 Western and central Grand Bahama seen from space, looking southwest | |
 Shield of Grand Bahama | |
  Grand Bahama | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 26°39′N78°19′W / 26.650°N 78.317°W /26.650; -78.317 |
| Archipelago | Bahamas |
| Area | 1,373 km2 (530 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Administration | |
| Largest settlement | Freeport |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 47,475[1] (2022) |
| Pop. density | 34.75/km2 (90/sq mi) |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
| ISO code | BS-EG BS-FP BS-WG |
Grand Bahama is the northernmost of the islands ofthe Bahamas. It is the third largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays. The island is roughly 530 square miles (1,400 km2) in area and approximately 153 kilometres (95 miles) long west to east and 24 kilometres (15 miles) at its widest point north to south. Its westernmost town,West End, is located 56 nautical miles (64 miles; 104 km) east ofPalm Beach, Florida.[2] Administratively, the island consists of theFreeport Bonded Area and the districts ofEast Grand Bahama andWest Grand Bahama.[3] Nearly half of the homes on the island were damaged or destroyed in early September 2019 byHurricane Dorian.[4][5]
Grand Bahama Island has atropical monsoon climate, consisting of a hot,rainy season from May through October, and a warm,dry season from November through April.
In Freeport, the summer high temperatures average 31 °C (88 °F), and low temperatures average 26 °C (79 °F). During the winter, the average high temperature is 28 °C (82 °F), and the average low is 19 °C (66 °F).[6] Thehurricane season lasts from June through November, but the risk of hurricanes is highest during the months of August, September, and October.[7]
The IndigenousLucayan people's name for the island wasBahama ('large upper middle island').[8][9] Grand Bahama's existence for almost two centuries was largely governed by the nature of the treacherouscoral reefs surrounding the island, which repelled its Spanish claimants (who largely left it alone apart from infrequent en route stops by ships for provisions) while attracting pirates, who would lure ships onto the reefs where they would run aground and be plundered. The Spaniards took little interest in the island after enslaving the native Lucayan inhabitants.[citation needed]
In 1670,Charles II of England issued aland patent, granting The Bahamas to the eightLords Proprietors of theCarolinas.[10] By 1828, Grand Bahama remained almost unpopulated.[11]
A brief smuggling boom occurred during the years ofprohibition in the United States, when West End, Grand Bahama, andBimini served as waystations for illicit imports of liquor to the U.S.[12]
The first major resort and the first commercial airport on Grand Bahama was developed at West End in the late 1940s by the BritishButlin's firm, which constructed a 1000-guest resort from scratch, including buildingWest End Airport. Butlin's ran the partially-completed facility for a single season (1950) before running out of money. A small part of the resort re-opened in the 1955 and more fundamental redevelopment occurred in 1960. West End Airport remained the main commercial airport for Grand Bahama until overshadowed by the newer airport at Freeport in the 1960s.[citation needed]
The major settlement that developed on the island was Freeport-Lucaya, but other hamlets and settlements emerged, including Russell Town, Williams Town, Smith's Point, Mather Town, Pinder's Point, Lewis Yard, Hunter's, and Mack Town.[13]
By the mid-20th century, Grand Bahama's population numbered around 500 and the island was one of the least developed of the islands of The Bahamas. However it finally gained a stable source of income when in 1955 aVirginian financier namedWallace Groves began redevelopment with the Bahamian government to build the city ofFreeport under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and create theGrand Bahama Port Authority. Soon after, the ambitious Edward St. George, with the financial help ofSir Jack Hayward, took the company to new frontiers. Seeing the success of Cuba as a tourist destination for wealthy Americans, St. George was eager to develop Grand Bahama in a similar vein. The city grew rapidly as St. George added a harbour, an airport soon after the city was founded, and the tourist center of Port Lucaya in 1962. Grand Bahama became the second most populous island in The Bahamas (over 50,000 in 2004).[14]
On September 1, 2019,Hurricane Dorian struck the island as aCategory 5 hurricane and caused catastrophic destruction.
Exports andimports are essential to the economy of The Bahamas. The country is the 137th largest exporter and 117th largest importer in the world. Its major trading partners include theUnited States,France, andFinland. Top exports include passenger cargo ships, special purpose ships, and refined petroleum.[15]Freeport, a city in Grand Bahama, has some industries that directly contribute to The Bahamas' exports. These major industries arepharmaceutical plants, theFragrance of The Bahamas perfume factory, an oiltransshipment company, and animmunology research center.[16]Agriculture andfisheries are also economically important. Bahamian farms producecrops,poultry,livestock, anddairy. On commercial farms in Grand Bahama,vegetables andcitrus fruits are produced and exported to other countries. From Bahamian fisheries, crayfish and conch are the top exports.[17]
Even more than the production of goods,tourism is the mainstay of Grand Bahama's economy. The resort area at Port Lucaya and visits bycruise ships provide the bulk of this activity. Grand Bahama's tourism sector is directly supported by some of its industry: theBORCO oil bunkering facility owned byBuckeye,[18] the South Riding Point oil storage and transhipment terminal owned byStatoil,[19] and atransshipment/container port partly owned byHong Kong conglomerateHutchison Whampoa and the Grand Bahama Port Authority. There are also quarrying operations and a large shipyard on the island.[citation needed]
Grand Bahama has two airports,Grand Bahama International Airport inFreeport andWest End Airport inWest End. Grand Bahama International Airport is the larger of the two, and West End Airport is open sporadically for private aircraft only.[citation needed]
 | This sectionappears to contradict the articleLocal government in the Bahamas#Elections. Please discuss at thetalk page and do not remove this message until the contradictions are resolved.(January 2024) |
Grand Bahama is divided into threedistricts and seven town areas for administrative purposes. Each district is run by a chief councilor, and each town area or township is run by a chairperson. As of1996 Grand Bahama has three districts:[20]
Elections are held every 5 years in The Bahamas. The two principal parties are theProgressive Liberal Party and theFree National Movement.[citation needed]. Grand Bahama also is a part of the islands outside of New Providence and operate under Local Government; this allows for a greater allowance for people to have a more direct rule. The intention of Local government is to not have direct connections to any political party.[citation needed]
Grand Bahama Island is populated with a variety of plants, birds,mammals and fish.
The Bahamas is home to many different species ofbats, including thebuffy flower bat, whose hair is white and brown. As the name suggests, it has a flowery nose that helps pollinate flowers and is usually found in dark caves or abandoned homes.[22]
TheBahama woodstar is a non-migratory hummingbird found in brushy habitats, including forest and undergrowth, areas of low-growing, and scrubby vegetation.[23]
TheBahama swallow is a medium-sized bird native to The Bahamas. Thisendangered bird breeds in the islands' pinewoodland, but is threatened due tohuman development. This swallow has a green head and back, blue wings with a black tail, and a white belly and chin.[24]
Thetiger shark is a species that gets its name from the vertical stripes that line its body. They are often found near canals, harbours and shallow reefs of Grand Bahama Island.[25]
Theyellow elder is ashrub native to The Bahamas. It is densely branched with bright green leaves and yellow flowers that usually attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Thecasuarina is aninvasive species to The Bahamas. It is a flowering shrub or tree with fine leaves that can grow to a height of 65 feet. The casuarina is common along the islands' shorelines, due to its salt-tolerance and ability to thrive in sandy soils.[26]
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