Stabroek, Guyana

Last updated
Stabroek
Guyana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Stabroek
Coordinates: 6°48′25″N58°09′36″W / 6.8070406°N 58.1599689°W / 6.8070406; -58.1599689
Country Guyana
City Georgetown
Established1782
Area
  Total0.6 km2 (0.25 sq mi)

Stabroek was the old name of Georgetown, Guyana, between 1784 and 1812, and was the capital of Demerara. Stabroek is currently a ward in the centre of Georgetown.

Contents

History

In 1748, Governor Laurens Storm van 's Gravesande build a guard post at the mouth of the Demerara River. Later English planters started to build houses around the guard post creating a little village. [1] The town was established in 1782 during a brief occupation by the French of the Dutch colony of Demerara. The original name of Longchamps was changed to Stabroek in 1784, after Nicholaas Geelvinck (1732 1787), Lord of Stabroek, the then President of the Dutch West India Company. [2]

Historical population
YearPop.
1789780 [3]
18078,500 [3]
2012251 [4]

In 1789, the population was 780 people of which 239 were whites, [3] however the town rapidly started to grow and by 1807 had a population of around 8,500 people. [3] American traders started to build a wharf which became known as American Stelling, and little towns started to appear around the main settlement. [5]

The city's name changed again in 1812 when, under British rule, it became Georgetown. [3] A ward of the city, one fourth of a mile broad and one mile long, retains the name Stabroek. [6]

Brickdam, Stabroek's main street, was paved with bricks and made of burnt earth until 1921 when it was paved over for the arrival of the Prince of Wales. [6] The upper side of Brickdam was once lined with palm trees. [6]

The old name of the city is still reflected in Georgetown's main market, Stabroek Market, which has existed on or near its present location since the 18th century, [7] and the newspaper Stabroek News , established in 1986. [8] The Parliament Building is located in Stabroek on the same spot where the Court of Policy used to be. [6]

Related Research Articles

The transport sector comprises the physical infrastructure, docks and vehicle, terminals, fleets, ancillary equipment and service delivery of all the various modes of transport operating in Guyana. The transport services, transport agencies providing these services, the organizations and people who plan, build, maintain, and operate the system, and the policies that mold its development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown, Guyana</span> Capital of Guyana

Georgetown is the capital and largest city of Guyana. It is situated in Demerara-Mahaica, region 4, on the Atlantic Ocean coast, at the mouth of the Demerara River. It is nicknamed the "Garden City of the Caribbean." It is the retail, administrative, and financial services centre of the country, and the city accounts for a large portion of Guyana's GDP. The city recorded a population of 118,363 in the 2012 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demerara</span> 1745–1803 Dutch colony in South America

Demerara is a historical region in the Guianas, on the north coast of South America, now part of the country of Guyana. It was a colony of the Dutch West India Company between 1745 and 1792 and a colony of the Dutch state from 1792 until 1815. It was merged with Essequibo in 1812 by the British who took control. It formally became a British colony in 1815 until Demerara-Essequibo was merged with Berbice to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831. In 1838, it became a county of British Guiana until 1958. In 1966, British Guiana gained independence as Guyana and in 1970 it became a republic as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. It was located around the lower course of the Demerara River, and its main settlement was Georgetown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berbice</span> 1627–1815 Dutch colony in South America

Berbice is a region along the Berbice River in Guyana, which was between 1627 and 1792 a colony of the Dutch West India Company and between 1792 and 1815 a colony of the Dutch state. After having been ceded to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the latter year, it was merged with Demerara-Essequibo to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831. It became a county of British Guiana in 1838 till 1958. In 1966, British Guiana gained independence as Guyana and in 1970 it became a republic as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demerara-Mahaica</span> Region of Guyana

Demerara-Mahaica is a region of Guyana, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the region of Mahaica-Berbice to the east, the region of Upper Demerara-Berbice to the south and the region of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara to the west.

