8°00′S159°30′E / 8.000°S 159.500°E /-8.000; 159.500
Isabel Province Isabel Provins (Pijin) | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 | |
| Coordinates:8°0′S159°30′E / 8.000°S 159.500°E /-8.000; 159.500 | |
| Country |  Solomon Islands |
| Capital | Buala |
| Government | |
| • Premier | Hon.Lawrence Hayward |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,136 km2 (1,597 sq mi) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 35,257 |
| • Density | 4.9/km2 (13/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+11 (+11) |
Isabel Province (also spelledYsabel) is one of theprovinces of Solomon Islands.[1] The province had a population of around 35,257 as of 2020, mostly concentrated on the main island,Santa Isabel Island. The capital of the province isBuala on Santa Isabel Island, which has scheduled airline services toHoniara onSolomon Airlines fromFera Airport, onFera Island, a 15-minute boat ride from Buala.
The province has an economy dominated bysubsistence agriculture with occasional plantations for cash crops such ascopra, and by logging activities. The province is seldom visited by tourists due to poor infrastructure, lack of roads, hotels, modern medical care, and endemicmalaria. Most areas have a "Rest House", a house where guests can seek accommodation for the night or two, but many residents are willing to take in visitors for the night.[2]
Santa Isabel is the longest Island in Solomon Islands. The first European contact to the Solomon Islands was made by Spanish navigatorÁlvaro de Mendaña de Neira in 1568, who gave them their name because he left Spain on Santa Isabella's day. The highest point is Mount Kubonitu, also known as Mount Sasari at 1,120 metres (3,670 ft).
Isabel Province is sub-divided into the following constituencies (or electoral districts), which are further sub-divided into wards (with populations at the 2009 and 2019 Censuses respectively):[3]
| Name | Population (2009 census) | Population (2019 census) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female | ||
| 13. – Hograno/Kia/Havulei | 9,472 | 4,893 | 4,579 | 11,688 | 6,313 | 5,375 | |
| 13.01. | Kia | 1,929 | 1,054 | 875 | 1,909 | 1,008 | 901 |
| 13.02. | Baolo/Havulei | 1,148 | 599 | 549 | 1,808 | 1,020 | 788 |
| 13.13. | Kolomola | 949 | 460 | 489 | 1,164 | 583 | 581 |
| 13.14. | Kolotubi | 1,671 | 811 | 860 | 1,980 | 1,018 | 962 |
| 13.15. | Susubona | 1,907 | 954 | 953 | 2,342 | 1,235 | 1,107 |
| 13.16. | Samasodu/Katova | 1,868 | 1,015 | 853 | 2,485 | 1,449 | 1,036 |
| 14. – Maringe/Kokota | 9,763 | 4,995 | 4,768 | 11,557 | 6,161 | 5,396 | |
| 14.03. | Kokota | 1,177 | 692 | 485 | 1,671 | 1,016 | 655 |
| 14.04. | Hovikoilo | 1,988 | 1,016 | 972 | 2,462 | 1,347 | 1,115 |
| 14.05. | Buala | 2,813 | 1,456 | 1,357 | 3,369 | 1,748 | 1,621 |
| 14.06. | Tirotongana | 683 | 342 | 341 | 693 | 357 | 336 |
| 14.07. | Koviloko | 1,240 | 579 | 661 | 1,144 | 558 | 586 |
| 14.08. | Kmaga | 1,862 | 910 | 952 | 2,218 | 1,135 | 1,083 |
| 15. – Gao/Bugotu | 6,923 | 3,440 | 3,483 | 8,175 | 4,153 | 4,022 | |
| 15.09. | Kaloka | 959 | 466 | 493 | 1,238 | 612 | 626 |
| 15.10. | Tatamba | 1,404 | 717 | 687 | 1,649 | 865 | 784 |
| 15.11. | Sigana | 2,397 | 1,195 | 1,202 | 2,691 | 1,317 | 1,374 |
| 15.12. | Japuana | 2,163 | 1,062 | 1,101 | 2,597 | 1,359 | 1,238 |
| Total | 26,158 | 13,328 | 12,830 | 31,420 | 16,627 | 14,793 | |