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Freeport, The Bahamas

Coordinates: 26°31′43″N 78°41′48″W / 26.52861°N 78.69667°W / 26.52861; -78.69667
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For other uses, see Freeport.
City of Freeport
Nicknames: 
The Industrial Capital
The Second City
City of Freeport is located in Bahamas
City of Freeport
City of Freeport
Coordinates: 26°31′43″N 78°41′48″W / 26.52861°N 78.69667°W / 26.52861; -78.69667
Country The Bahamas
IslandFile:Crest of Grand Bahama.gif Grand Bahama
DistrictCity of Freeport
Established1955
Government
 • TypeDistrict Council
 • Chief CouncillorKendal Culmer
 • Deputy Chief CouncillorErnie Barr
Area
 • City558 km2 (215 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2000)
 • City26,914
 • Density48/km2 (125/sq mi)
 • Metro
55,500
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern Time Zone)
Area code242
IATA airport codeFPO
ICAO airport codeMYGF
Websitehttp://gbpa.com/home/

Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone on the island of Grand Bahama of the northwest Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres (20,234 ha) of pineyard with substantial areas of swamp and scrubland by the Bahamian government with a mandate to economically develop the area. Freeport has grown to become the second most populous city in the Bahamas.

The main airport serving the city is the Grand Bahama International Airport, which receives domestic flights from various islands of the Bahamas as well as several international flights from the United States and Canada. Freeport is also served by domestic Bahamian ferry services to other islands.

The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) operates the free trade zone, under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement signed in August 1955 whereby the Bahamian government agreed that businesses in the Freeport area would pay no taxes before 1980, later extended to 2054.[1] The area of the land grants within which the Hawksbill Creek Agreement applies has been increased to 138,000 acres (55,847 ha).[2]

History

Freeport is a 230-square-mile (600 km2) free trade zone on Grand Bahama Island, established in 1955 by the government of The Bahamas. The city of Freeport emerged from a land grant comprising 50,000 acres (200 km2) of swamp and scrub to become a cosmopolitan centre. The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) operates the free trade zone, under special powers conferred by the government under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement,[3] which was recently[when?] extended until August 3, 2054. The agreement also increased the land grants to 138,000 acres (560 km2).

The city was severely impacted by Hurricane Dorian, with damage still being assessed as of 12 September, 2019.[4]

Geography

Freeport is located just 73 miles (117 km) off the coast of Palm Beach, Florida, and on the major EW–NS shipping routes. This has positioned it as an ideal centre for international business. Consequently, a growing number of international companies use Freeport for a business site.

National parks

Parks include the Rand Nature Centre, named after its founder James Rand; Petersons Cay, a small isle about 300 yards off the shore of Grand Bahama; and the Lucayan National Park founded by Peter Barratt, a former architect and town planner of Freeport. The Lucayan National Park is 40 acres (0.16 km2) in extent and includes five ecological zones stretching from the south shore to the pineyard.[5] There is an extensive underwater cave system beneath the park. One cave entrance is accessible by stairs at the national park, while other caves are accessible for certified scubas.

Climate

Freeport features a tropical rainforest climate, similar to South Florida's. According to Köppen Climate Classification (Af), more specifically with hot humid conditions that vary only a little throughout the year. Seldom do temperatures drop below 60 °F (16 °C). Average temperatures range in the low to upper 80s, with water temperature varying between 72 to 78 °F (22 to 26 °C). The winters are usually mild (mid-60s to 70s) and dry (with the exception of some rainfall due to cold fronts), while the summers are usually hot and wet. Although a freeze has never been reported in the Bahamas, snow was reported to have mixed with rain in Freeport in January 1977, the same time that it snowed in the Miami area. The temperature was about 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) at the time.[6]

Climate data for Freeport (1971-2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 24.3
(75.8) 		24.4
(75.9) 		25.8
(78.4) 		27.4
(81.3) 		29.7
(85.4) 		31.2
(88.2) 		32.2
(90.0) 		32.3
(90.2) 		31.7
(89.0) 		29.7
(85.4) 		27.3
(81.2) 		25.1
(77.2) 		28.4
(83.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 15.9
(60.7) 		15.6
(60.0) 		17.5
(63.5) 		19.2
(66.6) 		21.1
(69.9) 		23.2
(73.8) 		23.9
(75.1) 		23.9
(75.1) 		23.3
(74.0) 		21.4
(70.5) 		19.4
(66.9) 		17.0
(62.6) 		20.1
(68.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 83.1
(3.27) 		72.6
(2.86) 		93.5
(3.68) 		66.8
(2.63) 		104.7
(4.12) 		176.0
(6.93) 		165.4
(6.51) 		207.8
(8.18) 		217.4
(8.56) 		142.8
(5.62) 		93.0
(3.66) 		73.7
(2.90) 		1,496.8
(58.92)
Source: WMO [7]

Economy

Tourism draws more than 1 million visitors per year, but has diminished since 2004, when major hurricanes Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne made landfall; in 2016, Hurricane Matthew hit the island. In early September 2019, Hurricane Dorian moved over the area and stalled for over a day, causing extensive devastation. Several cruise ships stop weekly at the island. Much of the tourist industry is centered on the seaside suburb of Lucaya, owing its name to the pre-Columbian Lucayan inhabitants of the island evidence of whom has been found on the island. Freeport features at least two Junkanoo festivals near New Year's.

The city is often promoted as Freeport/Lucaya. Most hotels on the island are located along the southern shore facing the Northwest Providence Channel. Primary shopping venues for tourists include the International Bazaar near downtown Freeport and the Port Lucaya Market Place in Lucaya. Recovery from the 2004 hurricanes took nearly a decade.

Notable natives and residents

  • The International Bazaar
    The International Bazaar
  • Port Lucaya Marketplace
    Port Lucaya Marketplace
  • The Garden of the Groves
    The Garden of the Groves
  • Bridge in the Garden of the Groves
    Bridge in the Garden of the Groves
  • Seagulls at Taino Beach
    Seagulls at Taino Beach
  • Taino Beach
    Taino Beach
  • Boardwalk at Lucayan National Park
    Boardwalk at Lucayan National Park
  • Lucayan National Park
    Lucayan National Park
  • Grand Bahama Highway
    Grand Bahama Highway
  • Kitesurf at Banana Bay
    Kitesurf at Banana Bay
  • Freeport Harbor
    Freeport Harbor
  • Freeport Cruise Ship Terminal
    Freeport Cruise Ship Terminal
  • Freeport Cruise Terminal Shops
    Freeport Cruise Terminal Shops

See also

References

  1. ^ Blount, Steve. "Freeport, Bahamas". USA Today. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Freeport Grand Bahama". Government of the Bahamas.
  3. ^ "The History of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island". Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  4. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/sep/02/hurricane-dorian-category-5-storm-bahamas-florida-south-north-carolina-updates
  5. ^ "The National Parks of The Bahamas". Bnt.bs. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  6. ^ ^ Walker, N. D., Roberts, H. H., Rouse, L. J. and Huh, O. K. (1981, November 5). Thermal History of Reef-Associated Environments During A Record Cold-Air Outbreak Event. Coral Reefs (1982) 1:83–87
  7. ^ "Climatological Information". WMO. 2016. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.

Further reading

  • Barratt, Peter. Grand Bahama. IM Publishing, Freeport, 2002 (3rd edition) ISBN 0-9717351-0-7
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