great Brak River is a coastal village in the Mossel Bay Local Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is a historic village built around the lagoon of the Great Brak River, 17 kilometres (11 mi) north-northeast of the town of Mossel Bay.
Irksie Leila Yates (1899-1996) was a pioneering nurse and midwife from the Cayman Islands. She has been recognized on a stamp in the 2011 series "Pioneers in our History" and in 2015 was posthumously honored with the National Heroes Award. Her home has been the focus of a restoration project for the National Trust’s West Bay Committee.
Islay Conolly, MBE was a Caymanian teacher and school administrator. Serving as a teacher and principal at various schools on the islands, she became Chief Education Officer in 1970. She was honored by the Caymanian government with the Spirit of Excellence Award during National Heroes Day and was first recipient of the Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award in Education. Conolly was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1982 New Year Honours.
Korora is a suburb of the City of Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, Australia, located 6 km north of the city centre. Korora is located in a basin that runs from the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in the west to Korora Bay in the east. It is bisected by the Pacific Highway, which runs south to north between Sydney and Brisbane. The section of Korora between the Pacific Highway and the coast is mainly residential, with some tourist facilities. The section west of the Highway consists of larger residential blocks and farms growing mainly bananas and blueberries. The west-most section of Korora is forested and includes part of the Ulidarra National Park. The Korora basin is drained by creeks that flow into Pine Brush Creek and enter the sea at Hills Beach.
Media related to George Town, Cayman Islands at Wikimedia Commons