George Town, Cayman Islands

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George Town
96-124 S Church St, George Town, Cayman Islands - panoramio (1).jpg
Camana Bay skyline.jpg
Highway in George Town.jpg
Cayman Islands National Museum - George Town, Grand Cayman.jpg
George Town - Peace Memorial (3889750576).jpg
George Town Cayman Islands.jpg
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
George Town KY Map.svg
Cayman Islands location map.svg
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George Town
The location of George Town within the Cayman Islands
Caribbean location map.svg
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George Town
George Town (Caribbean)
Coordinates: 19°17′42″N81°22′52″W / 19.29500°N 81.38111°W / 19.29500; -81.38111
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Overseas Territory Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  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, the city had a population of 40,957, [2] making it the largest city (by population) of all the British Overseas Territories. [1]

Contents

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]

Government

Cayman Islands flag flies at its foreign office Flag of Cayman Islands (28077880745).jpg
Cayman Islands flag flies at its foreign office

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.

Politics

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]

Demographics

Aerial view of George Town George Town Harbour.jpg
Aerial view of George Town
George Town’s residents by background [2]
Nationalitiespercent
Cayman Islands
37.9%
Jamaica
27.0%
The Philippines
8.1%
United Kingdom
7%
United States
5.3%
Canada
4.0%
Honduras
3.5%
India
2.7%
South Africa
1.5%
Nicaragua
1.1%
Ireland
1%
Other
0.9%

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.

Geography

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]

Climate

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
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high humidex 39.242.643.343.545.443.845.544.844.844.143.143.145.5
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 days7664101212141615129123
Average relative humidity (%)76767575777877787979787877
Source 1: National Weather Service (Cayman Islands) [8]
Source 2: Weather In Cayman [9]
Climate data for George Town
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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 hours11.111.512.112.613.113.313.212.812.211.711.211.012.2
Average Ultraviolet index 81012121212121211108710.5
Source #1: seatemperature.org [10]
Source #2: Weather Atlas [11]

Economy

Finance

George Town Waterfront George Town - Old Harbor (3889750664).jpg
George Town Waterfront

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.

Tourism

The Waterfront near Harbour House Waterfront, George Town, Grand Cayman.jpg
The Waterfront near Harbour House

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]

Neighborhoods

Palm Trees on a Cayman Islands coastline Cayman Islands palms.jpg
Palm Trees on a Cayman Islands coastline

Transportation

Air

A 'welcome' sign at Owen Roberts International Airport, east of the city Welcome to the Cayman Islands - Owen Roberts International Airport, George Town, Grand Cayman.jpg
A 'welcome' sign at Owen Roberts International Airport, east of the city

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]

Road

Downtown George Town George Town, Cayman Islands - panoramio (1).jpg
Downtown George Town

The following highways serve the city:

Buses

A fleet of Share taxi minibuses serve the city. [15]

Education

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]

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 Cayman Islands’ 2021 Census Report Archived 31 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "The World According to GaWC 2016". GaWC. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 10 October 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
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  5. "Manifesto 2021" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
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  7. "Beaches in Grand Cayman". Frommers.com. Frommer's. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
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  10. "George Town Sea Temperature". seatemperature.org. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  11. "George Town, Cayman Islands - Climate data". Weather Atlas. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  12. Expedia research
  13. "Neighbourhoods of the Cayman Islands". Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  14. "Get to Cayman by Air – Cayman Island Flights". Cayman Islands. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  15. "Grand Cayman's Public Bus Service". Grandcayman4u.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  16. "New School Year Begins – Clifton Hunter High School Opens! Archived 1 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine " Cayman iEyenews. 29 August 2012. Retrieved on 15 September 2016.
  17. "Education". Cayman Islands Government. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  18. "Youth Service Providers Directory Archived 14 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine ." Government of the Cayman Islands. Retrieved on 15 September 2016. p. 27/64. "St. Ignatius Catholic School Physical Location: 599 Walkers Road District: George Town"
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