Why Anguilla?
Uncrowded beaches – turquoise waters- diving – snorkeling – sport fishing – sailing – bird watching – interesting sightseeng – beachfront Rrestaurant – ferry ride to nearby St. Martin for casino gaming and nightclubs – and more…

About Anguilla
Anguilla is known as a quiet, peaceful island, with miles and miles of white sand beaches, all ringed by crystal clear waters. Tourism is the major industry, and visitors (many coming to scuba dive), arrive by air, while some take one of the convenient ferries linking Anguilla with Marigot, St. Martin.
Anguilla is mostly flat land, with the highest point only 213 ft. above sea level. There are no rivers or streams, and the average high temperature is near 80º.

History
Island and British crown colony (1994 est. pop. 7,000), 35 sq mi (91 sq km), West Indies, one of the Leeward Islands. Fishing, stock-raising, salt production, and tourism are the economic mainstays. Formerly part of the associated state of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, the island seceded in 1967 and returned to British colonial rule in 1971. A new constitution (1982) made the island largely internally self-governing.

People / Culture
Anguillan culture is a mix of African and British traditions. To preserve and promote the island’s heritage, the Anguilla National Trust was created in 1993. The organization oversees the island’s museum as well as its national parks. Numerous festivals are held on the island, many of which commemorate historical events. Summer Festival is the island’s largest celebration.

The history of Anguilla and its people. Read about Anguilla’s precolumbian history with photos of cave carvings and artifacts. The modern history of the island. A photo essay of Anguilla’s old houses. Anguilla’s national sport, Boat Racing and a history and nature map.

The name Anguilla, meaning ‘eel’, was given to the island by the Spanish, because of the island’s eel-like shape. It was the British, however, who first settled on Anguilla in the 17th century; the island was administered in conjunction with the Leeward Islands. During the early part of the 19th century, Anguilla was incorporated into St Kitts and Nevis, despite opposition from the islanders. Upon St Kitts’ independence in 1967, the Anguillans refused to accept independent government from there; a rather bizarre and occasionally comical ‘crisis’ followed, during which British marines were sent in to install a Commissioner to maintain British rule on the islands.

Formally, the islands became a ‘state in association’ with the UK until 1980, when it was granted the status of a British Dependent Territory. Domestic politics have been dominated by the shifting fortunes of the Anguilla United Movement, the Anguilla Democratic Party and the Anguilla National Alliance. The most recent general election, in March 2000, was won by a coalition of the Democratic Party and the National Alliance under Alliance leader Osbourne Fleming.

Only 35 square miles, the island of Anguilla is unique. Life centers around the fabulous, powder-white beaches and the enticing turquoise waters that offer diving among wrecks, reefs and walls. Plus, the snorkeling, sport fishing and sailing can’t be beat. You will also be welcomed by one of the Caribbean most hospitable people.

flat, undulating island of dunes, hidden coves, gentle terrain, and some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, Anguilla is an island for the finest swimming and sunning to be found anywhere. The creamy colored mixture of tiny crushed shells and coral make for some of the purest sand in the Caribbean. With St. Martin and St. Barts close by boat or plane for island hopping, Anguilla is a perfect vacation getaway!

Around 4000 years ago, Anguilla was a lush island covered in dense rain forest. It was discovered by Amerindian peoples who came by dugout canoes and rafts from South America’s mainland. They called Anguilla “Malliouhana” which meant arrow-shape sea serpent and they developed villages, farms and ceremonial sites to their gods.

Evidence of these Amerindians as old as 3300 years has been found at the eastern end of Anguilla. Shell axes, conch shell drinking vessels, flint blades and stone objects from the pre-ceramic era have all been uncovered on Anguilla. There is no record of how long this first group of Amerindians lived on the island.

It was in 1650 that Anguilla first became colonized. English settlers found that the soil in Anguilla was good for growing corn and tobacco, so plantations began. When they arrived on the island there were no Amerindians inhabiting Anguilla, but by 1656 Indians from a neighboring island destroyed their settlement.

In 1666 Anguilla was captured by a French expedition and settlers fled to the forests. The following year the island was returned to Britain under the Treaty of Breda. In 1744 Anguilla, assisted by privateers from St. Kitts captured the French half of neighboring St. Martin. Retaliation came on May 21, 1745, when two French frigates and some small craft attacked at Crocus Bay. The Anguillians repulsed them in less than fifteen minutes. St. Martin was returned to the French in 1748 under the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

Anguilla has a Governor and Deputy Governor (both British) whose responsibilities include public order, good government, the civil service, and the off-shore financial sector.

Britain introduced the Ministerial system of Government–and political parties–in 1976 which replaced the elected Island Council formed during the secession days (1967-1976). There are seven elected, one ex-officio and two nominated members plus a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly which runs for five years.

The Executive Council is made up of the members of Government (presently four) plus the Governor who presides, the Deputy Governor and the Attorney General. The Ministers of Government have direct responsibility for all matters of government except for those areas reserved for the Governor’s Office and for legal matters which are handled by the Attorney-General.