The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Islands, two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies. They are known primarily for tourism and as an offshore financial centre. The resident population was 31,458 in 2012, of whom 23,769 lived on Providenciales in the Caicos Islands; July 2020 estimates put the population at 55,926. It is the third largest of the British overseas territories by population.
The Lucayanpeople were the original residents of the Bahamas before the European conquest of the Americas. They were a branch of the Tainos who inhabited most of the Caribbean islands at the time. The Lucayans were the first indigenous Americans encountered by Christopher Columbus. Shortly after contact, the Spanish kidnapped and enslaved Lucayans, with the genocide culminating in complete eradication of Lucayan people from the Bahamas by 1520.
Grand Turk Island is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the largest island in the Turks Islands with 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi). Grand Turk contains the territory's capital, Cockburn Town, and the JAGS McCartney International Airport. The island is the administrative, historic, cultural and financial center of the territory and has the second-largest population of the islands at approximately 4,831 people in 2012.
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 largest island in population, the third largest in area, and is home to a large majority of the population of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Providenciales was ranked the best beach destination in the world by TripAdvisor in 2011.
Area code 649 is the local telephone area code of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Area 649 was created in a split from the original area code 809. It became effective 1 June 1997 and mandatory on 31 May 1998.
South Caicos is the seventh-largest island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, with a land area of 21.2 square kilometres. South Caicos is known for excellent fishing, both deep-sea and bone fishing, and scuba diving. South Caicos was formerly a salt exporter, the island still hosts a network of salt pans as a reminder of the industry. Today, the island's main income is derived from small-scale commercial fishing.
Clement Howell was a politician from the Turks and Caicos Islands. He served on a four-member interim advisory council beginning in July 1986, after two previous chief ministers were forced to resign and the ministerial government in the territory was suspended.
TCIFA National Academy is a multi-use stadium in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 3,000 and was built in 2004.
Cockburn Harbour is a settlement in the Turks and Caicos. It is the largest community on the island of South Caicos, with some 811 people. It has the best natural harbour of the Caicos Islands, and was once an important centre for regional trade and a major exporter of salt. Today its main industries are fishing and tourism.
The Roman CatholicMission Sui Iuris of Turks and Caicos is a mission sui iuris of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The mission encompasses the entirety of the British dependency of Turks and Caicos. The mission is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Nassau and a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.
The following is an alphabetical list of topics related to the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Graceway Sports Complex is a multi-use sporting facilities in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. It is currently used for indoor and outdoor activities including athletics, soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, squash, hockey and martial arts. Also rugby union matches played at Astroturf Football Field.
Meridian Field is a multi-use rugby stadium in Village of Grace, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. It is currently used for rugby union.
The Turks and Caicos National Museum is the national museum of the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is located in Guinep House on Front Street to the north of Cockburn Town on Grand Turk Island, which is also the capital of the archipelago. Established in the 1980s and opened in 1991, the museum is publicly funded as a nonprofit trust. It exhibits pre-historic Lucayan culture and records the history of the islands of the colonial era and the slave trade, all related to the sea. An arboretum is adjacent to the museum.
The Fish Ponds and Crossing Place Trail Important Bird Area is a 1024 ha tract of land on the island of Middle Caicos in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Lucayan Archipelago of the western Atlantic Ocean. It forms one of the territory's Important Bird Areas (IBAs).
Clement Howell High School is a senior high school in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Named after Clement Howell, it serves forms three through five and is operated by the Ministry of Education.
Long Bay High School (LBHS) is a senior high school in Long Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