Rosignol is a village on the west bank of the Berbice River in Mahaica-Berbice, Guyana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parika</span> Place in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana

Parika is a port village located in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region of Guyana. Its ferry service is operated by the Ministry of Transportation, to and from the Essequibo Islands and West Demerara area. It is a hub for land transport, since it is a route stop for local taxis commonly called "buses."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essequibo (colony)</span> 1616–1803 Dutch colony in South America

Essequibo was a Dutch colony in the Guianas and later a county on the Essequibo River in the Guiana region on the north coast of South America. It was a colony of the Dutch West India Company between 1616 and 1792 and a colony of the Dutch state from 1792 until 1815. It was merged with Demerara in 1812 by the British who took control. It formally became a British colony in 1815 until Demerara-Essequibo was merged with Berbice to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831. In 1838, it became a county of British Guiana till 1958. In 1966, British Guiana gained independence as Guyana and in 1970 it became a republic as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. It was located around the lower course of the Essequibo River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Andrew's Kirk, Georgetown</span> Church in Georgetown, Guyana

St. Andrew's Kirk is one of the oldest buildings in Georgetown, Guyana that has been continually in use for religious purposes. The Dutch Reformed congregation laid its foundations in 1811. However, due to financial difficulties it was acquired by Scottish Presbyterians and was formally opened for service on 28 February 1818.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demerara-Essequibo</span> Former British colony in South America

The Colony of Demerara-Essequibo was created on 28 April 1812, when the British combined the colonies of Demerara and Essequibo into the colony of Demerara-Essequibo. They were officially ceded to Britain on 13 August 1814. On 20 November 1815 the agreement was ratified by the Netherlands. On 21 July 1831 Demerara-Esequibo united with Berbice as British Guiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berbice slave uprising</span> 1763 slave revolt in Guyana

The Berbice slave uprising was a slave revolt in Guyana that began on 23 February 1763 and lasted to December, with leaders including Coffy. The first major slave revolt in South America, it is seen as a major event in Guyana's anti-colonial struggles, and when Guyana became a republic in 1970 the state declared 23 February as a day to commemorate the start of the Berbice slave revolt.

Vreed en Hoop is a village at the mouth of the Demerara River on its west bank, in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region of Guyana, located at sea level. It is the location of the Regional Democratic Council office making it the administrative center for the region. There is also a police station, magistrate's court and post office.

Nicolaas Geelvinck, son of Nicolaes Geelvinck, Lord of Stabroek, was President of the Dutch West India Company from 1764 until 1787.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomeroon (colony)</span> Dutch colony in Guyana

Pomeroon is the name of a former Dutch plantation colony on the Pomeroon River in the Guyana region on the north coast of South America. After early colonization attempts in the late 16th century were attacked by Spaniards and local Indians, the original inhabitants fled the interior of Guyana, founding the colony of Essequibo around Fort Kyk-Over-Al shortly after. A second, and more serious attempt at colonization started in 1650, but was ultimately unsuccessful, as French privateers destroyed the colony in 1689. In the late 18th century, a third attempt of colonization was started, this time under the jurisdiction of the Essequibo colony.

Den Amstel is a village in Guyana's Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region. It lies on the Atlantic coast, approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west-north-west of the capital, Georgetown. The village has a population of 938 people as of 2012, who are predominantly Afro-Guyanese.

Mahaica is a village located in region 4 of Demerara-Mahaica in Guyana. Mahaica is often used as a subregion for the adjoining villages near the Mahaica River like Hand-en-Veldt, Good Hope, Chelsey Park, and Jonestown, which is often referred to as Mahaica or its old Dutch plantation name Voorzigtigheid.

Werk-en-rust, also Werken-Rust, is a ward in Georgetown, Guyana, located along the Demerara River that feeds into the Atlantic Ocean.

Borsselen is an island in the Demerara River of Guyana, and was the capital of Demerara between 1755 and 1782.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingston, Guyana</span> Ward in Georgetown, Guyana

Kingston is a former village in Demerara. In 1837, it became a ward of Georgetown. The ward is located along the Atlantic Ocean coast. Kingston is home to many landmarks and historic buildings.

Antony Beaujon also Anthony was a Dutch and British civil servant and politician in Guyana. He served as Governor of Demarara from May 1795 until 5 July 1802, and as Lieutenant governor of Demerara and Essequibo from 13 August 1804 until his death.

References

  1. "Establishment of Demerara". Guyana Times International. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. Smith, Raymond T. (1956). "CHAPTER II HISTORY: EARLY SETTLEMENT AND THE PERIOD OF DUTCH CONTROL". London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Limited. ISBN   0415863295. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Netscher 1888, p. 301.
  4. "2012 Population by Village". Statistics Guyana. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  5. "36. GROWTH OF GEORGETOWN" . Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "The development of Stabroek". National Trust of Guyana . Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  7. Lloyd Kandasammy, Celebrating Guyana's built heritage: Stabroek Market, a brief history in Stabroek News, April 14, 2005
  8. Andrew Graham-Yooll, The newspaper Stabroek News, Round Table, Oct 94 Issue 332, p447

Bibliography