Barbuda

Barbuda

Geography
Location	Caribbean Sea
Coordinates	17°37′N 61°48′W
Archipelago	Leeward Islands, Lesser Antilles
Administration
Antigua and Barbuda
Demographics
Population	1,500

Barbuda is an island in the Eastern Caribbean, and forms part of the state of Antigua and Barbuda. It has a population of about 1,500, most of whom live in the town of Codrington.

Barbuda is located north of Antigua, in the middle of the Leeward Islands. To the south are the islands of Montserrat and Guadaloupe, and to the north and west are Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts, and St. Martin.

The Ciboney were the first to inhabit the island of Barbuda in 2400 BC, but Arawak and Carib Indians populated the island when Christopher Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English, who formed a colony in 1666.

In 1685 Barbuda was leased to brothers Christopher and John Codrington, who had founded the town of Codrington. The Codrington family produced food on their land in Barbuda, and also transported slaves as labour for their sugar plantations on Antigua. There was more than one slave rebellion at Codrington during the 1740s, during which slaves rose against managers. All the slaves were freed in 1834.

Barbuda was for a time used by the Codringtons for a programme of slave-breeding, and it is held by some in the Caribbean that this is responsible for Barbudans' supposed powerful physiques.

In 1719, Codrington and the island of Barbuda had its first census (of both people and livestock), conducted by Sir William Codrington (1715-1790).

In the second half of the 18th century, the first map of Barbuda was made. This indicates:

• substantial buildings in the Highland area
• a castle in Codrington
• a fort at River, now known as the Martello Tower
• houses at Palmetto_Point_(Antigua_and_Barbuda), Coco Point, and Castle Hill
• eight catching pens
• several defensive cannon gun battery units in the south, north, west, and east
• two large plantations in the Meadow and Guava area and in the Highlands area

Barbuda is home to the Frigate Bird Sanctuary, which is located in the Codrington Lagoon. Other points of interest include Highland House (the 18th century home of the Codrington family) and the Indian Cave, which contains ancient Amerindian petroglyphs.

Geography

• Land area: 160.56 km²
• Capital and largest city (1991): Codrington (capital of Barbuda), est. pop. 1,000
• Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation.
• Terrain: mostly coral limestone islands
• Elevation extremes:
  • Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m.
  • Highest point: Highlands 38 m.

Climate

In January and February, the coolest months, the average daily high temperature is 81°F (27°C). In July and August, the warmest months, the average daily high is 86°F (30°C).