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  Turks and Caicos HISTORY The Turks and Caicos Islands are eight islands and about 40 cays, they are located at the southeastern end of the Bahamas chain, 575 miles southeast of Miami and 90 miles north of the island of Hispaniola. The islands are generally flat, with rolling hills, the highest elevation can be found on Grand Turk at 163 feet. Legend has it, the Islands were named from the barrel-shaped Turks Head cactus which reminds one of a Turkish fez and the Spanish word "cayos" for small islands. The Turks and Caicos are two groups of islands are divided by a approx 22-mile wide 7000-ft. deep passage which is known today as "The Columbus Passage." The Turks and Caicos Islands are called "Beautiful by Nature" which it truly deserves this name. Christopher Columbus first set foot on these wonderful islands as far back as 1492. He was welcomed by Lucayan Indians who inhabited Grand Turk. He left Grand Turk and discovered Middle Caicos, North Caicos and finally Pine Cay. At pine Cay, he gathered fresh water then left for Providenciales the off to Cuba. The island became owned by Spain. They forces the aboriginal population into slavery. Then became unpopulated until the next century. This attracted the attention of French buccaneers. For about one hundred years up to the 17th century the Caicos Islands became a hideout and haven for such infamous pirates as Blondel, Captain Dulaien, Francois L'Olonnais, Calico' Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read. During all this, Bermudian arrived to the Turks and Caicos in the mid 1600's and begun a salt business lasting until the mid 1900's on Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos. The American Declaration of Independence made British loyalists or Tories from South Carolina and Georgia without a country, this left them without a country to call their own. Some packed up and left for the British Crown Land Grants on the Turks and Caicos. This was the start of the cotton plantation. This thrived for nearly 25 years until the notorious cotton bug (the bull weevil) destroyed this. Some left for Grand Turk with their slaves and started dealing in salt. Most left for Canada and other British territories. When slavery was abolished by Britain in 1807. The Royal Navy went into force trying to stop the slave dealers. Hundreds of slaves were set free on the shores of the Bahamas. That is why the Turks and Caicos have such a close connection with the Bahamas today. In 1799, By an Act of Parliament, the Turks and Caicos federated with the Bahama Islands. This lasted for about 50 years until a separation fo Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. In 1848, Turks and Caicos separated and needed to have it's own form of government. They abandoned this idean and annexed with Jamaica in 1873. This lasted for 90 years until 1976. This is when the Turks and Caicos were granted a new contitution and government with a governor appointed by the Queen of England. This is were we are today |
Carib ISP - Turks & Caicos Online - TCI Online - Est. 1998
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, British West Indies